Worksheet: shelter room checklist

Household of ______ people and ______ pets. Shelter room: ______________________ Core zone: ______________________ Checked on: ____ / ____ / ______

The room

• Room chosen, with no windows or with covered windows; measured: ______ ft²
• Clear floor space for all the people and pets in the household
• Mass in place: water jugs / bookcases / boxes against the exterior walls of the core
• Nothing blocks escape doors or windows
• Battery-powered carbon monoxide detector (tested)
• Smoke detector in the hallway (tested)
• Thermometer with hygrometer
• Mattresses or thick blankets within reach (tornado)

Sealing and air

• 2–4 mil plastic sheeting, pre-cut and labeled for each window, vent grille, and exhaust fan
• 2 rolls of duct tape, scissors, marker, old towels
• I know where to shut off the air conditioning and the exhaust fans
• Box fan (2012 or newer, UL/ETL) and spare MERV 13 filters
• N95 masks (1 box), nitrile gloves

Power and light

• Power station charged (check every 3 months): ______ Wh
• Folding solar panel and cables
• 2 LED flashlights and 1 lamp per person; spare batteries
• Battery-powered fans
• Battery or hand-crank radio with a NOAA band
• Cables and chargers for every cell phone

Water and food

• Drinking water in the core: ______ gallons (goal: 1 gal per person per day, plus water for pets)
• Bathtub bladder (WaterBOB type) stored in the bathroom
• No-cook food for at least 3 days, manual can opener
• Pet water and food for the same length of time

Sanitation (details in chapter 21)

• 5-gal bucket with lid and seat, or a toilet-bowl kit
• Heavy bags, zip ties, cat litter or sawdust
• Unscented bleach, gloves, soap, hand sanitizer, toilet paper
• Container with a lid for full bags outside the shelter
• Sheet or curtain for privacy

People and pets

• First-aid kit and 2 weeks of medicines for each person (chapter 7)
• Leashes, collars with tags, carriers or collapsible crates (one per pet), absorbent pads, bags
• Light clothing and a change of clothes per person; sleeping pads
• Playing cards, games, books, notebooks
• Printed list of phone numbers and meeting point

Security

• Strike plate and hinges with 3–4 in screws (with written permission)
• Security bar on the front door and on the sliding door
• Everyone knows how to remove bars and get out through their bedroom window in the dark
• ABC fire extinguisher in plain view
• Renters insurance current; flood policy considered

Annual drill

• Everyone inside with the pets and the kit in: ______ minutes (goal: under 2)
• Full seal set up in: ______ minutes