Emergency Preparedness for Shelters and Supportive Housing

Emergencies are rare, which is exactly why teams need to prepare. In a real event, people do what they have practiced.

Know your risks

List the emergencies most likely at your site. In Southern California that includes fire, earthquake, extreme heat, power outages, and medical emergencies, along with violence or threats.

Have a written plan

A good emergency plan is short enough to use. It should cover:

• Who is in charge on each shift, and who is next if they are unavailable
• How to evacuate and where to meet
• When to shelter in place instead
• How to account for everyone
• Who calls 911 and who notifies leadership
• How to help residents with disabilities or limited mobility

Plan for the people you serve

Residents may have mobility, hearing, or vision impairments, mental health conditions, or pets and belongings they will not leave. Know in advance who will need help, and assign staff to assist.

Assign roles

In an emergency, "someone should" means no one does. Assign roles by position, not by name, so the plan works on every shift, including overnight.

Keep supplies ready

• First aid kits
• Flashlights and batteries
• Water and basic food
• Backup phone chargers or radios
• A printed resident list and emergency contacts

Check them on a schedule.

Practice

• Run evacuation drills at different times of day.
• Walk new staff through exits and meeting points in their first week.
• Talk through a "what if" scenario at staff meetings.

After any emergency

Account for everyone, attend to injuries, notify leadership, document what happened, and debrief. Update the plan with what you learned.

Coordinate with responders

Know which fire and police stations serve your address. See working with police, fire, and EMS.

Follow local fire code and licensing requirements for your building. Our Facility Safety Training prepares teams to handle dangerous situations and report them properly.