Emergency Preparedness

The term Emergency Preparedness refers to the steps you take to make sure you are safe before, during and after an emergency or natural disaster. These plans are important for your safety in both natural disasters and man-made disasters. Maine’s nursing and assisted living facilities serve those individuals most vulnerable during and after emergencies. In an emergency, many systems you rely on may not function as well as they usually do. Familiar landmarks and usual travel routes you and your service animal know may be altered. Utilities like electricity, water, gas and phone service may be disrupted. You might need to temporarily evacuate to a shelter which may not be fully accessible for your needs. The resources and strategies in the links below can help your facility plan to be prepared for these situations.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Interpretive Guidelines
Surveyor Tool
Joint Commission/Emergency Preparedness Final CMS Rule Crosswalk
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
National Fire Protection Association
Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
NFPA Free Access Link
HealthIT Security Risk Assessment
CMS Emergency Preparedness Checklist
FEMA Homeland Security Exercise and Toolkit


Staff Contact:
Maureen Carland
Director of Quality Improvement &
Regulatory Affairs