Sentinel Event Alert 69: Environmental disasters: Preparing to safely evacuate or shelter in place

More than ever, even in places not previously considered to be at risk, United States healthcare facilities must prepare for environmental disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, and extreme heat, especially as more people move into coastal and wilderness areas. Whenever a disaster occurs, healthcare organizations must be prepared to rapidly evacuate or shelter in place everyone on-site—patients, healthcare workers, and others. This alert outlines steps for your healthcare organization to consider as you prepare for weather- and climate-related disasters.