Hurricane Ian illustrates the rising risk of severe storms to health facilities
Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms to hit the U.S.,tore part of the roofoff a hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida, and flooded the building's lower level emergency room, sending staff scrambling to move patients as water poured in. At leastnine hospitalsand dozens of nursing homes had totransfer patientsafterlosing access to clean waterbecause of the storm.
Health care services are essential at any time, but when disasters strike, those services become even more crucial as injuries rise.
Yet in many coastal communities, the hospitals were built in locations that are at increasingly high risk of flooding during hurricanes.
I study ways to improve disaster communications, including howhealth care organizationsprepare for severe weather events. Here's what research shows about the rising risks.
High percentage of coastal hospitals at risk
Given the impact of climate change, many areas are susceptible to severe weather events and hazards. Health care facilities, including hospitals, clinics andlong-term care facilities, are no exception.
A study released Sept. 29, 2022, as Ian was leaving Florida, found that even weak hurricanes can pose asevere risk to scores of hospitalsalong the U.S. coasts.
In 25metropolitan areasalong the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the authors found that at least half of the hospitals are at risk of flooding from a Category 2 storm, defined as wind speeds of 96 mph to 110 mph. In some cities, including Lake Charles, Louisiana; Naples, Florida, and Ocean City, New Jersey, 100% of the hospitals are considered at risk.
Those risks are rising with climate change. The study's Harvard University authors estimated that thelikelihood of coastal hospitals flooding would rise 22%this century.
What's important about this finding is that communities can begin to identify hospitals at high risk and develop both backup plans and measures to help protect them and their patients.
The U.S. has a history ofhospitaldisasters during severe weather.The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005opened many people's eyes to what disrupted health care systems look like. During that storm,many hospitals were without powerand the ability to communicate, and experienced damage to water and sewage services. Several could not replenish supplies of food, medicine, blood and linen, yet had to continue operations under horrific conditions.
The TV drama "Five Days at Memorial" is built around that disaster and how the staff at New Orleans' Memorial Medical Center struggled to keep patients alive while cut off by floodwater. It has triggered a lot of conversations around preparedness and risk in these critical facilities.
Assisted-living communities overlooked
My research explores how underserved and vulnerable populations prepare for and manage disasters. In particular,I've done fieldwork analyzing how older adults living in retirement and assisted-living communitiesperceive their own risks.
Pictures from a friend in Tampa showing Tampa General Hospital preparing for Hurricane Ian. The hospital is being surrounded by a temporary flood barrier, which I hadn't seen before. Fascinating construction. There is a lot of potential flooding with the storm.#k5weatherpic.twitter.com/wgPbtATtsh
— Rich Marriott (@rtmarriott)September 27, 2022
Ideally, these facilities should be able to provide the same services during disasters as before, without interruption. The reality is that when infrastructure is overwhelmed,older adults may be trapped in dangerous conditions, unable to evacuate. They also might not be mobile enough to be easily rescued, especially if the facility spans several floors.
Staff might not be available to administer medications. Electricity or power for life-sustaining medical treatments might not be available. Health care workers in these care facilitiesare also not always able to execute disaster plans or protocols, if such plans exist.
After Hurricane Irma knocked out power to Florida in 2017,a dozen patients diedin a nursing home that lost power for air conditioning. That led to a state law that nowrequires nursing homes to have backup generators. But Ian showed that even that isn't enough to keep residents safe.
Other populations, such as people withphysical, sensory or cognitive disabilities, and those who are medically vulnerable, including homeless populations, also need to be considered in health care-related disaster planning. While those who are homeless may find shelters, including shelters created for disaster relief,it is not uncommon for people who are homeless to seek medical servicesor find refuge in hospitals.
Resilience and disaster plans
After disasters, hospitals are essential for treating therise in injuries, as well as mental health issues among disaster victims.700多名营救were launched during Ian and its aftermath.
Therefore, it is important for hospitals, as well as nursing homes, to develophospital disaster resilience plans. These plans for hospitals cover topics like safety, staffing, surge capacity to handle a sudden increase in patients, handling emergency services amid flooding, and disaster plans, training and communications.
Looking long term, better building design,flood barriersand safer locations may be necessary.
TheSoutheast Louisiana Veterans Health Care Centerin New Orleans is one model of how to design a health facility to withstand a disaster. The building was built to handle high winds, and the emergency department is on the second floor, at least 21 feet above base flood elevation.
Just got this video in from Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte. Ive talked to two people who work here and they said part of the roof of the 4th floor is off. That floor is the ICU#abc11#Hurricane_Ianpic.twitter.com/dgnJgbK3ID
— Josh Chapin (@JoshChapinABC11)September 28, 2022
风暴像伊恩是一个困难的提醒我portance of protecting these facilities so emergency medical care is available in disasters, and why disaster planning at all health care sites is crucial.
This article is republished fromThe Conversation基于知识共享许可协议。读了original article.
