APPENDIXES
98 D
ISASTER OPERATIONS HANDBOOK •
OCTOBER 2008
Develop a procedure to evacuate and close the blood center if directed by local emergency management
authorities or the blood center’s management. Consider the following:
• Ensure that all automated computer systems are adjusted for facility closure (e.g., security
systems do not automatically unlock doors during normal business hours).
• Notify second and third shift employees and contractors (e.g., cleaning services) about the
status of the facility.
• Consider use of law enforcement or private security firms to secure evacuated facilities.
• Consider the need to secure any special equipment (i.e., irradiators) and to notify local
management authorities and state and federal regulatory agencies.
• Consider the impact of evacuation and utility interruptions on the facility, supplies, and
blood products (both stored and in process). Areas to consider include IT, storage systems,
HVAC, security systems, monitoring systems, and any timed systems such as
refrigerators/freezers, door locks, lights, and sprinklers.
Develop a communications plan to notify staff, donors, customers, and vendors about the status of the
facility after the chemical incident. Consider using the facility’s voicemail greeting, local media, and
Web sites for communication channels. Note: If any critical operations have been relocated, notify
customers and vendors to reroute supplies and materials.
Develop a plan for an alternative blood center operations site (management team), the required staff and
volunteers, and the required resources to ensure contact with your customers, vendors, and local
emergency authorities until you are permitted to reoccupy the blood center.
Develop a family support plan template to help staff and volunteers develop their own family emer-
gency plans.
Develop a family assistance plan to support essential employees (e.g., child care and adult care for
elderly parents).
Participate in community-wide emergency/disaster exercises.
Response Checklist
Activate emergency relocation procedures if the blood center’s main facility is evacuated.
Contact hospital customers after the chemical incident to assess their operational status and blood
product needs.
Contact the AABB Disaster Task Force and provide an assessment of the impact from the chemical
incident on the blood center facility and hospital customers, as well as any blood supply needs. In
addition to the information in the Event Assessment Form, the task force will want to know the
operational status of the blood center and its hospital customers, including whether they are using
generator power, whether they have sufficient fuel to operate in the coming days, and any support
requirements (communications equipment, transportation, or security).
Notify staff, volunteers, donors, hospitals, and vendors of the facility’s status and establish a process to
routinely update these groups until full operational status is restored.
Activate essential employee staffing (if needed) and ensure that sufficient food, water, HVAC, and
bathroom facilities are available for them during work hours.
Activate the family assistance plan to support essential employees (e.g., child care and adult care for
elderly parents).