CapitolBeatOK Staff Report

Published: 30-Aug-2010

When the Oklahoma House Human Services Committee meets on Tuesday morning (August 31), members will be conducting a an interim study of the new scholarship program for special needs children, also know as Lindsey’s Law.

However, first the panel will be pursuing a topic requested by state Rep. Joe Dorman, a Democrat from Rush Springs, focused on how many Oklahoma nursing homes currently have back-up power generators and what disaster plans they have in place. The committee will also examine requirements in other states regarding back-up generators.

The session is at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Room 412 C 2300 N. Lincoln Boulevard, and begins at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Dorman’s effort is aimed at how to best ensure assisted living facilities are prepared for natural disasters. The study will focus on learning how many how many Oklahoma nursing homes currently have back-up power and what disaster plans they have in place. The committee will also examine requirements in other states regarding back-up generators.

Dorman said an individual in southwest Oklahoma whose relative was in the care of a facility that experienced a power outage during ice storms requested that he look into the issue.

“I believe that many facilities are prepared for natural disasters, but do know that there are facilities that are not adequately prepared,” Dorman said. “We need to see how many nursing homes and assisted living facilities are prepared, how many are lacking, and what we can do to better protect our elderly citizens when ice storms or other severe weather conditions wreak havok.”