Worried about hospital emergency plans...

[LandDRN]

I know this is not a direct OB/GYN issue but this is my "home board." I live on the gulf coast of Florida. Our hospital sits directly on the mouth of a large river that opens into the Gulf of Mexico. Our evacuation level for a minimal ( category 1) is class A ( meaning for any hurricane that area is to evacuate due to storm surge.) Our facility also sits on reclaimed land meaning they actually made land out into the river to build the facility on. After our neighbors to the south were hit by Hurricane Charley our hospital decided it was time to make better plans. ( previously if you were scheduled during landfall you worked, if not you did not.) Now there are teams. I am on team B ( the team that works during the storm). After hearing stories of collapsed roofs, blown out windows, staff getting injured ect, we questioned our directors about evacuation plans should catagories 3-5 hit. We were informed that the new part of the building is build to withstand catagory 5 winds ( eerily reminded us of the supposed cat 5 "resistant" superdome) and that there are NO plans for evac because it is not needed. Now the winds are not as concerning as the storm surge for a cat 3-5 which would be well into our second story with some force due to sitting on the waters edge. This left us with the job vs safety dilema. If you do not come you will be fired. Are there any safety responsibilities our facility is required to have? How on earth can they justify staying operational in a class A evac zone?

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

I would think that the fire/police department may have some pull in that....

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

Living on the gulf coast and having to evacuate during Rita, I say if you got a cat 5 hurricaine coming at you...get out. Job or no job it is not worth your life.

[rnheart]

Living on the gulf coast and having to evacuate during Rita, I say if you got a cat 5 hurricaine coming at you...get out. Job or no job it is not worth your life.

DITTO DITTO DITTO, Can you say katrina

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

There is another thread going that started out discussing whether you would go in during an emergency if you had been drinking but ended up talking a lot about your concerns.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/fan-out-go-alchohol-307094.html

p.s. I don't stick to one forum . . I click on "New Posts" and read all over the bulletin board. Even though I'm an OB nurse too.

steph

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I remember learning in a jr. high science class nearly 30 years ago that the ecology of the world's coastlines was not designed to sustain high-density development ... and yet it continues, flying in the face of common sense.

I agree with the previous poster who suggested inquiring with the local police department regarding exactly what happens in the event of an evacuation order.

Ultimately the decision about what to do in an emergency is a personal one.

[grandee3]

DITTO DITTO DITTO, Can you say katrina

Yesterday was start of hurricane season and nothing has been mentioned about disaster plans. Here we go again!

I am still recovering from Katrina, as are many of my fellow co workers.

I'm also hearing thru the grapevine that hospitals and nursing homes in the area will stay put unless it is a 3-5 cat. Have they NOT learned anything after the last disaster? I'm also hearing from other healthcare workers that they wll not stay for anything coming this way or even close by.

The government, state and local official all say we are totally prepared should another severe storm comes this way.

[LandDRN]

I would think that the fire/police department may have some pull in that....

They don't and in some situations are stuck at their facilities like we are that are in evacuation zones. Guess we are pretty helpless which is sad for our patients and ourselves.