Section 340.1320 Disaster Preparedness

Section 340

Section 340.1320  Disaster

Preparedness

a)         For the purpose of this Section only, "disaster"

means an occurrence, as a result of a natural force or mechanical failure such

as water, wind or fire, or a lack of essential resources such as electrical

power, that poses a threat to the safety and welfare of residents, personnel,

and others present in the facility.

b)         Each facility shall have policies covering disaster

preparedness, including a written plan for staff, residents and others to

follow.  The plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1)         Proper instruction in the use of fire extinguishers for all

personnel employed on the premises;

2)         A diagram of the evacuation route, which shall be posted and

made familiar to all personnel employed on the premises;

3)         A written plan for moving residents to safe locations within

the facility in the event of tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning;

and

4)         An established means of facility notification when the

National Weather Service issues a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning that

covers the area in which the facility is located.  The notification mechanism shall

be other than commercial radio or television.  Approved notification measures

include being within range of local tornado warning sirens, an operable

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio in the facility,

or arrangements with local public safety agencies (police, fire, emergency

management agency) to be notified if a warning is issued.

c)         Fire drills shall be held at least quarterly for each shift of

facility personnel.  Disaster drills for other than fire shall be held twice

annually for each shift of facility personnel

anic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio in the facility,

or arrangements with local public safety agencies (police, fire, emergency

management agency) to be notified if a warning is issued.

c)         Fire drills shall be held at least quarterly for each shift of

facility personnel.  Disaster drills for other than fire shall be held twice

annually for each shift of facility personnel.  Drills shall be held under

varied conditions to:

1)         Ensure that all personnel on all shifts are trained to perform

assigned tasks;

2)         Ensure that all personnel on all shifts are familiar with the

use of the fire-fighting equipment in the facility; and

3)         Evaluate the effectiveness of disaster plans and procedures.

d)         Fire drills shall include simulation of the evacuation of

residents to safe areas during at least one drill each year on each shift.

e)         The facility shall provide for the evacuation of physically

handicapped persons, including those who are hearing or sight impaired.

f)         If the welfare of the residents precludes an actual evacuation

of an entire building, the facility shall conduct drills involving the

evacuation of successive portions of the building under conditions that assure

the capability of evacuating the entire building with the personnel usually

available, should the need arise.

g)         A written evaluation of each drill shall be submitted to the

facility administrator and shall be maintained for one year.

h)         A written plan shall be developed for temporarily relocating

the residents for any disaster requiring relocation and at any time that the

temperature in residents' bedrooms falls below 55° F. for 12 hours or more

ually

available, should the need arise.

g)         A written evaluation of each drill shall be submitted to the

facility administrator and shall be maintained for one year.

h)         A written plan shall be developed for temporarily relocating

the residents for any disaster requiring relocation and at any time that the

temperature in residents' bedrooms falls below 55° F. for 12 hours or more.

i)          Reporting of Disasters

1)         Upon the occurrence of any disaster requiring hospital

service, police, fire department or coroner, the facility administrator or

designee shall provide a preliminary report to the Department either by using

the nursing home hotline or by directly contacting the appropriate Department

Regional Office during business hours.  This preliminary report shall include,

at a minimum:

A)        The name and location of the facility;

B)        The type of disaster;

C)        The number of injuries or deaths to residents;

D)        The number of beds not usable due to the occurrence;

E)        An estimate of the extent of damages to the facility;

F)         The type of assistance needed, if any; and

G)        A list of other State or local agencies notified about the

problem.

2)         If the disaster will not require direct Departmental

assistance, the facility shall provide a preliminary report within 24 hours

after the occurrence.  Additionally, the facility shall submit a full written

account to the Department within seven days after the occurrence, which

includes the information specified in subsection (i)(1) of this Section and a

statement of actions taken by the facility after the preliminary report.

j)          Each facility shall establish and implement policies and

procedures in a written plan to provide for the health, safety, welfare and

comfort of all residents when the heat index/apparent temperature (see Section

340.Table A), as established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, inside the facility exceeds 80° F

s taken by the facility after the preliminary report.

j)          Each facility shall establish and implement policies and

procedures in a written plan to provide for the health, safety, welfare and

comfort of all residents when the heat index/apparent temperature (see Section

340.Table A), as established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, inside the facility exceeds 80° F.

k)         Coordination with Local

Authorities

1)         Annually,

each facility shall forward copies of all disaster policies and plans required

under this Section to the local health authority and local emergency management

agency having jurisdiction.

2)         Annually,

each facility shall forward copies of its emergency water supply agreements,

required under Section 340.2010(a)(5), to the local health authority and local

emergency management agency having jurisdiction.

3)         Each

facility shall provide a description of its emergency source of electrical

power, including the services connected to the source, to the local health

authority and local emergency management agency having jurisdiction.  The

facility shall inform the local health authority and local emergency management

agency at any time that the emergency source of power or services connected to

the source are changed.

4)         When

requested by the local health authority and the local emergency management

agency, the facility shall participate in emergency planning activities.