2007 Hurricane Season

Texas Safe from
Hurricane Dean

Though originally projected to hit the Texas Gulf Coast, Hurricane Dean crossed Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula early Tuesday and quickly weakened from a Category 5 storm to Category 1. Although it may gather more power before striking Central Mexico on Wednesday, the impact on Texas is expected to be minimal. Check this site for updates throughout the hurricane season.

Track hurricanes online at: http://www.noaa.gov/

Other resources:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/index.htm
(Texas disaster planning information)

 

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/hurricanes.shtm
(TDSHS updates)

 

http://www.texasnurses.org/rtn/rtn.htm
(Texas Nurses Association "Ready Texas Nurses")

 

Other disaster readiness resources

Latest Updates for Hospitals

(As of Tuesday, Aug. 21 - 2 p.m. Central Time)

Texas Begins 'De-mobilizing' Hurricane Response Effort

Texas state officials have begun to de-mobilize the Hurricane Dean response effort. No hospital evacuations were necessary. Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Texas has been working hard to improve its ability to respond to disasters, but preparing for Hurricane Dean was a real-life exercise that helped to identify additional areas for improvement. The Texas Hospital Association will continue working with local, state and federal officials to streamline hospital patient evacuation and bed reporting procedures, clarify chain-of-command issues and improve communications at all levels.

Patient Evacuation

• TDSHS reminds hospitals to follow standard hospital evacuation procedures when deciding how and when to relocate patients. Primary coordination should begin at the local Emergency Operations Center level.
• Hospitals with questions about this process may contact THA's Ernie Schmid, FACHE, at 512/465-1557 or eschmid@tha.org.

• The Texas Department of State Health Services has developed a list of suggestions for hospitals preparing for Hurricane Dean. Hospitals are encouraged to follow the chain of command outlined in the Incident Command System. Under ICS, hospitals are required to coordinate their activities with the local Emergency Operations Center.

Bed Reporting/Patient Tracking

• Recently adopted hospital licensing rules require hospitals to report bed availability using TDSHS-approved methodologies. TDSHS will collect bed information through the trauma system Regional Advisory Councils. If you are unsure how your regional bed reporting system operates, contact your local RAC chairman. A list of RACs and their related contact information is available on the TDSHS Web site at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/emstraumasystems/Etrarac.shtm.
• Hospitals that decide to evacuate should use regional patient tracking systems, if available. If your hospital is in an area without a regional patient tracking system, a model tracking form is available.
• Hospitals along evacuation routes and in reception cities are encouraged to use tracking codes that allow them to identify evacuees that they treat. Such an identification process will be helpful if funds become available later to reimburse providers for uncompensated care services for evacuees.