Long-Term Care Facility Winter and Extreme Freezing Weather Preparedness

Date: February 21, 2025

Attention: Long-term care facilities

Call to action: A reminder from Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to long-term care facilities and agencies to review and update emergency plans for freezing temperatures and snow. Emergency plans for extreme weather should include the provider’s plan to address:

• Power loss.
• Water and food needs.
• Medical and pharmaceutical supplies.
• Communication to families and staff.
• Staffing shortages.
• Sheltering in place and evacuation, as applicable.

How this impacts providers: Additional guidance:

• Providers must follow emergency preparedness rules and their own internal emergency preparedness policies and procedures.
• Facilities with generators should perform any maintenance or needed testing while the weather is mild. This will ensure the equipment functions in case of extreme cold or power loss.
• It is important to review building integrity and identify any areas that may need repair, reinforcement, or weatherproofing.
• Multi-story buildings should review any other needed measures should evacuation be required and have a plan in place for how to move residents around or out of the building if there is a loss of power.

Preparing for disaster is the most important step in protecting the Texans we serve and reducing the risk for loss of life.

Next step for Providers: Facilities should share this communication with their staff.

If you have any questions, please email Provider Relations at:providerrelations@texaschildrens.org

For access to all provider alerts:https://www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/provideralerts