Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the disaster, the first important decision after an incident occurs is whether to shelter-in-place or evacuate. Understand and plan for both possibilities in advance by developing clear, well thought out plans.

• Have an Evacuation Plan and a Shelter-in-Place Plan. 
• In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should monitor TV or radio news reports for information or official instructions as they become available. 
• If you are specifically told to evacuate, shelter-in-place or seek medical treatment, do so immediately. 
• Use common sense and available information to determine if there is immediate danger. For example, if your building is damaged you will typically want to evacuate.