Image courtesy of NASA

May 24, 2015 - May 30, 2015 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. Although the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially starts on June 1st, 2015, it has already had 1 named tropical storm. Tropical Storm Ana made landfall on the South Carolina coast on Mother's Day of this year with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour and brought with it heavy rain, with North Myrtle Beach experiencing about 4" of rain.

Extended Range Forecasts for this year's Atlantic Hurricane Season from Colorado State University indicate a less active season is expected. In fact, the CSU predictions indicate that this could be one of the least active seasons since the middle of the 20th century. This is largely due to an expected moderate El Nino and quite cool waters over the tropical and subtropical Atlantic. Read the full forecast here

Remember, it only takes 1 tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane to cause widespread damage and disruption. Despite the forecast for below-average activity this season, people in areas vulnerable to tropical activity should remain vigilant, update and exercise plans and take appropriate action if a storm is anticipated to impact their area. For more information about tropical cyclone preparedness click here or contact us.

A recent collaboration between ASPR and a regional coalition in southeastern Pennsylvania provided a unique opportunity to measure the costs and benefits of preparing for disasters. This resulted in one of the first economic evaluations applied to preparedness and showed it does pay to be prepared.

Working with the regions Surge Medical Assistance Response Team, or SMART, they were able to evaluate both the cost of the resources they had available and the cost of responding to their local disasters in recent years. This showed the regional response team produced positive returns on investment after roughly six years. It also revealed a number of factors that would contribute to the break-even point for each community as well as a number of innovative ways regional response teams could be funded.  To learn more click here.

Image courtesy of FEMA
 

In the wake of protests and riots in urban areas such as Baltimore, MD and Ferguson, MO, hospitals are faced with a reminder that emergency plans for civil disturbances may need to be reviewed.

Recent events continue to highlight the impact that civil disturbance events can have on hospital operations. Along with the potential for a large number of casualities, hospitals located in the community where the event is occurring may be faced with staffing issues and concerns, supply chain disruptions, and other security concerns if protests turn violent and riots ensue. Disruptions can quickly escalate to disaster events with emergency departments becoming inundated with injured protestors and/or public safety personnel, especially when conflicting groups are co-mingled in a hospital. Hospitals should be asking themselves "What if this happened in our city?" and discussing the various options and implications that unrest could have on their ability to maintain a safe environment of care for staff, patients and visitors.

Is your facility prepared for a civil disturbance? To learn more about considerations for these types of emergencies or about civil disturbance exercises, contact us.