Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 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.
(d)
Cross references. There are
no cross references for AAA disaster planning.
Added at 11 Ok Reg
673, eff 11-29-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 2771, eff 6-13-94; Amended at
15 Ok Reg 249, eff 10-9-97 (emergency); Amended at 15 Ok Reg 1692, eff 5-11-98;
Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1325, eff 6-1-07
