Emergency Planning for Child Care Facilities
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, all registered daycare facilities are required to develop an emergency operations plan. The plan must cover these four topics:
- Shelter of children during an emergency
- Evacuation of children during an emergency
- A method for facility persons to contact parents as soon as reasonably possible when an emergency situation arises
- A method for facility persons to inform parents that the emergency has ended and to provide instruction as to how parents can safely be reunited with their children
Sample Plans
Below are sample plans from both the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety. These plans are designed to enhance the safety of the children and staff of a daycare center while at the same time satisfying the licensing requirements for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.