shelter in place

Or shel·ter-in-place

[shel-ter in pleys]

noun

1. an official order, issued during an emergency, that directs people to stay in the indoor place or building that they already occupy and not to leave unless absolutely necessary.

verb (used without object)

1. to stay in a safe indoor place or building during an emergency.

   If police believe there is an active shooter on campus, they will order students and faculty to shelter in place.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelter in place¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

The students had to shelter in place on a campus in lockdown for the second day in a row due to gunfire.

Read more on BBC

An order warning people to shelter in place was reduced from a five-mile radius from the airport to a one-mile radius as crews worked to contain the blaze on Tuesday night.

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The shooting forced a nearby school district in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania - a small town of about 2,500 people - to briefly shelter in place.

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Those living nearby were instructed to shelter in place while helicopters continued water drops to cool hot spots between homes and hand crews worked to reach 100% containment in very steep terrain.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A shelter in place order has been issued for the Pyramid Lake RV Park.

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