California is expected to experience a severe winter storm in some regions beginning today through Saturday, December 13th.

Winter months bring weather that can rapidly create emergency and/or disaster-related conditions. Disaster plans must take all types of hazards into account, including the possibility of severe weather caused by freeze conditions and/or winter storms. Health care facilities are required by regulation to maintain their physical plant and all equipment in operational condition. If your facility is required to maintain an emergency power source, it must be fully tested and functional in order to ensure availability in the event of a power outage.

Licensing regulations require that all emergency or disaster-related occurrences, which threaten the welfare, safety, or health of patients, must be reported to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Licensing and Certification (L&C) Program.

If your facility is affected by an emergency or disaster-related occurrence that results in an evacuation, transfer, or discharge of patients, you must contact CDPH L&C. Please follow the guidelines below for reporting such occurrences:

During normal business hours (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) contact the local CDPH L&C District Office you customarily work with for your geographic location. District Office contact information can be found on the CDPH, L&C website:

(https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/DistrictOffices.aspx)

For after-hour reporting or if the local CDPH L&C district office is non-operational due to the emergency or disaster, follow the process below:

For facilities outside Los Angeles County, notify the:

• State Office of Emergency Services Warning Center at (916) 845-8911; and
• Ask that they notify the CDPH duty officer

For facilities in Los Angeles County notify the:

• Los Angeles County Operator at (213) 974-1234; and
• Ask that they notify the on-call Health Facilities Inspection Division Supervisor

Attached is a document with winter weather health tips for vulnerable populations in relation to cold weather conditions.

Additional information regarding cold weather may be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website:

(http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/).

Current weather watches and warning may be found at the National Weather Service website:

(http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/ca.php?x=1).  

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Original signed by Jean Iacino

Jean Iacino
Interim Deputy Director

Attachment: Winter Weather Health Tips