{"ref":"CA-HC-EP-01","title":"Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Services","category":"Emergency preparedness","summary":"Sets the Agency's own emergency plan for the hazards of the California counties it serves (earthquakes, wildfire and smoke, Public Safety Power Shutoffs, extreme heat, floods and storms, disease outbreaks, and loss of the office or systems): who leads it, how clients are ranked by how much they depend on the Agency, each client's own emergency plan, staff readiness, how the plan is activated, how services and records keep going, recovery, and yearly exercises. California home care organization law prescribes no emergency plan; it requires emergency procedures in aides' entry-level safety training.","inShort":["Know the emergency plan in each client’s home folder before an emergency happens.","In an emergency during a visit, keep yourself and the client safe, call 911 if needed, then call the office.","Do not leave a client who cannot be alone unless your own life is at risk or emergency services take over.","After an earthquake, fire or other big emergency, check in with the office as soon as it is safe.","Follow official orders. You will never be asked to go into an evacuation zone or a closed area."],"primaryCitation":"Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.44(b)(2)","citations":["Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.44(b)(2)","Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.64","PIN 26-02-HCS (March 27, 2026)","Cal. Lab. Code §2810.5(a)(1)(I)","Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.52(c)","8 CCR §3203"],"federalCitations":["42 U.S.C. §1396b(l)"],"surveyorAsks":["If there were an earthquake or a power shutoff tomorrow, which clients would you contact first, and how would you know?","Show me a client emergency plan."],"forms":[{"ref":"CA-HC-EP-01-A","title":"Client Emergency Plan"},{"ref":"CA-HC-EP-01-B","title":"Client Priority and Emergency Contact List"}],"headings":["Terms of Reference","1. Purpose","2. Scope","3. Definitions","4. Policy Statement (Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.44(b)(2))","5. Who Leads","6. Hazards in the Counties Served","7. Client Priority Levels","8. Client Emergency Plans","9. Staff Readiness","10. Activating the Plan","11. Keeping Services and Records Going","12. After the Emergency","13. New Employees During a Declared Emergency","14. Exercises and Yearly Review","15. Responsibilities","16. Records and Compliance Monitoring","17. Staff Training","18. References","19. Related Policies and Forms","20. Approval","21. Revision History"],"version":"1.0","sample":false,"pack":"ca-hca","state":"California","service":"Home care","guides":[{"path":"/guides/home-care-agency-policies/","h1":"What policies does a home care agency need?"}],"agency":{"name":"Sample Agency","legalName":"Sample Agency, LLC","logo":null}}