Loss of Utilities / Services

The attached Guidelines for Developing Best Practices to Assist California Hospitals in Preparing for and Responding to a Water Disruption are being published in draft form and are for hospital use in preparing for the November 17, 2011 California Statewide Medical and Health Training and Exercise Program. These tools may also be used for any other hospital water disruption planning activities. 

These guidelines were drafted under the CHA Hospital Preparedness Program with participation from a work group which was comprised of hospital representatives and state regulatory agencies.

The guidelines address:

• Overview of a hospital water disruption
• The hospital water supply planning team
• Conducting a water use audit
• Role of California Regulatory Agencies in a water disruption
• Water disruption standards and regulations
• Coordinating with the community response to a water disruption

The guidelines contain links to federal and state references and include six attachments which provide additional information and check lists to assist hospitals with water disruption planning and response.
 

• Hospital Water Disruption Guidelines - Cover Memo (.pdf)
• Hospital Water Disruption Best Practices / Guidelines Document (.doc)
• Water Disruption Probability (.doc)
• Water Conservation Equipment (.pdf)
• Alternate Water Source Options (.doc)
• Hospital Guidance for Surviving a Water Disruption (.doc)
• Healthcare Water System Repair (.pdf)

Recovering from a fire can be a physically and mentally draining process. When fire strikes, lives are suddenly turned around. Often, the hardest part is knowing where to begin and who to contact.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) has gathered the following information to assist you in this time of need. Action on some of the suggestions will need to be taken immediately. Some actions may be needed in the future while others will be on going. The purpose of this information is to give you the assistance needed to assist you as you begin rebuilding your life

• Access Fire Recovery Information and Resources

In order to maintain daily operations and patient care services, health care facilities need to develop an Emergency Water Supply Plan (EWSP) to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a total or partial interruption of the facilities’ normal water supply. Water supply interruption can be caused by several types of events such as natural disaster, a failure of the community water system, construction damage or even an act of terrorism. Because water supplies can and do fail, it is imperative to understand and address how patient safety, quality of care, and the operations of your facility will be impacted.

A health care facility must be able to respond to and recover from a water supply interruption. A robust EWSP can provide a road map for response and recovery by providing the guidance to assess water usage, response capabilities, and water alternatives.

• Download the CDC's Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities

Water providers and healthcare facilities must work together to develop effective emergency plans to sustain hospital functions when water supplies are disrupted.

• Dowload article (PDF)                        (c) Journal AWWA, Vol. 102, No. 1  

Does your hospital's Emergency Management Plan address Loss of Water?

• Download the Loss of Water Incident Planning Guide for Hospitals

Does your hospital's Emergency Management Plan address Loss of Power?

• Download the Loss of Power Incident Planning Guide for Hospitals

Does you hospital's Emergency Management Plan address the loss of HVAC systems?

• Download the Loss of HVAC Incident Planning Guide for Hospitals

Does your hospital's Emergency Management Plan address Internal Flooding?

• Download the Internal Flooding Incident Planning Guide for Hospitals

Does your Emergency Management Plan address fire?

• Download the Fire Incident Planning Guide for Hospitals