Facilities such as Atria Willow Glen, Live Oak Adult Day Center and Lincoln Glen Manor are now reviewing their existing evacuation plans. Atria Willow Glen and Live Oak Adult Day Center are assessing their transportation needs, as well as their inventory of emergency supplies. Lincoln Glen Manor, which has skilled nursing, assisted and independent living facilities, is discussing how to address each situation.

All three locations already have semi-annual fire and earthquake drills with residents and staff. They also have storage areas stocked with food, water and medical supplies for a minimum of three days. Staff members are certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid. These requirements are all mandated by the state.

"We have disaster emergency contracts with our nonperishables and medicine providers," said Jeff Bishop, Atria Willow Glen engage life director. "If we need more food or medicine, the contractors will bring it immediately."

Atria also has staff assigned to each building during an evacuation to make sure everyone gets out, he said.

In addition each resident is given a vial of life, a plastic tube that includes each patient's name, age and medical conditions. These vials are provided by the San Jose Fire Department.

Bishop notes that Atria's existing protocols work, pointing out that five Atria communities in Houston and Beaumont, Texas, were moved safely and successfully before Katrina hit.

Like Atria, Live Oak Adult Day Services is reviewing its disaster protocols.

"We are meeting to discuss a plan of evacuation," said Colleen Hudgen, Live Oak adult day services executive director.

The current plan has the staff calling the residents' caregivers for pickup.

"But we need an immediate evacuation plan," Hudgen said. "We have discussed it and located the key players, but it's not a done deal."

The temporary relocation spot for the residents is the Willow Glen Elementary School across the street.

"Focus in the past has been on the temporary, short term emergency," she said. "That focus has changed to a bigger, encompassing disaster."

At Lincoln Glen Manor, the three different on-site facilities make evacuation plans more complicated.

Nursing and assisted living residents, during a mandatory evacuation, will be transported by the company van, said Rebecca Turner, Lincoln Glen Manor nursing facilities administrator. But independent living residents can't be forced to leave.

For those residents who choose to stay behind, Lincoln Glen has staff members signed up to stay with them.

Turner said that after Katrina, Lincoln Glen's staff had meetings to discuss the decisions made.

"Manuals have many policies," she said, "but not human decisions."