One of the most powerful storms to hit the United States, leaving a path of destruction and loss of life. As the rescue efforts in Florida continue, it is comforting to know that post-acute care providers were prepared, we have learned from the past. There were evacuations of many centers and disruption for residents, however, no reported loss of life. This is no small feat when you understand the difficult process of evacuating frail elders!
Disaster preparedness should not be looked at as a “task” that is required by regulation. Disaster preparedness should be a part of our daily operations, never letting our guard down. As providers we are often faced with many different threats including natural disasters. We all remember the horrors of Katrina in 2005, the hurricane that kept on giving, the levy that “didn’t hold”, the catastrophic flooding and the tremendous loss of life. Then Irma in 2017 where a dozen residents died in a nursing home that lost power, leading to regulations requiring backup generators.
Please take a few minutes during your next QAPI committee meeting to discuss your disaster preparedness plan and review your policies. Be sure that you are included on all state and local emergency notification alert systems. Invite local first responders to your center, give them a floor plan of your physical plant to keep on file, discuss how you identify resident evacuation capabilities and of course, ask for input and support from them. Review generator logs/checks to be sure you are prepared in the event of a loss of power. Remember, we never know what tomorrow will bring, be prepared, involve your community, and have a plan! Stay safe and stay informed!
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