Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with finding shelter, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You need emergency shelter during an active natural disaster.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Go to official shelter. Register. Bring meds if you can.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shelter list in emergency alert or radio broadcast.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — School or community hall flagged with shelter sign.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Official shelters provide water sanitation and accountability for reunification.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wrong shelter choice — underpasses highway tunnels — kills in floods and winds.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Confirm shelter is on high ground for flood cyclone tsunami.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Travel with household together if possible.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Register names at desk so family can find you.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep wristband or ticket given by shelter staff.
When and how to get professional help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Use designated public shelters. Avoid improvised shelter in hazard zones.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call disaster helpline if no transport to shelter.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report alternate shelter location to family contact.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Special needs shelters exist for dialysis oxygen-dependent patients.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT shelter under bridges or in flood-prone basements.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT ignore capacity redirects to alternate shelter.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Highway underpasses are good emergency shelters
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Underpasses flood in rains and amplify wind. Use official designated buildings.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Drowning or wind injury in roadway underpass.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Aftershock
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — The ground shakes again after the main earthquake.
Avalanche warning
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Avalanche danger is high on slopes where you are traveling or living.
Buried in avalanche
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You or someone nearby is buried in avalanche snow.
Compound disaster
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Multiple disasters overlap — e.g. earthquake and tsunami, cyclone and flood.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Pet policies vary — ask officials for animal shelter co-location.