1. (1) An ACH shall have in effect and available for all supervisory personnel and staff written copies of the following disaster, refuge and/or evacuation plans readily available at all times:

   1. (a) Fire Safety Procedures Plan shall include:

      1. 1. Minor fires;
      2. 2. Major fires;
      3. 3. Fighting the fire;
      4. 4. Evacuation procedures; and
      5. 5. Staff functions.

   2. (b) Tornado/Severe Weather Procedures Plan shall include:

      1. 1. Staff duties; and
      2. 2. Evacuation procedures.

   3. (c) Bomb Threat Procedures Plan shall include:

      1. 1. Staff duties;
      2. 2. Search team, searching the premises;
      3. 3. Notification of authorities;
      4. 4. Location of suspicious objects; and,
      5. 5. Evacuation procedures.

   4. (d) Flood Procedure Plan, if applicable, shall include:

      1. 1. Staff duties;
      2. 2. Evacuation procedures; and
      3. 3. Safety procedures following the flood.

   5. (e) Severe Cold Weather and Severe Hot Weather Procedure Plans shall include:

      1. 1. Staff duties;
      2. 2. Equipment failures;
      3. 3. Evacuation procedures; and
      4. 4. Emergency food service.

   6. (f) Earthquake Disaster Procedures Plan shall include:

      1. 1. Staff duties;
      2. 2. Evacuation procedures;
      3. 3. Safety procedures; and
      4. 4. Emergency services.

2. (2) An ACH shall comply with the following:

   1. (a) Maintain a detailed log with staff signatures designating training each employee receives regarding disaster preparedness.
   2. (b) Train all employees annually as required in the plans listed above and keep each employee informed with respect to the employee’s duties under the plans.
   3. (c) Exercise each of the plans listed above annually.

3. (3) Emergency Planning With Local Government Authorities.

   1. (a) All adult care homes shall establish and maintain communications with the county Emergency Management Agency. This includes the provision of the information and procedures that are needed for the local comprehensive emergency plan. The adult care homes shall cooperate, to the extent possible, in area disaster drills and local emergency situations.
   2. (b) Each adult care home shall conduct both the physical facility and community emergency drills as required in these regulations, even if the local Emergency Management Agency is unable to participate.
   3. (c) A file of documents demonstrating communications and cooperation with the local agency must be maintained.

4. (4) An ACH shall have a functioning emergency back-up generator adequate to meet the ACH’s HVAC and essential needs until regular service is restored. The ACH shall have a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of fuel designed to operate at its rated load. This requirement shall be coordinated with the Disaster Preparedness Plan or with the local resources.

   1. (a) All generators shall be exercised for thirty (30) minutes each month under full load, including automatic and manual transfer of equipment.
   2. (b) The emergency generator shall be operated at the existing connected load and not on dual power. The ACH shall maintain a monthly log and have trained staff familiar with the generator’s operation.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 68-11-202, 68-11-204, 68-11-206, and 68-11-209. Administrative History: Emergency rule filed November 2, 2010; effective through May 1, 2011. New rule filed January 28, 2011; effective April 28, 2011. Transferred from chapter 1200-08-36 pursuant to Public Chapter 1119 of 2022 effective July 1, 2022. Amendments filed December 18, 2025; effective March 18, 2026.