Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 340 - Department of Human Services › Chapter 105 - Aging Services › Subchapter 10 - Policies and Procedures Manual for Title Iii of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as Amended › Part 5 - AREA AGENCIES ON AGING › Section 340:105-10-45 - Area agency on aging disaster planning

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a)
Policy.
The area agency on
				  aging (AAA) makes arrangements for the availability of services to older
				  persons, where feasible and appropriate, in weather related emergencies and
				  other disasters, including local and national emergencies, such as terrorist
				  acts and flu pandemics.
(b)
Authority.
The authority for this Section is Section 1321.65(e) of
				  Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(c)
Procedures.
In order to
				  ensure the availability of needed services to older persons during weather
				  related emergencies and other disasters, the AAA:
(1) designates a staff person who is
				  responsible for disaster related activities;
(2) identifies the community persons
				  responsible for disaster planning and services in the planning and service area
				  (PSA), for example, Civil Defense officials, American Red Cross, Salvation
				  Army, Mennonite Disaster Services, and Interfaith Task Forces, and informs
				  these officials of the role of the AAA in disaster planning;
(3) informs disaster officials of the aging
				  services available throughout the PSA and transmits resource directories, as
				  appropriate;
(4) negotiates written
				  agreements with Civil Defense officials or other appropriate officials, and
				  outlines specific coordination efforts to be carried out prior to, during, and
				  following a disaster;
(5) develops
				  a written disaster plan that incorporates the activities outlined in agreements
				  with disaster officials and includes:
(A) the
				  types of disasters most prevalent in the PSA;
(B) the capabilities and limitations of the
				  AAA;
(C) the disaster plans and
				  responsibilities of the State Agency and the Administration on Aging;
				  and
(D) the need for the AAA to
				  assume a greater responsibility for disaster plan implementation for
				  non-federally declared disasters;
(6) submits a copy of the disaster plan to
				  the State Agency for review and approval;
(7) annually reviews the disaster plan and
				  written agreements with disaster officials for possible updating;
(8) implements the disaster plan when
				  notified by state or local officials that a disaster has occurred or has been
				  officially declared, and follows the procedure in this paragraph. The AAA:
(A) determines the impact of the disaster on
				  AAA facilities and utilities, including telephone service;
(B) makes immediate arrangements to handle
				  incoming calls from disaster officials and older persons and their
				  families;
(C) contacts appropriate
				  disaster officials to determine the impact of the disaster on older persons in
				  the PSA;
(D) reports to the Aging
				  Services Division Special Unit on Aging by telephone or e-mail within 24 hours
				  after a disaster, to include information on the:
(i) number of older persons
				  affected;
(ii) number of nursing
				  homes, assisted living facilities, and residential care homes
				  affected;
(iii) number of
				  fatalities of older persons;
(iv)
				  number of older persons injured; and
(v) extent of damage to the property of older
				  persons.
(E) determines
				  the special needs of older disaster victims and the resources available to meet
				  those needs;
(F) provides
				  information and makes referrals to incoming inquiries, as
				  appropriate;
(G) provides outreach
				  and transportation services, as appropriate;
(H) consults with Civil Defense officials in
				  cases of federally declared disasters to determine the need for on-site AAA
				  staff assistance at disaster centers; and
(I) provides follow-up to older disaster
				  victims, as appropriate; and
(9) submits a summary report to the State
				  Agency on the disaster related activities.