Emergency Preparedness Planning for Nursing Homes and Residential Care Settings in Vermont

Description: This manual was developed for nursing homes, assisted living residences, residential care homes and therapeutic community care homes in Vermont. The manual is organized into three sections. Section I provides an introduction to basic emergency management concepts. Section II helps users take a “bird's eye view” of their facility, setting the context for developing an emergency preparedness plan tailored to a specific facility's needs. Section III contains five planning modules that focus on priority aspects of emergency preparedness, including establishing a chain of command, setting up redundant communications systems, planning for staffing shortages, planning to shelter in place and planning for evacuation. The manual includes worksheets and checklists to help identify gaps and strengthen plans.