The high volume of snow associated with this past winter has filled reservoirs around the nation and blanketed mountain tops providing beautiful scenery. While this might not be as urgent at lower elevations and warmer climates, in some key places, eventually, that snow is going to melt and that run-off may adversely impact individual long-term care facilities, as well as the infrastructure of entire communities.
It is incumbent for operators to consider the hazards associated with localized or regional flooding and have contingencies in place to manage emergency incidents as they occur.
One of the most important elements of contingency planning is the Emergency Operation Plan (EOP). Now is the time to review the EOP to ensure that staff and all stakeholders are familiar with appropriate sections of the plan that address perils like water incursion, evacuation, shelter-in-place, contaminated water supply, disruption of delivery services and other sections of the plan that may be directly or indirectly related to flooding.
While it is unlikely that local or regional flooding will contaminate the municipal or public water supply system, LTC providers must always consider this possibility. Large municipal water departments and even small rural water districts have their own plans and contingencies in place to safeguard public water supplies. Beyond those safeguards, individual LTC facilities should always be prepared for water supply disruption or contamination and be ready to maintain continuity of services; even when the water supply to the facility is compromised. Ensuring that adequate supplies of emergency water are on hand at all times is a critical contingency.
Water incursion into a building is always possible as retention ponds, reservoirs, tributaries, creeks, washes, and rivers will rise as the snow melt progresses into the spring. Again, being familiar with the internal and external flooding protocols that are likely included in a facility’s EOP is very important.
Here are some other resources that providers might find helpful for the upcoming snow melt as well as seasonal severe weather that can trigger flooding:
- Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospital and Healthcare Facilities
- CAHF video on “Water Incursion”
- FEMA flood maps
- CDC flood resources
- Ready.gov
- Arizona Disaster Ready / EPIC – Industrial Hygiene Resources – Water Intrusion
Finally, providers should have a “primary” disaster recovery and restoration company engaged to provide services in case of water incursion along with a listing of back-up service contractors. A facility’s EOP should itemize more than one recovery and restoration solution to help ensure these essential services when the primary service contractor is not available.
Providers must understand that if regional flooding were to occur, it is likely that all recovery and restoration companies will be responding to the incident and have limits to their service capabilities. That is why it is essential to have more than one emergency contingency listed in your EOP.
Don’t wait for the flood waters to rise or the evacuation order to be issued. Providers can help mitigate potential disasters by maintaining “situational awareness” of seasonal perils such as flooding and other forecasted natural occurring events.
Stan Szpytek is the president of the national consulting firm, Fire and Life Safety, Inc. based in Mesa, Arizona. He is a consultant for the American Assisted Living Association (AALNA) and is the Life Safety/Disaster Planning Consultant for the Arizona Health Care Association, California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF) and Utah Health Care Association. Szpytek is a former deputy fire chief and fire marshal with more than 40 years of experience in life safety compliance and emergency preparedness. For more information, visit www.FLSafety.org or e-mail Szpytek at [email protected].
