How does one prepare for probable but unpredictable weather disasters?
Learn from experience, according to Charles (Chuck) Lawrence, long time Hospital Safety Officer who counts probably a dozen South Florida hurricanes under his belt.
He is Plant Operations Director at Florida Medical Center, of Tenet Health System, for the past three years but has spent over 20 years in South Florida hospitals. During that tenure, he’s been exposed to various regional and corporate information sharing summits along with access to governmental websites for weather related disasters which provide guidance for hurricane preparation and survival. However, it is an OTJ experience witnessing the devastation of water and wind which provides an insight that isn’t available on most websites or conferences.
While the hurricane season- June through November- is predictable, each individual storm has its own unique course which can change on a moment’s notice, so staged preparation is crucial.
“We have itemized protocols outlining tasks and to-dos for a storm watch and warning that get more detailed at 72, 48 and 24 hour intervals,” Lawrence explained, “but there are basically three distinct phases of hurricane preparedness … Planning, Event Management and Aftermath cycles.”
According to Lawrence, the planning starts with adherence to building codes long before the immediate weather threat. All new and replacement facilities, such as windows are built, framed and installed to withstand up to 150 mph winds. Major safety equipment such as water filtration units and huge generators are a corporate business budget item to have on hand and transport pre-storm event.
Additionally, hospital safety teams regularly collaborate with community, regional and corporate protocols to plan and practice evacuation routes if necessary. They practice team readiness (clinical and facilities) for on-going care and plant maintenance based on previous weather incidents. For example, previous hurricanes flooded back-up generators which were stored on lower levels. Now hospitals store back-up generators on floors above normal storm surge levels.
“During the preparation stage we check inventories of fuel and water supplies, generators, pumps, plywood, sandbags, fans, air cooling equipment and emergency survival apparatus including batteries, flashlights, tools, food and medical supplies. We bring regional equipment such as water filtration units on- site; stock supplies in the building from storage; and review responsibilities for departmental staff,” he asserted.
At Tenet Health sites, the “A” team consists of clinical and support staff, who along with some immediate family members, are prepared to hunker down in the hospital until the weather subsides. In advance, numbers and names are recorded so that food and housing requirements are adequate.
During a hurricane, the hospital is fully staffed to remediate potential damage from water and wind. Regularly scheduled disaster drills ensure that there is ready access to repair materials. Staff know whether you are clinical or support, everyone is prepared to help distribute mattresses, food trays or sandbags. Immediate skilled damage fixes and prevention helps avoid costly long-term post-storm repairs when local vendors have trouble scheduling in a timely manner.
“From a facilities standpoint, our main goal is to be prepared if power is lost,“ Lawrence said. “Since we have a high geriatric population, many patients would be compromised if we were not set with back-up generators and hand manipulated respiratory devices. From food prep to air conditioning and water storage for patient needs, we have and we practice protocol to maintain care delivery and protect patients and staff,” he explained.
Once the ‘all clear‘ has been called and roads are passable, in comes the ‘B’ team to continue patient care delivery and health surveillance of incoming patients suffering from the medical and psychological trauma of the hurricane including infection control, injury, or mold allergic reactions. For hospitals with maternity services, pregnant women with trauma-induced labor can also be an early admission necessity.
Even if the hurricane jumps a predicted trajectory and spares Florida Medical Center, caravan teams will travel to a nearby points of impact to help treat or transport patients and treatment staff. They also provide employees and residents with mental health coping skills after a traumatic weather event.
Finally, as a hurricane approaches, plant ops teams have responsibility for building hardening– that is safely storing or securing outdoor furnishings or construction sites to prevent wind and water hazards. But, it doesn’t end when the foul weather turns calm. In fact, in the storm aftermath it is important to return quickly to normalcy for visitors and patients. So, disposing of rain water and debris, fixing damage, dismantling flood preparation and working on mold remediation is a top priority to complete the survival attack mode in the days immediately following the storm.
“Plant, security, environmental and safety staff’s policing of all outdoor areas and fast remediation of indoor damage helps create an environment where our mental health experts can guide folks who are overwhelmed by the hurricane’s after-effects back on a path to normalcy,” Lawrence summarized.
It is a team effort from start to finish.
