Section 350.690  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 a 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.  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.

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 action 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, as established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (see Section 350.Table F), 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 350.2410(b), 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 local emergency management agency, the facility shall participate in emergency planning activities.

(Source:  Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 19224, effective November 23, 2010)