āThe California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified by the California State Warning Center that California has now entered Phase II of the Extreme Temperature Response Plan. Extreme temperatures are expected to begin December 14, 2022, and may last through Monday, December 19, 2022, for portions of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, and Tulare Counties. 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 to ensure availability in the event of a power outage.
Licensing regulations require that all emergency/disaster-related occurrences, which threaten the welfare, safety, or health of patients, must be reported to the CDPH, Center for Health Care Quality (CHCQ).
In the event your facility is impacted by an emergency or disaster-related occurrence and an evacuation, transfer, or discharge of patients results as a response to an emergency, you must contact CDPH CHCQ. If the severe weather conditions affect your facility by compromising patient health and safety and/or require an evacuation, transfer, or discharge of patients, you must contact your local CDPH district office.
Please follow these guidelines for reporting such occurrences:
| During normal business hours (8:00 a.m. ā 5:00 p.m.) | Contact the local CDPH district office you customarily work with for your geographical location. |
For after-hour reporting or if the local CDPH district office is non-operational due to an emergency and/or disaster
| - For health care facilities outside Los Angeles County, contact the State Office of Emergency Services Warning Center at (916) 845-8911. Ask that they notify the CDPH duty officer.
- For health care facilities in Los Angeles County contact the Los Angeles County Operator at (213) 974-1234. Ask that they notify the on-call Health Facilities Inspection Division supervisor.
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Health care facilities can follow current warnings and watches through the National Weather Service (NWS) CA Hazards Summary.
Please visit the CDPH Winter Weather Health Tips webpage for health tips for vulnerable populations in relation to cold weather conditions.
For additional helpful information regarding cold weather, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Winter Weather webpage.
If you have any questions about this AFL, please contact your respective district office.
Sincerely,
Original Signed by Cassie Dunham
Cassie Dunham
Deputy Director
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