In 1995, House Bill 911 was signed into legislation requiring all health care facilities to have comprehensive emergency management plans (CEMP) developed by each facility and then reviewed by the local emergency management office for compliance to the specific state criteria. The purpose of this bill was designed to reinforce the concept that healthcare facilities, as part of doing business, are responsible for their own residents/clientele not only during normal business operations, but also during emergency situations. Large-scale and local emergencies can tax local government resources quickly, and preparing healthcare facilities to work through emergencies in times of need will protect lives and property and allow healthcare facilities to continue to provide and take the responsibility for the services their clients have paid for and come to expect in emergency situations.

Fees for the disaster review process are allowed to be charged at the discretion of the County Emergency Management Office, to the maximum amounts identified in F.A.C. Chapter 9G-20. Seminole County has decided to charge for this service as more facilities have opened, and the time required to review the disaster plans has grown.

Currently, the facilities that are required by Florida Statute (F.S.) and Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) to develop and submit a disaster for review are as follows:

• Adult Day Care Facilities-F.S. 400.562 and F.A.C. 58A-6.011 (10)
• Hospitals-F.S. 395.1055 (1)(c) and F.A.C. 59A-3.078
• Ambulatory Surgical Centers-F.S. 395.1055 (1)(c) and F.A.C. 59A-5.015
• Assisted Living Facilities-F.S. 400.441 (1)(b) and F.A.C. 58A-5.024(1)(j)
• Nursing Homes-F.S. 400.23 (2)(g) and F.A.C. 59A-4.126
• Intermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally Disabled-F.S. 393.067 (9)

Disaster plans are to be developed by each individual facility that addresses all the required criteria found in the State’s criteria checklists and the appropriate requirements found in Florida Statute and the Florida Administrative Code. Each year, disaster plans must be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Emergency Management, for compliance in addressing those criteria. For those companies that have multiple facilities found in several different counties, each facility must submit a disaster plan to their respective county emergency management office.

Any changes in the criteria, reporting processes, or any additional criteria requirements will be at the discretion of the State Agencies and Florida Legislature. The interpretations of what meets the required criteria found in the disaster plans will be at the discretion of the local emergency management office.

Disaster plans may be submitted for review to:
Maureen Long
Senior Planner
Office of Emergency Management
Department of Public Safety
150 Bush Boulevard
Sanford, FL 32773
407-665-5121