September is Emergency Preparedness Month
Preparedness in a Changing World: From Obligation to Opportunity
The world has changed, and so has what it takes to be ready.
In September, we recognize National Emergency Preparedness Month. But for those of us working in healthcare, especially in long-term care, hospice, and assisted living, being “ready” is no longer a checkbox. It’s a necessity.
Disasters are increasing. Resources are tightening. Expectations are rising. And lives depend on the systems we put in place before something happens.
Navigating a Harder Landscape in 2025
Economic Pressure, Staffing Strain, and Regulatory Burdens
Many healthcare organizations are operating under tremendous strain. Staffing shortages, insurance premium hikes, and increased regulatory demands have made routine operations more difficult than ever.
Several states now require fire safety assessments, backup power protocols, and formalized evacuation plans. While these mandates aim to improve outcomes, they can feel overwhelming for teams already managing day-to-day challenges.
CHUG understands this pressure. Preparedness isn't just a requirement. It is a safeguard—one that can reduce confusion, prevent injuries, and protect both staff and residents when the unexpected happens.
Learning from Recent Events Across the Country
Respiratory Illness Outbreak in a Midwestern Nursing Home (January 2025)
A multi-pathogen respiratory outbreak, including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, led to several hospitalizations and two fatalities in a nursing home that had not updated its infection control policies since 2021. Isolation protocols were delayed, and staffing shortages impacted proper PPE usage.
Lessons learned:
Infection control plans must be reviewed and updated annually
Staff need refresher training on donning, doffing, and cohorting protocols
PPE inventories should be tracked with surge planning in mind
2. Severe Flooding in Southeast Texas (Spring 2025): Torrential rainfall in April 2025 led to catastrophic flooding in multiple Texas counties. Several assisted living and skilled nursing facilities were forced to evacuate with little notice. Some had no formal agreements in place for patient transportation or alternate care sites. A lack of generator access in rising water zones created dangerous delays in care continuity, medication administration, and communication.
Lessons learned:
Evacuation and shelter-in-place plans must be tested under weather-specific scenarios
Facilities need backup communication systems and community transport agreements
Generator location, fuel access, and waterproofing should be revisited annually
3. Gabriel House Assisted Living, Massachusetts (July 2025): A devastating fire killed nine residents and injured dozens more. Investigators pointed to the use of oxygen concentrators, smoking materials, and possible sprinkler system malfunctions. The tragedy prompted a statewide fire safety reassessment of all assisted-living facilities.
Lessons learned:
Smoking policies and oxygen use protocols must be enforced consistently
Routine inspection and maintenance of sprinkler and alarm systems is essential
Fire drills should include mobility-challenged residents and overnight staffing scenarios
Preparedness in Action
Tabletop, Functional & Full-Scale Exercises to emergency response
Emergency plans look good on paper, but how do they perform under pressure?
CHUG encourages all healthcare organizations to go beyond written plans and actively test their readiness. Through Workshops, Functional, Tabletop and Full-Scale Exercises, your team can uncover gaps, clarify roles, and build the confidence necessary to respond when the unexpected occurs.
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Strengthening Your Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
Why Every Healthcare Organization Needs a Living, Functional Plan
An EOP is the foundation of your organization’s ability to respond, recover, and protect lives during a crisis. It’s not just a compliance document, it’s a real-time guide that helps your team make critical decisions under pressure.
In a high-risk environment like healthcare, where time, coordination, and communication are everything, a well-developed EOP can mean the difference between chaos and control.
What a Strong EOP Should Include:
A comprehensive EOP should be clear, easily accessible, customized to your facility's specific risks and resources, reviewed and updated regularly, and practiced through drills and exercises.
It should contain:
Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA)
Incident Command Structure
Communication Plans
Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Procedures
Resource and Supply Management
Continuity of Operations (COOP)
Recovery and Debriefing Procedures
Your EOP should be owned by leadership and understood by all staff, from your front desk to dietary to night shift nursing.
Make Preparedness Easier with CHUG Emergency & Safety Tip Sheets
Quick Tools for Staff, Residents, and Families
Emergency preparedness can feel overwhelming, especially when you're juggling clinical care, operations, and evolving regulations. That’s why CHUG has developed a series of practical, easy-to-use tip sheets designed specifically for healthcare organizations.
These resources take the guesswork out of planning and help facilities educate staff, prepare residents and families, and reinforce readiness in every corner of your organization.
What’s Included in CHUG Tip Sheets
This bundle of 18+ Tip Sheets is easy-to-understand, visually clear, and ready to print, post, or distribute.
Topics include:
Go-Kits and Emergency Kits
First Aid Basics
Smoke Detectors and Fire Safety
Pet Preparedness
CPR and Pandemic Protocols
Tornado and Thunderstorm Safety
Flood, Earthquake, and Cold Weather Emergencies
Cough Etiquette and Handwashing
Terrorism Awareness and Website Safety
How to Use Them
Include in staff orientation packets and safety binders
Post in breakrooms, nursing stations, and entrance areas
Add to resident and family welcome foldersthrough Admissions
Integrate into trainings as quick-reference tools
Use as conversation starters during facility events
These resources make preparedness tangible and visible.
You’re Not Alone
Preparedness Is a Shared Responsibility
Emergency Preparedness Month is more than a reminder. It is an opportunity to take meaningful action.
Let’s take what we’ve learned, and support the staff who work tirelessly to care for others. Let’s build systems that not only meet requirements but create real peace of mind.
CHUG is here to support your readiness efforts with tools, training, and a community that understands the unique challenges of healthcare.
— Connie Polke, Founder & CEO, The Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group