10A NCAC 09 .0607         Emergency Preparedness and Response in child care centers

(a)  For the purposes of this Rule, the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care is a session training developed by the North Carolina Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center for child care operators and providers on creating an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan and practicing, responding to and recovering from emergencies in child care centers.

(b)  Existing child care centers shall have one person on staff who has completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. New centers shall have one person on staff who has completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training within one year of the effective date of the initial license. When the trained staff member leaves employment, the center shall ensure that another staff member completes the required training within four months of the vacancy. Documentation of completion of the training shall be maintained in the individual's personnel file or in a file designated for emergency preparedness and response plan documents.

(c)  Upon completion of the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training, the trained staff shall develop the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. The Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan means a written plan that addresses how a child care center will respond to both natural and man-made disasters, such as fire, tornado, flood, power failures, chemical spills, bomb threats, earthquakes, blizzards, nuclear disasters, or a dangerous person or persons in the vicinity, to ensure the safety and protection of the children and staff. This Plan must be on a template provided by the Division available at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/# and completed within four months of completion of the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training.

(d)  The Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan shall include:

(1)           written procedures for accounting for all in attendance including:

(A)          the location of the children, staff, volunteer and visitor attendance lists; and

(B)          the name of the person(s) responsible for bringing the children, staff, volunteer and visitor attendance lists in the event of an emergency.

(2)           a description for how and when children shall be transported;

(3)           methods for communicating with parents and emergency personnel or law enforcement;

(4)           a description of how children's nutritional and health needs will be met;

(5)           the relocation and reunification process;

(6)           emergency telephone numbers;

(7)           evacuation diagrams showing how the staff, children, and any other individuals who may be present will evacuate during an emergency;

(8)           the date of the last revision of the plan;

(9)           specific considerations for non-mobile children and children with special needs; and

(10)         the location of a Ready to Go File. A Ready to Go File means a collection of information on children, staff and the facility, to utilize, if an evacuation occurs. The file shall include, a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, contact information for individuals to pick-up children, each child's Application for Child Care, medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers.

(e)  The trained staff shall review the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan annually, or when information in the plan changes, to ensure all information is current.

(f)  All staff shall review the center's Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan during orientation and on an annual basis with the trained staff. Documentation of the review shall be maintained at the center in the individual's personnel file or in a file designated for emergency preparedness and response plan documents.

(g)  All substitutes and volunteers counted in ratio shall be informed of the child care center's Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan and its location. Documentation of this notice shall be maintained in the individual personnel files or in a file designated for emergency preparedness and response plan documents.

(h)  Centers operated by a Local Education Agency that have completed critical incident training and a School Risk Management Plan as set forth by the Department of Public Instruction shall be exempt from Paragraphs (a) through (e) of this Rule. When a School Risk Management Plan has been completed, the requirements of Paragraphs (f) and (g) of this Rule shall be applicable. The School Risk Management Plan shall be available for review by the Division. More information regarding the School Risk Management Plan is located online at https://sera.nc.gov/srmp/.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-85; 143B-168.3;

Eff. July 1, 2015;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2015;

Readopted Eff. October 1, 2017;

Amended Eff February 1, 2021.