F0689

D

Snow-Blocked Egresses Limit Safe Exit Routes

Eastport, Maine Survey Completed on 01-27-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The facility failed to ensure that the environment was free from accident hazards when two of three ground-floor egresses used by residents were blocked by snow and not easily passable. On the morning of 1/27/26 at 9:00 a.m., surveyors observed that the walkways to the two front entrance/egress doors were hindered by snow measuring approximately 15 inches at the street and approximately 4 to 6 inches on the walkways and ramps leading to these doors. The only walkway and door that had been shoveled free of snow was the employee entrance located at the left side of the building.

To exit through the only unobstructed egress, the 25 current residents would have to be taken through one of two locked doors and navigated through narrow corridors to reach the side employee entrance, or alternatively attempt to exit through the front egresses that remained hindered by snow. During this time, two maintenance staff were observed inside the building performing other tasks. In an interview shortly after 9:00 a.m., the Administrator stated that she had asked the maintenance staff to clear the egresses of snow, but they had not yet done so.