Virginia Law

A. Each JCC shall have a written emergency preparedness and response plan. The plan shall address:

1. Documentation of contact with the local emergency coordinator to determine (i) local disaster risks; (ii) communitywide plans to address different disasters and emergency situations; and (iii) assistance, if any, that the local emergency management office will provide to the facility in an emergency;

2. Analysis of the facility's capabilities and potential hazards, including natural disasters, severe weather, fire, flooding, workplace violence or terrorism, missing persons, severe injuries, or other emergencies that would disrupt the normal course of service delivery;

3. Written emergency management procedures outlining specific responsibilities for (i) provision of administrative direction and management of response activities; (ii) coordination of logistics during the emergency; (iii) communications; (iv) life safety of employees, contractors, interns, volunteers, visitors, and residents; (v) property protection; (vi) community outreach; and (vii) recovery and restoration;

4. Written emergency response procedures for (i) assessing the situation; (ii) protecting residents, employees, contractors, interns, volunteers, visitors, equipment, and vital records; and (iii) restoring services shall address:

a. Communicating with employees, contractors, and community responders;

b. Warning and notification of residents;

c. Providing emergency access to secure areas and opening locked doors;

d. Requiring fire and emergency keys that are instantly identifiable by sight and touch;

e. Conducting evacuations to emergency shelters or alternative sites and accounting for all residents;

f. Relocating residents, if necessary;

g. Notifying parents and legal guardians, as applicable and appropriate;

h. Alerting emergency personnel and sounding alarms;

i. Locating and shutting off utilities when necessary; and

j. Providing for a planned, personalized means of effective egress for residents who use wheelchairs, crutches, canes, or other mechanical devices for assistance in walking.

5. Supporting documents that would be needed in an emergency, including emergency call lists, building and site maps necessary to shut off utilities, designated escape routes, and list of major resources such as local emergency shelters; and

6. Schedule for testing the implementation of the plan and conducting emergency preparedness drills.

B. All employees shall be trained to ensure they are prepared to implement the emergency preparedness plan in the event of an emergency. Such training shall include the employees' responsibilities for:

1. Alerting emergency personnel and sounding alarms;

2. Implementing evacuation procedures, including evacuation of residents with special needs (i.e., deaf, blind, nonambulatory);

3. Using, maintaining, and operating emergency equipment;

4. Accessing emergency information for residents including medical information; and

5. Utilizing community support services.

C. Contractors and volunteers shall be oriented in their responsibilities in implementing the evacuation plan in the event of an emergency. Such orientation shall be in accordance with the requirements of 6VAC35-71-150 (required initial orientation), 6VAC35-71-160 (required initial training), and 6VAC35-71-240 (volunteer and intern orientation and training).

D. The JCC shall document the review of the emergency preparedness plan annually and make necessary revisions. Such revisions shall be communicated to employees, contractors, volunteers, and interns and shall be incorporated into (i) training for employees, contractors, interns, and volunteers; and (ii) orientation of residents to services.

E. In the event of a disaster, fire, emergency or any other condition that may jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of residents, the facility shall take appropriate action to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents and to remedy the conditions as soon as possible.

F. In the event of a disaster, fire, emergency, or any other condition that may jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of residents, the facility should first respond and stabilize the disaster or emergency. After the disaster or emergency is stabilized, the facility shall (i) report the disaster or emergency to (a) the legal guardian and (b) the director or his designee of the conditions at the facility and (ii) report the disaster or emergency to the regulatory authority. Such reporting shall be made as soon as possible but no later than 72 hours after the incident is stabilized.

G. Floor plans showing primary and secondary means of emergency exiting shall be posted on each floor in locations where they can easily be seen by employees and residents.

H. The responsibilities of the residents in implementing the emergency and evacuation procedures shall be communicated to all residents within seven days following admission or a substantive change in the procedures.

I. At least one evacuation drill (the simulation of the facility's emergency procedures) shall be conducted each month in each building occupied by residents. During any three consecutive calendar months, at least one evacuation drill shall be conducted during each shift.

J. A record shall be maintained for each evacuation drill and shall include the following:

1. Buildings in which the drill was conducted;

2. Date and time of drill;

3. Amount of time to evacuate the buildings; and

4. Specific problems encountered.

K. Each JCC shall assign one employee who shall ensure that all requirements regarding the emergency preparedness and response plan and the evacuation drill program are met.