Evacuating an ARCP is a very serious manner that involves many moving pieces and parties that need to be notified of the evacuation including, residents, staff, families, and the DSS. The DHH has issued a regulation with what is required from a facility if they are being required to evacuate their residents from the community.
- 6879. Notification
- The emergency preparedness plan shall specify the following:
- list of all persons, agencies, authorities to be notified and routinely updated contact information;
- process of notification;
- verification or documentation of attempted notification; and
- back-up communication plans and procedures.
- An ARCP shall immediately notify the HSS program desk and other appropriate agencies of any fire, disaster, or another emergency that may present a danger to residents or require their evacuation from the ARCP.
- In the event that an ARCP evacuates, temporarily relocates, or temporarily ceases operations at its licensed location as a result of an evacuation order issued by the state, local, or parish Office of Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP), the ARCP must immediately give notice to the HSS and Governor’s Office of Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) by facsimile or e-mail of the following:
- the date and approximate time of the evacuation; and
- the locations of where the residents have been placed, whether this location is a host site for one or more of the ARCP residents.
- In the event that an ARCP evacuates, temporarily relocates, or temporarily ceases operations at its licensed location for any reason other than an evacuation order, the ARCP must immediately give notice to the HSS by facsimile or e-mail of the following:
- the date and approximate time of the evacuation; and
- the location of where the residents have been placed, whether this location is a host site for one or more of the ARCP residents.
- If there are any deviations or changes made to the locations of the residents that were given to the HSS and the local OEP, then both HSS and the local OEP shall be notified of the changes within 48 hours of their occurrence.
- Effective immediately upon notification of an emergency declared by the Secretary, all ARCPs licensed in Louisiana shall file an electronic report with the ESF-8 Portal and its applications during a declared emergency, disaster, or a public health emergency.
- The electronic report shall be filed as prescribed by the department throughout the duration of the disaster or emergency event.
- The electronic report shall include but not be limited to the following:
- status of operation;
- availability of beds;
- generator status, if applicable;
- evacuation destination(s)and status;
- shelter in place status;
- current census;
- emergency evacuation transportation needs to be categorized by the following types:
- red¾high risk patients that need to be transported by advanced life support ambulance due to dependency on mechanical or electrical life-sustaining devices or very critical medical condition;
- yellow¾residents who are not dependent on mechanical or electrical life-sustaining devices, but cannot be transported using normal means (buses, vans, cars), may need to be transported by an ambulance; however, in the event of inaccessibility of medical transport, buses, vans or cars may be used as a last resort; or
iii. green¾residents who need no specialized transportation may be transported by car, van, bus, or wheelchair accessible transportation; and h. any other information as requested by the department.
- There shall be a plan and procedures to file the report if primary communications fail.
Top Takeaway:
Know which evacuation each resident in your community falls within. This should be reviewed on a consistent basis and changed to reflect their current needs.