Question

Question: In hurricane andrew, how did the event impact the hospital and health community?

what steps could have been taken to better prepare? To better respond?

Does your instiution or workplace have a continuity of operations (COOP) plan?

Do you test it regularly?

please cite any source used, thanks

Answer 1

Hurricane Andrew was a powerful and destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that struck the Bahamas,Florida and Louisiana in August 1992.Thevdamage caused by Andrewcwas extraordinary.winds could damage houses, tree's and any outdoor property.Hospitals and other health centre's were destroyed.Many hundreds of people injured or trapped by storm debris.The red cross established shelters for special needs And frail patients,however public health nurses were contracted by Dade County Public Health Department did nit show up to staff them.Hurricanes affect humans /communities by the lack of sanitary water,that gets in our system.Hurricanes can wreck homes and buildings that causes losses of.money that can make people very poor.

What steps could have been taken for better prepare / better response.

Earlier response to the disaster by the state and federal government was poor.There was not much pre-disaster planning and communication by both government was ineffective.After several days ,the public health response did improve with help from federal and state government agencies and volunteer services.

Steps could be ,

1. Command structures at each location that have local authorities over the response.
2. When planning avlarge hurricane,establish command centres in a variety geographic locations.
3. A volunteer list of those who can provide medical services should be kept updated at least yearly .
4. Hurricanee bring debris And flooding which can contain. Bacteria and other health hazards.Poor sanitation could lead to illnesses.

Our institution has a COOP plan .The plan should develop procedures for alerting, notifying,activatingband deploying employees.

Yes I do test it whenever I get an opportunity