Hurricane Season starts June 1st, which is not too far in the future to begin preparation and review of your emergency management processes. Most of Florida has been lucky in the past few years, with the not-insignificant exception of Hurricane Michael’s impact on the central panhandle Gulf region. This lack of severe hurricane activity through the rest of the state should make us think that the odds are progressing toward a higher risk of more direct and severe impacts, possibly this year!
In Part 1 of this blog series, we offer some initial preparation, which should include the following:
- Survey your direct care staff to determine their plans to remain available for work or whether they will evacuate. Plans always change, but having people think about this may solidify your staffing levels.
- Contact your ‘mutual assistance partners’, or those organizations with which you may have an understanding regarding assisting one another and determine their continued availability to assist with staffing, etc.
- Re-assess your clients’ or patients’ plans to evacuate or remain in their homes. Again, plans change as personal circumstances change. Things may be different now for them. If they will evacuate, be sure to obtain the contact information for their destination and that the medication, supplies and equipment list for Special Needs Registry patients is updated and available to the patient.
- Make an analysis of the number of confirmed staff who indicate they will remain available for patient assignments compared with the number of clients/patients who will continue to need care. Categorize the patients according to acuity of their medical condition and needs relative to your skilled providers.
These just a few of the things that you need to do, WHILE YOU HAVE THE TIME to do it thoughtfully and carefully, and not in a panicked rush when a hurricane is on the radar, aiming at your area!
Join us for Part 2 of these hurricane preparation tips next week.