Disaster Recovery News

In a recently settled class action lawsuit, Tenet Healthcare Corporation recently settled for $25 million. The number of individuals who participated in the lawsuit is unknown, but those in the class claimed that New Orleans’ Memorial Medical Center lack of emergency preparedness caused an unreasonable amount of harm when 2005’s Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.

The Real Cost

An article by ProPublica states that there were almost 1,000 individuals in the hospitals, not counting hospital staff. Out of this population, 187 of the individuals were patients. When the disasters caused by Hurricane Katrina occurred, the backup generators in the hospital failed and help in the form of rescue helicopters did not arrive until two days after the natural disaster. The article reports that the hospital sought the help of the Coast Guard, National Guard, several government and private ambulance companies and FEMA, but the response was frenzied. In the end, rescue workers found 45 bodies at the Memorial Medical Center.

Nation-Wide Unpreparedness

Hurricane Katrina opened the eyes of several health care systems. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reported in May 2011 that out of all of the hospitals that participated in the 2009 National Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), only 76 percent of the hospitals met 90 percent of the all-hazards preparedness criteria. While this number is an improvement compared to 2005’s figures, only 85 percent of the more than 6,000 hospitals in the U.S. take advantage of and participate in the HPP.

What’s at Stake for Your Business?

Emergency preparedness and recovery is not just a topic medical centers need to consider, as all businesses are responsible for ensuring the well-being of those on their property if the unthinkable happens. Preparing for the worst can mean the difference between saving the lives or wishing you had taken the time to create an emergency disaster plan. If you are currently not prepared for a disaster, what would a devastating event cost you and your business?

Learn more about developing a plan for your business from the experts.

[Image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center]

Sometimes it seems as if some U.S. cities cannot get a break from the forces of Mother Nature. This is the case with Laguna Beach, California. Over the last several years, the town known for its beaches and glamorous residents has experienced landslides, floods and fires.

Geography and climate have a great impact on the natural disasters a city experiences. Summer wildfires deplete the area surrounding Laguna Beach of vegetation, which soaks and holds back rainwater. Consequently, landslides and floods follow heavy rains. For example, the area had record-breaking rainfall in late December 2010, which caused $12 million in damage to homes and businesses, according to “The Orange County Register.” Residents have also blamed over-development in floodplains, insufficient flood channels and a lack of disaster response efforts for aiding in the destruction caused by weather-related events.

Just like households and businesses, communities must also create emergency preparedness and disaster response plans. These plans should examine measures that can help lessen the damage natural disasters can cause, establish evacuation routes and name places residents can go to for disaster relief services and emergency shelters. While having a disaster plan in place is important, it is equally important for communities to hold emergency preparedness workshops that educate its residents, as well as a plan for recovery. Government buildings are not immune to disasters, and having a plan for continuity can help relief efforts flow more smoothly.

Learn more about recovering after a disaster.

[photo: Orange County Archives]

From catastrophic earthquakes, wildfires, biblical-like flooding, the hottest recorded summer temperatures to the snowiest winters, extreme weather and natural disasters are often one of the top stories on the evening news. However, one of the most common trends seen is unpreparedness on the affected public’s behalf.

Learning from the Past

In 2010, the planet experienced record-setting hot temperatures and more than 950 natural disasters. So far, the year 2011 is proving to be one that is following suit with much of the northern hemisphere experiencing freezing temperatures and some countries in the southern hemisphere under water. Experts say that 2010 gave us a peek of what is to come in 2011, yet the majority of households and communities in the U.S. have not prepared emergency disaster kits despite the lessons about the unpredictability of the forces of nature.

Preparing for the Next Weather Event

More reliable and less expensive than an insurance policy, emergency preparedness is an investment that will never go to waste. Emergency preparedness acts like a life jacket in times of a disaster. Emergency disaster plans for businesses should include a business continuity strategy and a way to restore wet documents and damaged books. Homes can prepare for the unexpected by creating an emergency disaster plan and preparing an emergency disaster kit that includes a sufficient amount of food and water, a plan for recovery and essential survival items.

With the amount of natural disasters the planet has experienced over the last several years, there is no need for businesses and households to get caught off-guard when Mother Nature acts-out. Devoting time to prepare for disasters before they happen can help families and businesses get back on their feet after a life-changing natural event.

Learn more about making an emergency disaster kit.

[photo: NASA Goddard Photo and Video]

Image from the National Hurricane Center

“LARGE HURRICANE EARL CONTINUES RELENTLESSLY TOWARD THE NORTHWEST…POSES A THREAT TO THE MID ATLANTIC COAST…” This statement tops the National Hurricane Center’s section on Hurricane Earl, the latest tropical storm to hit the U.S. Hurricane Earl is expected to make landfall on the East Coast within the next 48 hours, promoting thousands of residents and tourists in the coastal areas North Carolina and the surrounding states, such as Virginia, to evacuate.

MSNBC reports:

“Earl’s effect on the East Coast will depend on when it makes its expected turn to the northeast.

“A later-than-expected turn could mean the storm’s eye makes landfall on the extreme eastern tip of North Carolina as a Category 3 storm late Thursday or early Friday.

“If that happens, hurricane-force winds also could reach New York’s Long Island and Cape Cod in Massachusetts.”

The National Hurricane Center recommends you take the following actions when a hurricane is predicted for your area:

BEFORE a Hurricane:

• Put your emergency disaster kit together. Make sure they are in one location in your home.
• Prepare an emergency plan for your business.
• Write out your emergency disaster plan. Discuss the plan with your family, nominate an out-of-town family contact, and decide on an evacuation area and meet-up spot should you get separated.

During a Hurricane WATCH:

• Double-check your emergency disaster kit. Replenish anything in it that may be low, such as water, medications and batteries for flashlights and radios.
• Take protective and preventative measures that may take extra time. Such measures may include filling your car with gas, securing your boat or boarding up the windows of your home or place of business.

During a Hurricane WARNING:

• Have your emergency disaster kit ready to grab and go.
• Put your emergency disaster plan into action. Decide on the safest location to wait-out the hurricane.
• Evacuate if told by officials to do so.

Learn more about preparing for a hurricane.

What to do after a hurricane.

Image from FEMA

In addition to the 50 Iowa counties that have already received a Presidential disaster declaration, 29 more were added on August 15, 2010. This order will support more state and local recovery efforts that are helping residents clean-up after the aftermath of the severe summer weather that began on June 1, 2010. Iowa residents have had to endure tornadoes, severe storms and floods, and this recent declaration will bring much-needed relief.

FEMA states that individuals, families and businesses are eligible to receive federal funding. Also available are grants to provide temporary housing, home-repair aid and low-cost loans to assist those who are dealing with uninsured property losses.

The 29 latest areas added to the disaster declaration include the Black Hawk, Cherokee, Clayton, Decatur, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Jackson, Jones, Kossuth, Lee, Lucas, Lyon, Marion, O’Brien, Osceola, Ringgold, Sioux, Story, Taylor, Union, Warren, Webster, and Wright counties.

On their website, FEMA states:

“Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties may immediately begin registering for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time). Those registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves, details on insurance coverage, and any other information to help substantiate losses.”

Homeowners, learn more about recovering from a storm.

Business owners, read about business continuity and getting back on your feet quickly after a disaster.