AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

2005 NH "Dear Administrator" Letters

September 28, 2005

ADSA: NH #2005-030
Emergency Preparedness

Dear Nursing Facility/Home Administrator:

In light of the recent devastation linked to “Hurricane Katrina”, it may be necessary to re-evaluate your emergency preparedness plans. Please consider reviewing and updating your emergency plans as necessary, based on some of the lessons that have been learned from the disaster.

Important considerations include:

• A careful analysis of the types of emergencies you are most likely to experience. Most people living in Washington are at risk for earthquakes, structure fires and weather-related events such as loss of power, heat and communication. Consider further, is your facility at risk for:
  • Floods
• Wild fires
• Tsunamis
• Volcanic eruptions or mud flows
• Hazardous material spills from highways or railroads
• Terrorist attacks
• Other potential emergencies related to your specific location, such as proximity to a chemical plant or nuclear reactor, or potential landslides, etc.
• Your plans to quickly evacuate your residents, should the need arise, and the likelihood your planned evacuation transportation, routes and alternate locations will be available in the event of an emergency.
• If evacuation is not appropriate or possible, your ability to sustain and care for your residents for an extended period until outside help can provide assistance, including provisions for food, water, shelter and warmth, medications, sanitation and staffing for care and services, for a minimum of three days.
• What emergency preparedness information and support have been provided to your staff for their personal households? If your staff are not personally prepared and are trying to address the needs of their own families, they may not be available to help implement your facility’s emergency plans.
• Working with the appropriate emergency management office and emergency response community in your county or city to discuss specific plans for your facility.

There are a number of information resources available to assist you with your emergency preparedness plans. Websites include:

• Emergency Management Division – 2005 Disaster Preparedness Campaign
  http://emd.wa.gov/5-prog/prgms/pubed/05-campaign/05-campaign-idx.htm
• American Red Cross – Disaster Planning
  http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_601_,00.html
• American Red Cross - Disaster Services
  http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_500_,00.html
• FEMA - Citizen Preparedness
  http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
• FEMA Library
  http://www.fema.gov/library/

Nursing homes have state and federal regulatory requirements to be prepared for emergencies. These regulations can be found in:

• WAC 388-97-185    Disaster and emergency preparedness; addresses nursing home licensing requirements for planning for emergencies.
• 42 CFR 483.75 (m) also requires certified nursing facilities to have an e mergency plan and procedures.

Please contact your RCS Field Manager if you have questions regarding requirements for emergency preparedness in your facility. Please contact your state and local emergency management officials and the local emergency response community for questions about your facility’s specific emergency plan.

Sincerely,

Joyce Pashley Stockwell, Director
Residential Care Services