Emergency Preparedness for the Hurricane Season and Other Emergencies

Assisted living facilities, day activity health services facilities, home and community support service agencies, intermediate care facilities for individuals with an intellectual disability or related conditions, in-patient hospice facilities, and nursing facilities should review their emergency preparedness and response plans for the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1, 2017 through November 30, 2017.

Facilities must also be prepared for the possibility of other potential emergencies such as tornadoes, floods or fires. In consideration of a possible facility evacuation, plans must address:

  • evacuation procedures;
  • procedures for receiving evacuees from other providers, if applicable; and
  • resources available in the event of an emergency.

Facilities should contact their local DADS Regulatory Services regional office (RO) if they are impacted by an adverse event such as severe weather (e.g., water is in the building after a severe thunderstorm).

This communication is especially critical if a facility is projected to exceed its licensed capacity because it is accepting residents that have been evacuated from another facility. All requests to exceed licensed capacity due to an emergency situation must be requested through the RO and approved by the director of survey operations.

Please refer to Provider Letter 15-15 for additional important information regarding emergency preparedness.

 

Take These Precautions When Transporting People During Hot Weather

Be aware that elderly people are particularly susceptible to heat related injury and death. Heatstroke occurs 12 to 13 times more often in persons 65 years or older than it does in younger persons.

When transporting people from your facility to another location during hot weather, DADS encourages providers to:

  • Carry a list with the names of all the people who are being transported.
  • Verify that everyone has exited the vehicle at drop-off locations.
  • Make sure no one is left inside the vehicle when you park it.
  • Ensure that seat belts and seat surfaces inside the vehicle are not too hot before people get in.

In addition, knowing the signs of heat related illnesses can help ensure the safety of the people you serve during hot weather. Learn more at:

Extreme Heat Safety, Texas Department of Public Safety