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