Virginia Law

A. The vendor shall have a written emergency preparedness plan that addresses staff responsibility and facility readiness with respect to emergency evacuation, relocation, lockdown and shelter-in-place procedures. The plan shall address the most likely to occur emergency scenarios, including severe storms, loss of utilities, natural disaster, chemical spills, intruder, and violence on or near the facility, and facility damage or other situations that may require evacuation, lockdown, or shelter-in-place.

B. The emergency preparedness plan shall contain procedural components for:

1. Evacuation procedures, including:

a. Scenario applicability;

b. Methods to alert staff and emergency responders;

c. Designated primary and secondary routes out of the building;

d. Designated assembly points away from the building;

e. Designated relocation site;

f. Methods to ensure all children are evacuated from the building, and if necessary, moved to a relocation site;

g. Methods to account for all children at the assembly point and relocation site;

h. Method of communication with parents after the evacuation or relocation;

i. Accommodations or special requirements for infants, toddlers, and children with special needs to ensure their safety during evacuation or relocation;

j. Method to ensure essential documents, including emergency contact information, attendance records, medications, and supplies are taken to the assembly point and relocation site; and

k. Procedures to address reuniting children with a parent or an authorized person designated by the parent to pick up the child.

2. Shelter-in-place procedures, including:

a. Scenario applicability, inside assembly points, primary and secondary means of access and egress;

b. Method to account for all children at the safe locations;

c. Method to ensure essential documents (attendance records, emergency contact information, etc.) and special health supplies are carried into the designated assembly points;

d. Method of communication after the shelter-in-place;

e. Accommodations or special requirements for infants, toddlers, and children with special needs to ensure their safety during shelter-in-place; and

f. Procedures to address reuniting children with a parent or an authorized person designated by the parent to pick up the child.

3. Lockdown procedures, to include facility containment, including:

a. Methods to alert staff and emergency responders;

b. Methods to secure the facility and designated lockdown locations;

c. Methods to account for all children in the lockdown locations;

d. Methods of communication with parents and emergency responders;

e. Accommodations or special requirements for infants, toddlers, and children with special needs to ensure their safety during lockdown; and

f. Procedures to address reuniting children with a parent or an authorized person designated by the parent to pick up the child.

4. Staff training requirements, drill frequency, and plan review and update.

5. Continuity of operations procedures to ensure that essential functions are maintained during an emergency.

6. Other special procedures developed with local authorities.

C. Emergency evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures or maps shall be posted in a location conspicuous to staff and children on each floor of each building.

D. A 911 or local dial number for police, fire, and emergency medical services and the number of the regional poison control center shall be posted in a visible and conspicuous place.

E. The vendor shall ensure that all staff receives training regarding emergency evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place, and lockdown procedures on an annual basis and at the end of each plan update.

F. The vendor shall ensure that the emergency plans are reviewed with any volunteers who work more than six hours per week prior to volunteering and on an annual basis.