Preparation for Severe Weather

VHCA (9/4/2008)

In anticipation of storms, hurricanes and other inclement weather potentially affecting the East Coast we are renewing efforts to ensure the priority status for nursing facilities during power outages; an initiative that was initiated after Hurricane Isabel.  As noted in previous MEMOs, we requested nursing facility members to send us their Dominion Virginia Power account numbers in connection with emergency situations resulting in power outages.  Those account numbers have now been forwarded to officials at Dominion Virginia Power who are placing them on a priority status list.  In the event that your facility is a Dominion Virginia Power customer and you experience a power outage, please call 866.591.0157 to report your outages and reference your account number. 

However, if you have not yet forwarded your Dominion Virginia Power account number please email it immediately to Doran Hutchinson at doran.hutchinson@vhca.org so that we can transmit the information to get your facility on the priority list.  For those facilities that receive power from sources other than Dominion, please forward the names of your power companies and account numbers to VHCA as we are working in tandem with the Office of Licensure and Certification to have other electrical power companies place nursing facilities on a similar priority status during power failures. 

Is your facility’s emergency plan in place?  For more information and resources on disaster and emergency preparations refer to the VHCA website.  Among the basic preparations that all facilities should undertake is to check to see that installed emergency generators are ready for operation if needed and adequate to meet minimum needs for life and safety.  If you anticipate that you may need assistance should you lose power, please contact your local jurisdiction's coordinator of emergency services and discuss your concerns.

One additional tip to be better informed during severe weather is to follow federal and state official recommendations to stay tuned to a weather radio. Purchasing a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio is a wise investment when severe weather threatens. These radios are inexpensive and are available for purchase at most electronic retailers or outdoor stores.