Hurricane coming: evacuate or stay and work?

Penguin67 · Aug 31, 2008

One other poster mentioned this, just thought I'd reiterate what is done in Savannah. You are assigned to one of three teams. A stays while B goes home, packs secures home and returns to staff and releive A team. B team evacuates and is expected to return post storm to relieve A team. C team = C you later (gets to evacuate, with no string attached, like the prn staff). To some degree, you get input as to what team you are assigned, but for the most part, you have no choice. If you have a family, sometimes they evacuate to a city that you are transporting a patient out of town to and you can reuinite with them there. I've seen husbands come in and work the "nursery" at the hospital while the moms work shifts on the units.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 31, 2008

Katrina was NOT a serious storm..nothing like Andrew or Donna or the big ones that come along from time to time, but since the infamous ninth ward and many other areas in New Orleans were and are STILL below sea level, it seems it is inviting destruction, being built on the Gulf coast.

All natural disasters, whether they are hurricanes, tornados or what have you are serious to those involved.

I don't think it's a fair judgement to make that Katrina was any less of a storm or hurricane than ones from the past. It reeked havoc across a wide span of the Gulf Coast, not just the "infamous ninth ward".

To the original OP - I would probably stay as long as my family, pets and loved ones were safe.

lilo2010 · Aug 31, 2008

Katrina Was A Major Storm! MS gulf coast took a direct hit was devestated! The Nat'l Guard did patrol MS!There WAS smell of death everywhere! We lost many, many people! People forget about MS & just talk about New Orleans! New Orleans was bad, but it was only cause of the flooding! If they had decent levees & didn't live soo far below sea level they would have been fine! Katrina affected all of MS!

lilo2010 · Aug 31, 2008

As far as the OP, Yes! I would work during a hurricane if my kids & husband were safe! Either with me @ hospital or w/relatives out of town!

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2008

Thankfully, here in Connecticut, we don't weather many nasty hurricanes. Sure one blows through every once in a while (last major one I remember was in mid 80's). We don't even really have to worry about major blizzards although we have had some doozys the last few years. Anyway, I digress..

If we had to evacuate, I would ship the hubby, the two daughters, 2 dogs and 2 kitties somewhere safe. I most likely would hang back and go to work. The way I figure it, my kids will have their dad to protect them and watch over and care for them, my residents/patients (LTC) normally only have the staff to do that for them.

For many there (even in my short time there) I am their family. I would hunker down with them and make sure all are well taken care of and safe, to the best of my ability in the situation.

Sending out blessings to all that are in the path of the hurricanes blowing their way.

csason · Aug 31, 2008

Sure didn't mean to rile anybody up...

My grandfather told me about the big one in '23 or it may have been '19, regardless, it was before the dike was built around Lake Okeechobee, and

tens of thousands of folks (they never really had a good count) in West Palm were instantly drowned when the lake was pushed into the city.

I am just trying to say that the southeast has been hammered by these things since the beginning of time, and it amazes me that folks just now seem to realize what they are...and those who are unfamiliar with them, seem to be at a loss as to when and what to do.

What I did, was fill up some more containers with water, fill up some gas containers, and test my generator. I already trimmed my trees at the start of the season, and made a few other preparations regarding insurance papers, car titles, personal documents (ss cards, birth certificates, etc)

I wasn't trying to downplay any area, or any storm ..other than to say that any reasonable person would want to measure what they are facing based on perceptions..

How many times I have seen folks run for the hills, then later they didn't because they had over-reacted previously, and suffered..

The most dangerous storms do look like Gustav...A CAT 4 or above will most certainly take the power and water, but they are not like the

instantaneous destruction of a plains twister.

I fear anything I say will be misconstrued, so I will stop.

It's frustrating..from my point of view, because I have yet to evacuate, ever for a hurricane, nor do I plan to.

ADNOLOL08 · Aug 31, 2008

I'm in the path of the hurricane, but plan to stay, though plan to move to safer housing than where I currently am. After the hurricane, I'll go into work when they need me as our hospital divides staff into four different teams with the first 2 teams going in during the hurricane and the other 2 coming in to relieve after the storm is over.

If a mandatory evacuation comes through, then I'll go, but as of now I plan to stay.

RN1989 · Aug 31, 2008

This isn't theoretical for me - been there done that.

Years ago had a hurricane coming - my hospital was just a few miles from the beach. Went to work with clothing and flashlights. Eye never got close to us, just had heavy storms. Husband was riding out the hurricane in the Atlantic - along with the rest of the US Navy.

Was management in a hospital on the evac route for Rita. Sent my family to safe place away from the coast. Took necessities to work and stayed there.

This time, I am not working at a clinical job and am farther away from coast. With the thousands of people already in N.TX to escape, I have debated about volunteering.

At this point, I have no desire to volunteeer my services. I know that the hospitals will be busting at the seams with critical evacuees and the shelters will have problems with people needing healthcare. But Rita showed me that I don't care to be used and abused by the evacuees.

I have never seen so many people that were so hateful, so rude, so mean. We had people in the hospital that threatened staff. They would refuse to let a nurse take their vitals unless they were given something - some wanted money, some wanted scrubs from the OR instead of hospital gowns - some wanted to hoard food. It was awful. The worst were the people that had evacuated from Katrina and this was their second hurricane. But the Rita-only evacuees were not far behind in their inappropriate behavior.

Is my attitude Christian? No. And that bothers me. But I don't believe that I should have to put myself into a situation to be threatened with everything from a lawsuit to bodily harm for the sake of caring for these "poor people". Does the situation suck? Yes. But that is no excuse for the behaviors that I saw up close and personal with the Rita evac. I'm not in the mood to play with these people a second time.

Nursebarebari · Aug 31, 2008

If I live in such areas and hurricane strikes while I was at work, I would definately stay and take care of my patients. If I happened to be at home on the other, I would hit the road for safety.

csason · Aug 31, 2008

Katrina I have had to re-live over and over and over...and it sickens me each time, and the thirty thou I paid last year in taxes went to a government that promises to build a stand alone shelter capable of withstanding a nuclear blast for all those who are too stupid to realize a hurricane is about to nail them.

I just grow weary of insanity in the place of reason and logic.

The news outlets don't help much, especially when Floridians have dealt

with these things for decades, and we never blamed the President, or

blamed anyone. We just did what was the right thing, and helped each other. Andrew was at least as bad as Katrina..and there were far worse storms in the past, but all we hear about is Katrina

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 31, 2008

Moderator's Note:

Please remember to debate the TOPIC and keep the tone respectful.

I'm sure many of you who experienced Katrina, Rita, and/or other serious hurricanes have passionate feelings on the subject. This is entirely understandable, and we share your concerns for those in the path of Gustav. However, inflammatory comments and sarcasm add nothing of value to the discussion, and will not be permitted per our Terms of Service.

Thank you for your cooperation.

mamalle · Aug 31, 2008

thanks for the info regarding ms but my mom is now in jackson and will be at my aunt's shortly. she has a full tank of gas and extra in her trunk. i hate the fact though the hospital waited till yesterday to make their decisions in regards to their patients and staff.

anyhow i had to comment on this:

lot might depend on administration. are they staying or are they taking the first train out of town? if we are expected to work under unsafe and potentially deadly conditions, are they? is your nurse manager, house supervisor, administrator going to suit up and bag patients when the generators fail? are they going to take your place after 20 hours so you can take a shower and a nap?

are they going to feed me and pay me hazard pay for staying? are they willing to risk their lives or is that only for those in the trenches?

this is a big issue and one you need to know before hand. unfortunately we had almost anarchy on our hands during the 72 hours i was stuck at the hospital for frances. they didnt have enough food, etc and it was getting crazy.they called me and told me to report for work and they would be providing our meals. i remember saying to administration that i have known its been hurricane season since june 1st and my house is ready for the storm and prepared with food, etc how is it a multi-million dollar hospital corp only planned food for 24 hours?? that was only the start of things to come when there wasnt enough flashlights, water to wash hands and flush toilets after. the 2nd storm i did bring my kids and didnt feel it was a safe area where they were trying to put the families- luckily i didnt since a tree came thru the window. i kept mine in the er with me. i wont bring them back again after seeing how fragile that hospital really is. you just never know. our administration tried to send nurses home during a eye of the storm and said it was safe- the medics were not even running calls and the weather people were saying not to drive. the nurses refused to go until it was clear and it was a huge issue that now in our handbook it states if administration feels its safe for you to drive home and you refuse due to downed traffic lights, flooding, etc- they will not pay you. i know some of the area hospitals do not pay you when you sleep off your shift during the hurricane either. ours luckily as of this date does.. you need to find everything out prior to making a commitment that can be potentially life altering is my opinion. if gustav was coming our way in south fla- i would already be in nc. i might not have a job when i came back or a house but my family would be intact and i still can be a nurse at my outpatient center or another hospital.