Evacuation of a healthcare facility may be necessary following an emergency such as a facility fire or damage from a natural disaster such as an earthquake or flooding. The decision to evacuate a healthcare facility will be based on the ability of the facility to meet the medical needs of the patients. Immediate threats to life, such as internal fires or unstable structures, will require emergent evacuation, while other situations may allow for a planned and phased evacuation.

The Evacuation and Shelter in Place Guidance for Healthcare Facilities is composed of three parts:

• Part I provides general guidance on the differences between evacuation and shelter in place including the roles and responsibilities of healthcare facilities and the healthcare system. Download Part I
• Part II is an Evacuation and Shelter in Place Plan Template that healthcare facilities may use to create their own plan, or to review when updating their plan. Download Part II
• Part III is a set of two Tabletop Exercises (shelter in place and evacuation) that facilities may use in the planning phase as they develop their plans to brainstorm about needs, gaps, or solutions, and/or may use to educate personnel on the components of their existing plan. Download Part III