The safety of the children/young adults and employees of Refuge House is a high priority. While events such as tornadoes, flooding, fire, and the like occur without warning, procedures are set forth should such an event occur. In addition to these procedures, remaining calm to avoid panic and using sound judgment have, in the past, proven to be invaluable. Foster/adoptive parents and staff should tune in to their local radio and/or television stations for further information, especially if telephone service is disrupted by the emergency. Foster/adoptive parents should remember that Refuge House should be notified immediately of an emergency/disaster so that the foster or pre-adoptive child’s managing conservator can be contacted within a 24-hour period of time from the time of the incident.

Refuge House Disaster Team:

Refuge House Disaster staff will assemble at a Refuge House Office within a three hour time frame. If, for any reason, the team cannot meet they will use the 2 way radio to communicate amongst one another. At that time disaster staff will designate relief duties.

Foster/Adoptive Homes:

All foster/adoptive families will be responsible for completing a Foster/Adoptive Home Disaster Plan form, which will be provided to Refuge House. Families are encouraged to arrange to have a personal contact person in another area of the state or in another state that will provide shelter and serve as an emergency contact person for communication in the event of a disaster.

Foster/adoptive parents should also have some essential supplies on hand to make their family more comfortable (see attached handout: “Are You Ready” prepared by the Florida Institute for Family Involvement or go to www.fifionline.org). Refuge House has developed a requirement that all families maintain a standard emergency kit consisting of:

• 4 gallons of water

• At least two flash lights

• First aid kit

• Weather radio

• Emergency food

• 2-way radio

• Emergency contact numbers

The emergency evacuation plan for each specific event is listed below. However, in each circumstance it is only mandatory to evacuate if directed by local officials, or if remaining presents suspected immediate danger to the child/ren.

Fire, Gas Leak or Explosion

In the event of a fire, foster/adoptive parents should ensure that all residents are accounted for and have congregated at the exit location farthest away from the fire. Foster/adoptive parents should evacuate everyone in a quick and orderly manner using the safest means of escape from the home. Evacuation routines practiced during home fire drills should be used.

Once outside the home one person should contact emergency personnel by dialing 911 with the exact location of the fire and a report of any injuries. One parent will remain with the children/young adults outside the home at all times to assure the children/young adults’s ongoing safety (remain in safe location, free of traffic and fire). After contacting fire personnel, immediately contact Refuge House. Refuge House will inform the legal guardians of the situation. It is important to remember to stay out of streets and driveways where emergency vehicles may need to proceed. Do NOT for any reason re-enter any building until the Fire Department has cleared the building for re-entry.

In event of loss of power Refuge House will make every possible attempt to secure emergency power, food, water, and transportation to all foster/adoptive families in need.

All foster/adoptive homes must have working fire extinguishers and smoke detectors and must also practice fire drills each quarter

Tornado/Severe Inclement Weather/Air Raid, etc.

Foster/adoptive parents should ensure that all residents are accounted for and have congregated in a hall or bathroom in which there are no windows. Move as quickly as possible. It is preferable that all homes have a weather radio, flashlights, first-aid kit, and a minimum of 4 gallons of bottled water in their designated meeting place in the event of a severe storm. Remain in this location until it is safe to exit the home.

Once the storm or other threat has subsided, assess for any injuries and perform first-aid and contact emergency personnel as needed. Contact Refuge House as soon as possible. Refuge House will inform the legal guardians of the situation. Notify Refuge House after permission is given but prior to returning home.

In event of loss of power Refuge House will make every possible attempt to secure emergency power, food, water, and transportation to all foster/adoptive families in need.

Foster/adoptive homes should practice tornado drills each quarter.

Emergency Involving Infection Disease Outbreak or Requiring Evacuation or Quarantine for Infectious Disease

In the event that a specific scenario arises related to an infectious or communicable disease, Refuge House staff, contractors and foster homes should act in all due diligence both the protect all persons from contact with the disease and/or transfer of the disease to other persons. As such, staff and caregivers will follow the directives below, including any pertinent addenda to this plan related to a specific disease.

• Follow all CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendations on Travel Health Notices (found at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices) regarding staff and child travel and subsequent quarantine.

• Post signs at the entrance to your home instructing visitors not to visit if they are ill or have symptoms of a respiratory illness.

• Stay home if you or family members have symptoms of respiratory illness. This includes ensuring that hygiene and food needs are addressed and can be obtained. Contact your case manager if you will need to miss or reschedule appointments, particularly therapy and medication management appointments. Notify your psychiatric professional in order to obtain additional medications if necessary.

• Identify a list of key contacts at your local and state health departments. Monitor local and state public health sources to understand outbreak activity in your community (the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/ and Department of State Health Services website https://dshs.texas.gov/ are excellent resources).

• Be aware of temporary school closures and address how residents will be supervised and kept busy when local gathering places may be closed for public safety. If there is transmission in the community, consult with public health authorities for additional guidance.

• Implement everyday preventive actions. Ensure a clean environment in your home. Perform routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (ex. tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles desks, toilets, faucets, sinks) with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface following label instructions

• Monitor residents for symptoms that resemble those of a disease outbreak. Contact healthcare providers for children with fever or respiratory symptoms and follow medical advice; not all children will need to be seen by a health care provider.

• If possible, identify a place within your home where a resident can be safely separated if deemed necessary by a health care provider, and obtain instructions from them on how best to closely supervise the sick resident in a hygienic manner. Note if disposable facemasks will be kept on-site for use by sick residents. Note if changes to room assignments will be made to accommodate multiple residents with symptoms, and how appropriate supervision will be assured. Note how communal activities such as meals will be handled.

• Plan for the possible need to report cases and transport persons with severe illness to medical facilities.

Flood

Foster/adoptive parents should ensure that all residents are accounted for and proceed to your pre-determined emergency location as indicated on your Foster/Adoptive Home Disaster Plan. Once at this location assess for any injuries and perform first-aid and contact emergency personnel as needed. As soon as possible Refuge House should be contacted. Refuge House will inform the legal guardians of the situation. Remain in this location until permission has been given by local authorities to leave the area and return to your home. Notify Refuge House after permission is given but prior to returning home.

In event of loss of power Refuge House will make every possible attempt to secure emergency power, food, water, and transportation to all foster/adoptive families in need.

Water, Electrical, or Natural Gas Service Disruption

In the event of a disruption in service that is deemed as unsafe, account for all residents and proceed to your pre-determined emergency location as indicated on your Foster/Adoptive Home Disaster Plan. Once in the safe location contact your local water, electric or gas company to make arrangements for the disruption to be addressed. As soon as possible Refuge House should be contacted. Refuge House will inform the legal guardians of the situation. Remain in this location until permission has been given by proper authorities to return to the home. Notify Refuge House after permission is given but prior to returning home.

In event of loss of power Refuge House will make every possible attempt to secure emergency power, food, water, and transportation to all foster/adoptive families in need.

Bomb Threat

Foster/adoptive parents should ensure that all residents are accounted for and proceed to your pre-determined emergency location as indicated on your Foster/Adoptive Home Disaster Plan or at a safe distance determined by emergency personnel. As soon as possible Refuge House should be contacted. Refuge House will inform the legal guardians of the situation. Remain in this location until permission has been given by the proper authorities to return to the home. Notify Refuge House after permission is given but prior to returning home.

In event of loss of power Refuge House will make every possible attempt to secure emergency power, food, water, and transportation to all foster/adoptive families in need.

Suspicious Material/Threat Procedure

In the event of a bomb threat or suspicious mail the following procedures should be followed:

1. If letter, note or package is received, handle it as briefly as possible.

2. If telephone call keep the caller on phone as long as possible asking the caller the following questions:

a. If time bomb, when is it set to explode?

b. Where is the bomb located?

c. What kind of bomb is it?

d. Why is caller doing this?

3. Once the letter, note, or package is received or the phone call is completed immediately contact emergency personnel. Once emergency personnel have been contacted inform Refuge House.

4. Begin bomb threat evacuation plan outlined above.

Unlawful Intrusion / Assaultive Behavior / Hostage Situation

Foster/adoptive parents should ensure that all residents are accounted for and leave the unsafe area as soon as possible. Proceed to the closest neighbor, lock all doors, and call emergency personnel. Once at the safe location assess for any injuries and perform first-aid. If serious injuries exist wait for emergency personnel or proceed to the hospital. If unable to leave the foster/adoptive home, remain calm and attempt to relocate to a safe area within the home. If possible, contact emergency personnel. As soon as possible Refuge House should be contacted. Refuge House will inform the legal guardians of the situation. Remain in this location until permission by the proper authorities has been given to return to the home. Notify Refuge House after permission is given but prior to returning home.

Terrorist Threat or Chemical or Hazardous Material Spill

Foster/adoptive parents should prepare to deal with a terrorist incident by adapting many of the same techniques used to prepare for other crises.

· Be alert and aware of the surrounding area.

· Take precautions when traveling.

· Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior.

· Do not accept packages from strangers.

· Do not leave luggage or belongings unattended.

· Notice your immediate surroundings. Be aware of heavy or breakable objects that could move, break, or fall in an explosion.

· Learn where emergency exits are located. Think ahead about how to evacuate a building.

Mandatory Evacuation

In the event of a mandatory evacuation as directed by local or federal officials due to a disaster or a terrorist threat, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been designated to take the lead role in the event of a major incident, therefore, whenever possible the best procedure to follow during a major incident is to listen to broadcasts of Emergency Public Information (EPI) and follow the instructions given. In such an event EPI will include traffic routes that are too slow or impassable. A reasonable suggestion is to avoid major highways wherever possible.

1. Foster/adoptive parents should ensure that all residents are accounted for and have needed supplies for evacuation. Should the residents be in school, at church, or otherwise away from their respective foster/adoptive home, parents should retrieve and account for all residents.

a. All legal guardians will be informed of the situation and the Refuge House evacuation plan. Legal guardians will have the option to retrieve their children/young adults prior to implementing the Refuge House evacuation plan.

b. When directed by FEMA, all foster/adoptive parents served will evacuate to your pre-determined emergency location as indicated on your Foster/Adoptive Home Disaster Plan.

c. Remain in this location until permission by the proper authorities has been given to return to the home.

d. Notify Refuge House after permission is given but prior to returning home.

2. In the event of a terrorist action and FEMA has directed all people to remain in their premises all foster/adoptive parents are to ensure that all residents are accounted for and situated inside their respective foster/adoptive home.

a. All legal guardians will be contacted and informed of the situation and action taken by Refuge House. Legal guardians will have the option to retrieve their children/young adults.

b. In the event of a localized terrorist threat all outside activities will be kept to a minimum.

c. Foster/adoptive parents should ensure the location of the residents at all times.

d. Remain in this location until permission by the proper authorities has been given to return to the home.

e. Notify Refuge House after permission is given but prior to returning home.

In event of loss of power Refuge House will make every possible attempt to secure emergency power, food, water, and transportation to all foster/adoptive families in need.