How Workplaces Plan for Shelter-in-Place Emergencies

How Workplaces Plan for Shelter-in-Place Emergencies

Workplaces and facilities must be prepared for situations where employees cannot safely leave the building. These events may include severe weather, active threats, infrastructure failures, or law enforcement activity that requires occupants to remain indoors for an extended period.

Shelter-in-place planning helps organizations ensure employees remain safe, calm, and supported until the situation is resolved.

What Shelter-in-Place Means for a Workplace

Shelter-in-place procedures are used when leaving the building would create greater risk than staying inside. During these events, employees may be required to remain at their workstations, in offices, or in designated safe areas for hours.

Because normal movement is restricted, emergency supplies must be stored throughout the facility, not just in a single location.

Supplies Commonly Stored for Shelter-in-Place

Many workplaces store the following supplies as part of their preparedness programs:

These supplies allow managers and safety teams to support employees without relying on access to kitchens, vending machines, or water systems.

Food and Water for Extended Indoor Events

If employees must remain inside for an extended period, access to food and water becomes important for maintaining calm and order.

Many facilities store:

  • Emergency food bars that are compact and easy to distribute
  • Emergency water pouches with long shelf life
  • Pre-calculated 72-hour ration kits sized by number of employees

These supplies remove the need for ad-hoc planning during an emergency.

The Role of Floor Wardens and Safety Teams

During a shelter-in-place event, designated staff often help coordinate communication, accountability, and support across departments.

These teams commonly have access to:

This helps maintain organization and reduces confusion.

Distributed Storage Across the Facility

Effective shelter-in-place planning does not rely on one storage room. Supplies are often distributed across:

  • Offices and departments
  • Warehouse areas
  • Break rooms and common spaces
  • Central supply rooms for larger group resources

This ensures employees can access what they need wherever they are when an incident occurs.

Related Emergency Supplies for Workplaces

Workplaces often store shelter-in-place supplies alongside: