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Emergency Preparedness

Be Prepared in Case of an Emergency

The Michigan Masonic Home and its communities take patient and resident safety very seriously. This page provides information to assist you (as a caretaker, family member or patient/resident) in the case of an emergency, including purpose, scope, communication, contact information, evacuation details and lock-down procedures.

Resident and Family Notification of EP Fact Sheet

Michigan Masonic Home Emergency Operations Plan

Purpose

No one wants to think and worry about disasters. Knowing what to expect ahead of time can help ease any concerns. This accordion of information tells you how our facility has prepared for emergencies. Questions specific to this plan should contact Executive Assistant and Emergency Preparedness Specialist Mary Jo Beal at (989) 466-3801 or at mbeal@masonicpathways.com.

Scope

We have a written emergency plan that is reviewed and tested every year. Our plan addresses the following types of emergencies:

  • Weather emergencies such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter weather.
  • Security incidents such as bomb threats, terrorism, and active shooters.
  • Natural disasters such as tornadoes and extreme temperatures.
  • Pandemic outbreaks such as COVID-19 and Influenza.

All staff and volunteers are trained in emergency procedures. They participate in drills and exercises to test their knowledge. Residents are asked to take part in all drills so they can know what to expect in an actual emergency.

Communication

Our emergency plan includes procedures for communication. Notification of families in the event of an evacuation is part of that plan. We ask that you provide us with current phone numbers and/or email addresses. You can expect either a personal call or a recorded message. If you provide an email address, you may receive an email in addition to the phone call. In the event of an emergency, call lines may be busy. If all lines are in use at the time of your call, you can expect a recorded message telling you what procedures are in place.

Evacuation Versus Shelter-In-Place

This Home uses a standard approach to managing emergencies. The C.E.O. serves as the Incident Commander. Department Heads serve specific roles during an emergency. They communicate with staff and local emergency management officials to make decisions. One major decision is whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place. The C.E.O. makes the final decision.

In case of an evacuation, we have procedures in place to ensure the safety of our residents. We have planned in advance with other facilities and transportation services to ensure our residents have a safe place to go. Our nurses send important medical information with each resident. They keep a log of where each resident is sent. In case of immediate evacuation, such as with a fire, our safe zone is Alma Public Schools.

For safety reasons, the C.E.O. may decide to shelter-in-place. This may occur when there is not enough time to evacuate safely. Sometimes it may be safer inside the building. We have procedures in place to ensure adequate food, supplies, power, and medications for our residents and staff for at least three days. We have made arrangements in advance to receive additional supplies or assistance, if needed.

Lock Down Procedures

Some situations will warrant the Home to be placed on “lock down”. During these situations, no one will be allowed to enter or leave the Home. Lock-downs may occur for many reasons, including (but not limited to) a hazardous chemical inside or outside the building, a weather-related event, or police action outside the building. In the event of a lockdown, please remain calm and follow any instructions from management staff or emergency personnel.