The NJ EMS Task Force was dispatched Tuesday night to assist with the evacuation of the Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center in Plainsboro, New Jersey.

A broken sprinkler head near electrical wires led the facility to evacuate out of an abundance of caution. ​

​The Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management requested help from the NJ EMS Task Force to work alongside local EMS, fire, law enforcement, and emergency management officials to safely move 149 patients to 13 facilities across the state. Twelve counties participated in the response, demonstrating a robust mutual aid system in action.

Using the statewide nursing home evacuation plan created and honed by the NJ EMS Task Force, leadership activated its Incident Advance Team, Medical Operations, Staging, Logistics and Planning modules, as well as the Task Force Operations Center was activated to manage and track resource requests, maintain situational awareness, and ensure communication with the New Jersey Department of Health and other key agencies. The organization also dispatched 11 Medical Ambulance Buses, 14 BLS ambulances, one SCTU, one MAV, a van, and 39 NJEMSTF team members to the scene.

Team members worked with local providers throughout the night to safely transport patients.
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This response underscores the vital role of the NJEMSTF in supporting healthcare facility evacuations and complex EMS operations. Leveraging statewide coordination, specialized resources, and a proven evacuation framework, the Task Force remains committed to protecting New Jersey’s most vulnerable populations during critical incidents.

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