Emergency and Natural Disaster Drills – The Partner Provider must have and follow

Emergency and Natural Disaster Drills – The Partner Provider must have and follow written procedures for fire and natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods which specify frequency of drills, evacuation plans and responsibilities of staff. The drills must include an actual evacuation of children to safe areas. All Partner Providers must have a continuity of operations plan. 1. Conducting Drills. Partner Providers must post a schedule of fire drills and applicable disaster drills. Partner Providers must specify emergency escape procedures and ensure staff and residents are aware of the emergency escape routes. Partner Providers must post maps throughout the facility in highly visible locations that clearly indicate: a. Current location; b. Nearest exits; and c. Best escape routes from current location to nearest exits. 2. Frequency of Drills. a. Fire drills must be conducted at least monthly in a residential program and must be rotated among the following time frames. i. 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. ii. 3:00 P.M. to 11:00P.M iii. 11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. b. Disaster drills must be conducted at least annually. 3. Fire Detection Equipment. a. Fire extinguishing equipment, fire alarms, and smoke detectors must be inspected annually. b. Fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and smoke detectors must be located and securely mounted throughout the facility in all residential areas and where conditions warrant (i.e., flammable storage areas). c. Fire extinguishers should be mounted on the wall or underneath a cabinet, secured from children. Fire alarms should be mounted on the ceiling or wall and be resistant to tampering. Smoke detectors should be mounted on the ceiling or wall and be resistant to tampering. d. Staff and children of appropriate age and functioning capacity must be trained in the correct reporting of fires and how to extinguish small fires. 4. Reporting Drills. Partner Providers must maintain a record of completed drills. Written reports must follow each fire or emergency drill and must include at a minimum: a. Date of drill; b. Time required for completion of drill; c. Number of children involved in drill; d. Signature of staff member completing the report; and e. A copy of the completed report must be sent to the MDCPS Congregate Care Unit at congregate.care@mdcps.ms.gov within twenty-four (24) hours.