Hurricanes are extremely destructive storms that can cause millions, if not billions, of dollars in damage and destroy entire communities. Health care providers must stay attentive and vigilant so that they can best prepare for disaster and assist their patients, coworkers, and communities before and after a storm strikes.
Below are some essential steps to take to prepare for a hurricane.
Steps
Hurricanes tend to have days of warning, thus giving health care workers a window of time to help prepare their hospital or practice. Below are some steps to consider in the days leading to a hurricane.
- Decide whether to evacuate
Essential workers in hospitals are often not able to evacuate a storm. However, if an evacuation order is issued, it is not uncommon for a hospital to close and move resources and patients to lower-risk areas.
Prior to Hurricane Harvey in 2017, 20 hospitals were forced to evacuate and move patients to other medical facilities. This is not an easy decision as it can affect the health and wellbeing of patients and requires a tremendous amount of work. However, as hurricanes continuously grow larger, it may become more essential to take this drastic step. Listen to hospital directors, local government, and disaster management professionals and follow guidance as it is issued.
- Gather essential resources
Once it is decided that your facility is not evacuating, the most important step is to gather essential resources. This includes clean drinking water, medications, food supplies, fuel, protective gear, hygiene products, and backup patient records. Health care workers who cannot evacuate should also come prepared with enough clean clothing and essential personal items for up to a week in case they must shelter in the hospital.
- Prepare for a surge of patients
Hurricanes can lead to immense injury and death in affected areas. Hospital workers must be prepared for a surge in patients, especially after a storm, once rescue teams begin entering communities and assessing damage. Due to flooding and destruction of roadways, patient surges can last for weeks depending on the magnitude of the storm. Have supplies and staff ready to assist.
- Have backup electricity readily available
Power outages are common with large storms. Have plenty of generators ready to go and enough fuel to keep them on for at least a week. Be read to decide which areas of a hospital need electricity the most and conserve energy for the high-need areas.
- Prevent burnout and fatigue
Disasters take a toll on affected communities, and this certainly includes the health care workers who stay behind in the wake of disaster. Have enough staff on board to manage a patient surge, prepare break rooms with staff beds available, and ensure that all hospital workers take time to rest.
- Have a shelter available for families
It is not a hospital or clinic’s job in a community to ensure that enough shelter is available during or after a hurricane. However, people often turn to hospitals when they are not sure where else to go in the wake of disaster.
Therefore, it is important to know where your community’s shelters are and be prepared to send those not facing a medical emergency there should they come to the hospital solely looking for a place to take shelter. As a last-case scenario, be prepared to offer a shelter room for families of patients or those who seek respite after a hurricane should a community’s shelter fill up or fail.
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