SHELTER IN PLACE vs EVACUATE

When making the decision on whether to shelter in place or evacuate there are two factors that must be considered.

1) Nature of the event:

Expected time of arrival: Is there enough time to safely evacuate before it hits?

•       Magnitude: Can the facility withstand the force of the event?
•       Area of impact: Will other facilities in the area be affected reducing available beds to evacuate to?
•       Duration: Does the facility have enough supplies to shelter-in-place for the duration of the event?

2) Anticipate effects on both the facility and the surrounding community given the nature of the event and the results of the Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) and 96-hour assessment.