10/16/2025

You Asked… We Answered…

You Asked: How much water and food supply must a facility have as part of their emergency preparedness? 

We Answered: The State Operations Manual Appendix PP, §483.90(i)(1), F-922, requires facilities to establish written procedures to ensure that water is available to essential areas during a loss of normal water supply. This includes identifying potable and non-potable sources, storage methods, distribution procedures, and calculating the volume needed to meet resident and operational needs.

Under F-838, Facility Assessment and §483.73, Emergency Preparedness, the facility’s all-hazards risk assessment must evaluate its ability to maintain operations and secure resources during emergencies. Plans should be coordinated with local emergency management agencies. Although CMS does not set a specific volume, facilities are expected to base their supply on resident census and operational needs, with many federal preparedness resources recommending at least 96 hours of self-sufficiency. 

Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-17-18 further requires nursing homes to maintain at least a two-day supply of perishable food and a one-week supply of staple food at all times, based on the number of meals and census.