http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/us-ships-on-standby-while-forces-clash-in-yemen
Two American warships are on routine deployment in the Red Sea in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, he said.
“The [USS] Iwo Jima and [USS] Fort McHenry are on station, and between those two warships, there’s enough combat power to respond to whatever contingency may come up,” Warren said.
The number of Americans in Yemen is not being revealed, he added, but if a need for evacuation arises, the State Department would handle the effort.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/11/politics/yemen-us-embassy-evacuation-plan/
11/11/2014
Contingency plans
The updated evacuation plans could include the use of U.S. Marines and helicopters stationed on the amphibious warship USS Makin Island off the coast of Yemen. If an evacuation was ordered, and there was continued fighting around the airport in Sanaa that would make it impossible for diplomats to leave on commercial planes, the Marines could be called in, a defense official said.
The defense officials who spoke with CNN acknowledge that as part of the discussions about whether and how long the diplomats can safely remain in Yemen, there is also internal discussion about the key issue of trying to keep a U.S. presence even after an evacuation that can continue to work with the Yemeni government and military on fighting AQAP, the al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen. If the United States were forced to even temporarily shutter the embassy there, its ability to monitor and conduct counterterrorism efforts would be significantly reduced, one of the defense officials said.
The article seems to say that the Embassy will remain open, but IMHO getting out NOW is good advice. If/when the SHTF the US Embassy might be the last place you want to be.
Ships are standing by to evacuate Embassy staff but how many extra have they planned to transport? I'm guessing troops have been ordered not to engage, just bug out ASAP. Whether or not they're actually under fire I expect stress and chaos - people will get killed and/or left behind. Better to avoid that scene and leave now!