24 Miss. Code. R. 2-13.13 - Disaster Preparedness and Response and Continuity of Operations

A. An Emergency and Continuity of Operations Plan must be developed, approved by the governing body, and maintained for each location. Agency providers must develop and maintain an Emergency and Continuity of Operations Plan for each facility/service location which is specific to each certified service location, approved by the governing body, for responding to natural disasters and manmade disasters (fires, bomb threats, utility failures, and other threatening situations, such as cyber-attacks and workplace violence). The plan will ensure that the provider is able to notify staff, people receiving services and their families, and healthcare and community partners when a disaster/emergency occurs, or services are disrupted. The agency provider, to the extent feasible, has identified alternative locations and methods to sustain service delivery and access to medications during emergencies and disasters or other interruptions in operations.

B. The Emergency and Continuity of Operations Plan should identify which events are most likely to affect the facility/service location. This plan must also address at a minimum:

1. Lines/delegations of authority and Incident Command;

2. Identification of a Disaster Coordinator;

3. Notification and plan activation;

4. Coordination of planning and response activities with local and state emergency management authorities;

5. Identification of necessary staffing to carry out essential functions. Assurances that employees will be available to respond during an emergency/disaster, minimal staffing requirements, and staff/departmental responsibilities;

6. Communication with people receiving services and family members, employees, DMH, governing authorities, and accrediting and/or licensing entities;

7. Accounting for all people involved (employees and people receiving services);

8. Conditions for evacuation;

9. Procedures for evacuation;

10. Conditions for agency provider closure;

11. Procedures for agency provider closure;

12. Schedules of drills for the plan;

13. The location of all fire extinguishing equipment, carbon monoxide detectors, and alarms/smoke detectors;

14. The identified or established method of annual fire equipment inspection;

15. Escape routes and procedures that are specific to location/site and the type of disaster(s) for which they apply;

16. Procedures for post event conditions (e.g., loss of power, telephone service, ability to communicate);

17. Identification of agency provider's essential functions in the event of emergency/ disaster;

18. Alternative site in the event of location/site closure;

19. Emergency operations plans;

20. Annual reviews and updates;

21. Identification of vital records and their locations;

22. Identification of systems to maintain security of and access to vital records; and

23. Identification of Health Information Technology systems, security/ransomware protection and backup, and access to these Information Technology systems.

C. In addition to the items above, the Emergency and Continuity of Operations Plans of CMHCs and residential programs certified by DMH must also include the following, as applicable to the program:

1. Local health jurisdictions;

2. Media/public communications;

3. Hospital information/agreements;

4. Providing response to another program;

5. Partial evacuation within the program;

6. Complete evacuation to another program;

7. Shelter information;

8. Housing evacuees from community programs;

9. Food and water for emergency situations;

10. General supply resources;

11. Emergency medical supplies; and

12. Pharmaceutical management.

D. Copies of the Emergency and Continuity of Operations Plan must be maintained on-site for each facility/service location and at the agency provider's administrative offices. Following initial Health and Safety visits, DMH may verify compliance with this rule via agency provider Executive Director assurance submission to DMH, on a schedule as determined by DMH.

E. All agency providers must document implementation of the written plans for emergency/disaster response that are specific to that location/site and continuity of operations. DMH may verify compliance with this rule via agency provider Executive Director assurance submission to DMH, on a schedule as determined by DMH. This documentation of implementation must include, but is not limited to, the following: (Exception: Supported Living and Shared Supported Living that are not owned or controlled by a certified agency provider, and Host Homes).

1. Quarterly fire drills for each facility and service location;

2. Monthly fire drills for Supervised Living and/or Residential Treatment service locations, conducted on a rotating schedule per shift;

3. Quarterly disaster drills, rotating the nature of the event for the drill for each facility and service location; and

4. Annual review of the Emergency and Continuity of Operations Plan for the agency provider with documentation maintained at the main office.

F. All Supervised Living, residential treatment service locations, Opioid Treatment Programs, and/or Crisis Residential Units must have policies and procedures that can be implemented in the event of an emergency which ensure medication (prescription and nonprescription) based on the needs of the people in the service and guidance from appropriate medical personnel are available for up to 72 hours post event. These same provider categories must also maintain current emergency/disaster preparedness kits to support people receiving services and employees for a minimum of 72 hours post event. At a minimum, these supplies must be kept in one (1) place and include the following:

1. Non-perishable foods;

2. Manual can opener;

3. Sufficient water per person, per day, as determined by the agency. Generally, this recommendation equates to approximately one (1) gallon per person, per day;

4. Flashlights and batteries;

5. Plastic sheeting and duct tape;

6. Battery powered AM/FM radio; and

7. Personal hygiene items.

Notes

24 Miss. Code. R. 2-13.13

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-4-7

Adopted 11/1/2024