EMERGENCY PLANNING FOR LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES Joseph

EMERGENCY PLANNING FOR LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES Joseph B. Phillips Director Division of Emergency Medical Services

Facility Hazards Fire n Storms n Hazardous Materials n Earthquakes n Bioterrorism & Pandemics n

Facility Preparedness n BLHCF Regulations for Fire Safety and Patient Relocation n Local Emergency Services will Conduct Emergency Evacuations n The Capability Now Exists in all Regions to Coordinate a Multi County Ambulance Response

Catastrophic Hazards n Cause- Severe Storms- Blizzards, Ice Storms, Floods, Earthquakes, Epidemics n Results- Death and Injury to Residents and Long Term Loss of Electricity and other Utilities

Catastrophic Events n Could Cause Utility Loss for Several Weeks Evacuation/Relocation Plans May Not work Because all Facilities in a Multi County Area Could have the Same Problems In that Situation, How can Residents be Kept Warm and Fed?

Events Where This Problem Has Occurred Blizzard of 1993 n Ice Storm of 1994 n Lawrenceburg Flood of 1998 n Jackson Tornados of 2004 n

Tennessee Emergency Management Plan The TEMP is the state and local government guide to managing emergencies n TEMA will Coordinate the Work of All State Agencies and Many Private Groups to Support Local Needs During Emergencies n Resources can be Obtained from State, Federal and Corporate Sources. n

Emergency Resources Generators n Water n Food n Shelter n

Pandemic Influenza A Flu Pandemic is Expected to be Nationwide n Federal Assistance of all Types would be Rationed n There may be no Hospital Beds for Long Term Care Patients n Health Care Services will Triage Patients n

Pandemic Effects Staff will be Reduced n Visitors may have to be Banned n Food Deliveries may be Affected n Sick Residents may have to be Treated in the Facility because Hospital Beds May Not be Available n

Questions?