Revised: 02/19/18
Preparing for Emergencies: Information for
Residents and Family Members
No one wants to think and worry about
disasters. Knowing what to expect ahead of
time can help ease any concerns. This fact
sheet tells you how our facility has prepared
for emergencies.
We have a written emergency plan that is
reviewed and tested every year. Our plan
addresses the following types of emergencies:
• Weather emergencies such as tornadoes,
hurricanes, and winter weather.
• Security incidents such as bomb threats,
terrorism, and active shooters.
• Natural disasters such as earthquakes and
floods.
All staff and volunteers are trained on
emergency procedures. They participate in
drills and exercises to test their knowledge.
Residents are asked to take part in all drills so
they can know what to expect in an actual
emergency.
Communication:
Our emergency plan includes procedures for
communication. Notification of families in the
event of an evacuation is part of that plan. We
ask that you provide us with current phone
numbers and/or email addresses. You can
expect either a personal call or a recorded
message. If you provide an email address, you
may receive an email in addition to the phone
call. In the event of an emergency, call lines
may be busy.
Evacuation versus Shelter In-Place:
This facility uses a standard approach to
managing emergencies. The Administrator
serves as the Incident Commander. Department
Heads serve specific roles during an
emergency. They communicate with staff and
local emergency management officials in order
to make decisions. One major decision is
whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place. The
Administrator makes the final decision.
In case of evacuation, we have procedures in
place to ensure the safety of our residents. We
have made arrangements in advance with other
facilities and transportation services to ensure
our residents have a safe place to go. Our
nurses send important medical information
with each resident. They keep a log of where
each resident is sent. In case of immediate
evacuation, such as with a fire, our safe zone is
facility parking lot.
For safety reasons, the Administrator may
decide to shelter-in-place. This may occur
when there is not enough time to evacuate
safely. Sometimes it may be safer inside the
building. We have procedures in place to
ensure adequate food, supplies, power, and
medications for our residents and staff for at
least three days. We have made arrangements
in advance to receive additional supplies or
assistance, if needed.
Lock Down Procedures:
Some situations will warrant the facility to be
placed on “lock down”. During these
situations, no one will be allowed to enter or
leave the facility. Lock-downs may occur for
many reasons, including (but not limited to) a
hazardous chemical inside or outside the
building, a weather-related event, or police
action outside the building. In the event of a
lockdown, please remain calm and follow any
instructions from management staff or
emergency personnel.
Please direct any questions regarding our
emergency plan to the facility administrator.
Heather Ballew (319)524-5772
© 2023 RIVER HILLS VILLAGE 20 VILLAGE CIRCLE. KEOKUK IA 52632 . (319) 524-5772