 2009 Hurricane Season
Be Prepared
Physicians - Recommended Checklist for Disaster Preparedness
- Stay informed on the evolving event, and share that information with personnel/staff/employees to ensure enough time to take appropriate action
- Maintain an updated contact list of all personnel/staff/employees, including home phone numbers, cell phones and other emergency contact numbers. Encourage staff to share their personal evacuation plans and their availability for post-event emergency efforts
- Make decisions early about closing the office, or availability in services provided by your practice to your patients
- Communicate major changes in your office operations with patients; Be prepared to answer questions about rescheduling options, alternative treatment facilities and what they can do to maintain care of their diagnosed conditions
- Charge cell phones and laptops prior to event
- Bring office server and back up files with you in the event of an evacuation; Files may not be easily accessed on another server with different software
- In the event of an evacuation, take important office business documents, such as insurance policies, payroll information, lease agreements, etc., with you when you leave
Emergency Preparedness Kit Checklist (GetAGamePlan.org)
Personal Emergency Reference Card (American Medical Association)
Evacuation Guides (Louisiana State Police)
Preparing Your Business for the Unthinkable (American Red Cross)
LSMS Direct - Hurricane and Emergency Communication Link (Must be an LSMS member)
Members - Login using the 6-digit number on your LSMS Membership Card as your ID; Password is your first and last name (capitalize the first letter of your First and Last name and no space between, i.e., JohnDoe)
Call 1-888-LAHELPU (524-3578) for up to the minute information on obtaining food, water & shelter; volunteering for rescue/recovery efforts; prescription assistance; missing persons and more.
Volunteering in a Disaster
Louisiana Volunteers in Action - https://www.lava.dhh.louisiana.gov/
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals-Office of Public Health recently launched its brand new volunteer management web site. LAVA, or Louisiana Volunteers in Action, is the program responsible for recruiting the Department's volunteer workforce (medical and non-medical). The LAVA web site will allow individuals to register to volunteer to help the state during health emergencies and day-to-day activities. LAVA also provides web-based emergency preparedness training to volunteers at no cost.
Read more about how the new "Dr. Anna Pou" bills help protect physicians volunteering in declared emergencies at http://www.cdmr.org/.
Web Resources and Links
LA Governor's Office of Homeland Security - http://www.getagameplan.org/
When a hurricane strikes, will you be ready? It's critical that you are, for your safety and your family's. The key is to have a winning game plan. On this page, you'll find links to PDFs and web sites that can help you develop a simple but successful game plan for your family. That way, they'll know what to do, where to go and who to call when there's a hurricane.
American Medical Association - http://www.ama-assn.org/
Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response
Through the Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response (CPHPDR), the AMA strives to be recognized as an important national educational resource for enhancing the disaster preparedness and response capabilities of both civilian and military providers.
American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org/
Being prepared for emergencies is crucial at home, school, work and in your community. Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood, workplace or school or can confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services – water, gas, electricity or telephones – were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. The best way to make you and your family safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes.
American Society of Safety Engineers - www.asse.org
Hurricane Season Preparation Tips;
Business Resumption Safety Tips;
Clean-Up Tips for Flood-Related Mold;
Workplace Emergency and Crisis Preparation Checklist;
Hazmat Emergency Safety Information;
Emergency Preparation Plans information;
Key Emergency Preparedness and Response Resources list;
Hazmat Emergency Response Resourcesand the
Homeland Security Department's Emergency Preparedness Quiz.
Homeland Security's Web site -www.ready.gov
Resources, such as an Emergency Supply Checklist and an Emergency Plan and links to local information are available. For information in Spanish, visit www.listo.gov. Individuals can also call 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO for more emergency preparedness information.
More Information
Disaster Planning For The Clinical Practice
by Neil Baum, MD, and John W Mcdaniel
Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Being Prepared: Protecting your Family from Hurricanes, Earthquakes, and Other Disasters
by Katharine C. Rathbun, MD, MPH
Published by http://www.lulu.com/ (2006)
For updates and additional information: http://www.dr-kate.com/
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