Hurricane Matthew Updates

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Hurricane Matthew has strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane and is headed toward the FL coast. Much of the US eastern coastline is under hurricane warnings with evacuations being issued.

The Annual Magnet Conference was in progress in Orlando this week, but has officially been closed this morning due to the approaching storm. Two staff from the allnurses team are among the thousands trying to leave the area. You can imagine the chaos.

If you are among those stranded, please give a shout out here. This can be a place to post your Matthew-related information.

Please stay safe!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, StepDown, Tele, ICU.

Thinking of all my nursing sisters and brothers in the SE today. Also anyone that is on deck for relief work. Everyone stay safe over the next few days!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I hope everyone in the areas impacted by the hurricane stays safe and dry. My thoughts (and my prayers, if that doesn't offend anyone) will be with all of you.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

How tough that must be WKShadowRN. You acute care nurses deserve a ton of credit.

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
I do appreciate it, Ruby. I'm on the SC coast. My home is not in the zone being evacuated today, but I have to report to work tomorrow night for my shift on Saturday or I am terminated. My organization is in the evacuation zone. I'm essential personnel.

I have a lot of stressful things happening right now and add to that the logistics of securing my home and family and getting ready to go to work, leaving them at home for the day of the storm.

Please keep us updated. I'm praying for you and your family.

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
My ducks are in a row!

I'll get to stay home tomorrow. I'd much rather be with my family. The girl initiating this switch is aware that Sunday is unpredictable as I don't know how the roads will be. She will cover for me until I can arrive safely. Everyone wins.

Awesome! What a relief :D well sort of. I know being with your family will feel good

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Stay safe everyone

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
We've lost our fence in the back yard. I'm sad but we are still ok otherwise. So for that I am grateful. The fence can be mended.

Is it showing any signs of calming down? Possibly moving upwards soon if I'm correct? Gosh my heart goes out to you and your family. I'm snuggled in Ohio. The worst we've had is a few scattered storms with mild flooding and drop in temp.

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
The rain has stopped. The frequency of gusts is lengthening. But the gusts are still pretty powerful. Power went out for a bit but is back on again. Powerlines are behind my house on the adjacent property so I'm eyeing those suspiciously.

How's your morning going out there on the east coast?

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
I made it to work alright. Lots of trees down and debris strewn about. Last night I did a test run to get out and I was stressed because of flooding. Almost every Avenue was barricaded. But I found one clear, a long detour and used it this morning. Most of the water receded now.

Happy to hear you and your family is safe in the midst of all that craziness! :saint:

How's your facility/work environment?

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What happens to you all if you attempt to drive to work and the roads are flooded so bad you are putting yourself at risk. Can you call the police to take you into work or does the hospital come out and get you. You should not be terminated if this puts your life at risk.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
What happens to you all if you attempt to drive to work and the roads are flooded so bad you are putting yourself at risk. Can you call the police to take you into work or does the hospital come out and get you. You should not be terminated if this puts your life at risk.

That depends. Is your life seriously at risk or is it just time consuming and inconvenient to make your way around the flooding and into work? Could you have left before the anticipated flooding and gotten to work safely? Simply getting in your car on a normal day and driving to work puts your life at risk.

In a hurricane situation, the first responders have plenty to do without providing taxi service for the hospitals. Some hospitals do provide taxi service in to work -- you should check your hospital's policy in advance of the event.

I have cross country skied to work. I went to work on a snowmobile once. I drove fifty miles out of my way to get around flooding on several occasions and I've even gotten to work in a dinghy. If you simply don't try hard enough to get to work, you are not understanding your role in healthcare and you deserve to be terminated.

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