RCFE Emergency and Disaster Preparedness 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Under Title 22, what must an RCFE's written emergency and disaster plan include?

Only the name of the facility's insurance provider
Evacuation procedures, transportation resources, communication protocols, and roles of staff during emergencies (Correct answer)
A list of all residents' next-of-kin contact information only
Disaster preparedness is addressed verbally; no written plan is required

Correct answer: Evacuation procedures, transportation resources, communication protocols, and roles of staff during emergencies

The written disaster plan must address evacuation, transportation, communication, and staff roles during various emergency scenarios.

Title 22 requires every RCFE to maintain a written emergency and disaster plan that covers a range of emergency scenarios including fire, earthquake, power outage, and other local hazards. The plan must address: (1) evacuation procedures and routes for all residents including those with mobility limitations, (2) transportation resources for evacuation of non-ambulatory residents, (3) communication protocols for contacting staff, residents' families, and emergency services, (4) the location of emergency supplies, (5) mutual aid agreements with nearby facilities or organizations, and (6) specific staff assignments and roles during various emergency types. The plan must be reviewed annually and practiced through drills.

Question 2: How must an RCFE prepare for a prolonged power outage that could affect resident safety?

Wait for the utility company to restore power without any advance preparation
Maintain a plan that addresses how essential services and resident safety will be maintained during an extended power outage (Correct answer)
Evacuate all residents to hospitals immediately upon any power interruption
Power outages are not addressed in RCFE disaster planning requirements

Correct answer: Maintain a plan that addresses how essential services and resident safety will be maintained during an extended power outage

RCFEs must have a plan for maintaining essential services and resident safety during extended power outages.

A prolonged power outage poses multiple threats to RCFE residents: loss of heating or air conditioning (which can be life-threatening for the elderly), inability to operate medical equipment (such as oxygen concentrators or electric beds), loss of refrigeration for medications and food, and inadequate lighting. Title 22's emergency planning requirements include addressing utility failures. Facilities should have backup generators for essential systems, emergency lighting, a plan for transferring residents dependent on powered medical equipment, and protocols for checking on each resident's welfare during an outage. Staff must be trained on the emergency procedures for power outages.

Question 3: What is the purpose of an RCFE maintaining a current list of residents with special evacuation needs?

To satisfy CDSS reporting requirements only
To ensure staff know which residents require additional assistance or special equipment during an emergency evacuation (Correct answer)
To exclude certain residents from evacuation drills
To provide information to local news media during emergencies

Correct answer: To ensure staff know which residents require additional assistance or special equipment during an emergency evacuation

The special needs list ensures staff are prepared to provide appropriate evacuation assistance to residents who cannot self-evacuate.

During an emergency, there is no time to determine which residents need evacuation assistance for the first time. RCFE facilities must maintain a current, readily accessible list identifying residents who require special assistance during evacuation — such as those using wheelchairs, walkers, or having cognitive impairments that make self-directed evacuation impossible. This list should be updated whenever a new resident is admitted or a resident's functional status changes. It should be kept where staff on all shifts can access it, and each resident's evacuation assistance needs should be practiced during quarterly fire drills. CDSS expects to see this documentation during inspections.

Question 4: An RCFE experiences a gas leak during the night. What is the priority action for staff?

Turn on all lights to assess the situation
Evacuate residents immediately, call 911, and do not re-enter until cleared by emergency responders (Correct answer)
Open windows and wait for the smell to dissipate before contacting anyone
Contact CDSS first before calling 911

Correct answer: Evacuate residents immediately, call 911, and do not re-enter until cleared by emergency responders

A gas leak is an immediate life-safety emergency requiring immediate evacuation, calling 911, and not re-entering until cleared by emergency responders.

A natural gas leak is a potentially explosive and toxic emergency requiring immediate action. Staff must: (1) evacuate all residents immediately without using elevators, (2) do not operate any electrical switches (which can ignite gas), (3) call 911 from outside the building, (4) do not re-enter until the fire department or gas utility clears the building, and (5) account for all residents and staff at the assembly point. The administrator must be notified and the incident documented. CDSS should be notified if the incident resulted in injury or significant disruption to residents' care. The facility's emergency plan should specifically address gas leak response procedures.

Question 5: How often must an RCFE review and update its emergency and disaster plan?

Only when required by a CDSS inspection finding
At least annually, and whenever there are significant changes to the facility or its resident population (Correct answer)
Every five years is sufficient
Only after an actual emergency has occurred

Correct answer: At least annually, and whenever there are significant changes to the facility or its resident population

Emergency plans must be reviewed and updated annually and whenever significant changes occur, such as facility renovations or changes in resident needs.

Title 22 requires that the emergency and disaster plan be reviewed and updated at least annually. The review should assess whether the plan still accurately reflects the facility's physical layout, staffing structure, resident population's needs, available resources, and local hazard risks. Updates are also required when there are significant changes — such as a physical renovation changing evacuation routes, new residents with complex evacuation needs, changes in staffing structure, or after an actual emergency reveals gaps in the plan. Documentation of the annual review, including who participated and what changes were made, should be maintained as part of the facility's records.

Question 6: What should an RCFE include in its emergency supply kit?

Only a first aid kit and a flashlight
Water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, resident medication lists, flashlights, batteries, blankets, and emergency contact information (Correct answer)
Only financial records and insurance information
A supply kit is not required if the facility has backup generator power

Correct answer: Water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, resident medication lists, flashlights, batteries, blankets, and emergency contact information

Emergency supply kits must cover basic survival needs and critical medical information for all residents.

An RCFE's emergency supply kit should be sufficient to sustain residents and staff for a minimum of 72 hours without external support, as major disasters may delay emergency services. The kit should include: (1) potable water (minimum one gallon per person per day), (2) non-perishable food, (3) a first aid kit, (4) current resident medication lists and critical health information, (5) flashlights and extra batteries, (6) emergency blankets, (7) a list of emergency contacts for all residents, (8) copies of residents' emergency contact information and advance directives, and (9) any critical specialized supplies for residents with unique needs (such as portable oxygen). The kit should be inspected and replenished regularly.

RCFE Emergency and Disaster Preparedness 2

Under Title 22, what must an RCFE's written emergency and disaster plan include?