Are we prepared for a natural disaster?

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November 9, 2012, 4:00 pm

Hurricane Sandy was one of those deadly hurricanes with a nice name and a wicked effect on our nation’s psyche. When you see people suddenly without shelter or power, it makes us all re-evaluate our own emergency preparedness. Our family sat down after Hurricane Sandy wiped out much of the New Jersey coastline and reviewed what it is we’re supposed to do in case of an emergency.

But what about if someone we know or love is hospitalized during a hurricane? How can we be sure their care will be assured? We are not at risk of hurricanes in Portland, but we are at risk for adverse weather, earthquakes and biological crises that we need to be ready for.

You’ll be relieved to know that OHSU is thinking way ahead of us. On OHSU’s 96k, Dr. Robert Hendrickson, medical director of OHSU’s emergency management program, recently shared some of the actions they take to prepare for disasters. OHSU has planned and trained for crises for more than a decade, including a well-trained team of high-level decision makers that is always on call to make rapid decisions in a disaster, and disaster and emergency exercises more than twice a year. OHSU also exercised their hospital evacuation plan last year and plans to do so again this year.  As we saw in New York and the evacuation of over 215 patients due to Sandy, a well-planned evacuation plan is a necessity in chaotic times of crisis.

Find out how OHSU is prepared at OHSU’s 96k.