The State of Texas has asked long-term care facilities to update their hurricane preparedness plans, per a report from Austin NBC affiliate KXAN.
The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season begins on Wednesday (June 1) and runs through Nov. 30. KXAN reported that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is recommending the facilities to look over their preparedness and response plans.
According to HHSC, the station reported, facilities including but not limited to nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospices are required to regularly prepare for hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding.
Hospitals, dialysis centers and state-regulated child care operations must keep their plans up to date as well, per KXAN.
“We are reminding providers how urgent it is to ensure that their plans are updated and that staff at every level are trained on how to fully execute them,” Stephen Pahl with HHSC, said, the station reported. “We all know how unpredictable and dangerous the Texas hurricane season can be, so it is critical that facilities do everything they can in advance to protect residents’ health and safety.”
This requires facilities to maintain plans that consist of current information on evacuations, staff members’ responsibilities and treatment procedures, as well as COVID-19 contingency plans, KXAN reported.
Earlier this month, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) released a list of 21 named storms.
