Rule: What is an emergency preparedness plan?

Emergency Preparedness Plan

In addition to minimum standard rule requirements to plan for emergency evacuations, the rule requirements for child care homes and centers (chapters 744, 746 & 747) have been amended for emergency preparedness plans to include specifications of emergency relocation and emergency lock-downs.

There are four types of emergency responses you are required to address in your plan

TYPE	WHEN	WHERE
Evacuation	Immediate situation rendering inside of building unsafe; safety can be sought outdoors (example: fire)	Designated location outside of the operation
Relocation	Imminent situation rendering inside and outside of building unsafe (example: flooding)	Designated location away from the operation
Sheltering	Immediate or imminent situation rendering partial areas of indoor space unsafe and leaving or exiting the operation unsafe (example: tornado)	Designated location within the operation
Lock-Down	Immediate or imminent situation rendering partial areas of indoor space unsafe and leaving or exiting the operation unsafe (example: endangering person on premises or in area)	Designated location within the operation

Technical Assistance: As you create your procedures for preparedness, consider the types of emergencies your operation may be at greater risk to experience. Are you in a floodplain? Is your operation situated at a lower elevation (e.g. downhill)? Are you in an area that experiences tornadoes? Is your building well-maintained? Does your operation use gas?

Technical Assistance: To stay informed of emergencies that may impact you, consider signing up for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), which will include the agency issuing the alert, the type and time of the alert and any action you should take. Visit ready.gov for more information about Wireless Emergency Alerts.

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Consider This!

Darren recently updated his operation's emergency preparedness plan to include the alternate shelter location as required by minimum standard rules.

It started raining heavily about an hour ago and the national weather center as issued a flash flood warning for his area. The operation's physical facilities have never experienced flooding, but Darren cannot recall an instance when it has rained this heavily. Darren carefully determines the safest action to take to ensure the safety of children in care.

Review Darren's response options and determine which may be best.

a. Although the driving conditions will be risky, Darren decides to relocate everyone to the alternate shelter location identified in the emergency preparedness plan to ensure he meets minimum standard rule requirements.

b. b. Darren considers the location of the operation and its lack of past incidences and decides that the weather is too risky to attempt relocation. He decides to move everyone to the cafeteria, which has no outside accessible doors.

Technical Assistance: For emergency situations, especially those requiring critical decision-making, it is best practice to contact your local fire department to inform them of your current situation, options and plans. Authorities can help you determine which action may be the safest.

What should I consider when choosing the lock-down location in my operation?

There are two types of lock-downs: when there is a dangerous person inside your operation and when there is a dangerous person in your operation's area. How you respond will depend on which type of lock-down situation you are experiencing.

Danger inside the operation

ensure employees are able to hear the lock-down announcement
call 911
move all children and employees to the nearest safe room and lock doors (do not lock entrances to your operation)
direct caregivers to take attendance and account for all children in their care
secure windows, close all window coverings and move away from windows when possible
stay quite and turn off any light or sound that may indicate your presence
direct caregivers to stay in their secure locations until an announcement is made confirming the threat is clear

Danger in the area outside of the operation

ensure employees are able to hear the lock-down announcement
lock all entrances to your operation
move all children and employees to the nearest safe room and lock doors
direct caregivers to take attendance and account for all children in their care
secure windows, close all window coverings and move away from windows when possible
direct caregivers to stay in their secure locations and continue normal activity until an announcement is made confirming the threat is clear

Consider This!

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Rule: What is an emergency preparedness plan?

There are four types of emergency responses you are required to address in your plan

TYPE

WHEN

WHERE

Evacuation

Relocation

Sheltering

Lock-Down

What should I consider when choosing the lock-down location in my operation?

Danger inside the operation

Danger in the area outside of the operation