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Prepare Your Patients and Your Practice for Hurricane Season

Date: 05/30/24

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an above-normal 2024 Atlantic hurricane season driven by factors like warm ocean temperatures and certain wind conditions that are favorable to tropical storm formation. With 70% confidence, forecasters are predicting up to 25 named storms, with as many as 13 developing into hurricanes. 

With the high likelihood that one or more major hurricanes will impact Louisiana between June 1 and November 30, the time to prepare is now. Below are some tips to help you get your patients and your practice ready for hurricane season.

Preparing Your Patients

All patients should be encouraged to prepare for hurricane season by making a disaster game plan and packing an emergency kit. The state’s www.GetAGamePlan.org website provides guidance on how to do both and is a trusted resource you can recommend.

Depending on their health needs, some patients may need to do more to prepare for a storm and possible evacuation. For those patients who are Louisiana Healthcare Connections members, we have resources that can help:

  • Our Hurricane and Disaster Preparedness webpage provides practical tips on preparing for medical needs, including packing medications and making a plan to power medical devices during an outage. 
  • Our Care Management program can assist Louisiana Healthcare Connections members with special health care needs who need help making a personal disaster plan. Refer a patient to Care Management via the secure provider portal or call 1-866-595-8133 x 69016.

Preparing Your Practice

As evidenced by previous hurricane seasons, no region of Louisiana is “hurricane-proof.” No matter where your practice is, you should make a plan for how you’ll keep your facility and staff as safe as possible during the storm and how you’ll reopen and maintain services afterward.

Healthcare Ready offers healthcare facilities the following key steps for hurricane preparedness:

  • Risk Assessment and Planning: Healthcare facilities should conduct thorough risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and develop comprehensive emergency response plans. This includes identifying evacuation routes, establishing communication protocols, and ensuring access to backup power sources.
  • Staff Training and Education: Training staff in emergency procedures and protocols is crucial for ensuring a coordinated response during a crisis. This includes conducting drills and simulations to practice various scenarios and familiarize staff with their roles and responsibilities.
  • Stockpiling Essential Supplies: Healthcare organizations should maintain adequate supplies of medications, medical equipment, and other essential resources to sustain operations during and after a hurricane. This may involve establishing relationships with multiple suppliers and distributors to mitigate the risk of shortages.
  • Securing Facilities: Securing healthcare facilities against potential damage from high winds, flooding, and other hazards is essential for minimizing disruptions to patient care. This may involve installing storm shutters, reinforcing windows and doors, and implementing flood mitigation measures.
  • Collaborating with Community Partners: Collaboration is key to ensuring a coordinated response to hurricanes and other emergencies. Healthcare providers should work closely with local government agencies, emergency management organizations, and community partners to share resources, coordinate evacuation efforts, and provide mutual aid as needed.

Additional resources for healthcare facilities and providers: