Emergency Relocation of Clients
This page provides guidelines for providers to follow if they experience an emergency which makes the facility unavailable for use and requires relocation of clients.
For the purpose of this office, the term "emergency" refers to any situation which is sudden and unforeseen, such as a natural disaster, fire, or other facility catastrophe, which necessitates the removal of clients from the facility to protect their health and safety.
Emergency Relocation Examples:
- Hurricanes, snowstorms, tornados, floods, or other natural occurrence in which allowing clients to remain in the facility may jeopardize their health or safety.
- Facility fire, dysfunctional heating or cooling system (in cold or hot weather respectively), dysfunctional septic system, or other situation in which allowing clients to remain in the facility may jeopardize their health or safety.
- Other unforeseen occurrence not noted above in which allowing clients to remain in the facility may jeopardize their health or safety.
Relocations that do not qualify as "Emergency Relocation":
- Placements of clients outside of a facility due to behavior problems.
- Placements where there has been prior notice or knowledge of the need for relocation (eviction, foreclosure, disbanding of licensure relationship, etc.)
Emergency Relocation Guidelines
- Ensure the safety and health of the clients by evacuating them to a safe and secure facility where the clients’ health and safety needs will be met. There must be sufficient staff, food, medicine, medical equipment and supplies to ensure the safety and health needs of the clients.
- Notify the DHSR Mental Health Licensure and Certification Section Team Leader for the facility’s region as soon as possible after the evacuation, to explain the situation and the need for relocation of clients.
- Submit the Emergency Relocation of Clients form (XLSX, 15 KB) via e-mail as an Excel document to the DHSR Mental Health Licensure and Certification Section Team Leader with the requested information. Please do not send confidential information via e-mail.
