HJNO Jul/Aug 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JUL / AUG 2020 51 HAVE A PLAN We hear it on television and radio time and time again: “It’s hurricane season, get your supplies now.”While that is very true, there is a lot more to it than racing to the local su- permarket and buying cases of water and your favorite non-perishable food items. As healthcare professionals, especially with CO- VID-19, we know it is crucial to have a sound emergency plan. The difference is knowing your plan. This applies to everyone, not just healthcare or business. Whether you are a son or daughter, mother or father, friend or neighbor, we are all important pieces in the plans of others as well. I encourage everyone to reach out to those closest to you. Find out if you really knowwhat your plan is—and how you coordinate with other stakeholders. DON’T PANIC This is easier said than done, but if you can stay calm, things will go much smoother. When we begin to panic, we create problems that, more than likely, would never have ex- isted had we just taken a breath and followed the plans we wrote, educated our employees, agents, and contractors on, and repeatedly drilled in collaboration with local, state, and federal stakeholders. If the situation escalates, we must remain calm with first responders, or anyone else who may be involved. An- other type of panic that needs to be avoided is gathering unnecessary amounts of sup- plies, as we saw a few months ago when the COVID-19 outbreak began. Get only what is a necessity and reasonable. Everyone in the community needs supplies. Often, many also make the unwise decision to wait until the last minute to get these supplies, which causes unnecessary chaos. There is no reason to stock up for months with the resources and technology we have today. DON’T CREATE PROBLEMS This may seem elementary, but it is some- thing to constantly consider. Here are a few examples of what I mean (I also understand there are special circumstances in many cases): 1. When considering evacuating (If mandatory, please evacuate.), ask yourself if you, or anyone you are responsible for, could be at elevated risk during a flood, extended power outage, etc. 2. Always “Turn around don’t drown.” 3. Never turn down help or a ride to safety when it is offered. 4. Never go back into a disaster once you are out of harm’s way. Nothing is as valuable as your safety, and the safety of others you would be jeop- ardizing by going back. WHAT’S DIFFERENT? With social distancing being a current priority, both citizens and government must evaluate this public policy. Securing resources such as shelters and transporta- tion is going to be a tough task. What will typical evacuation destination cities like Jackson, MS allow? If you are a high-risk individual for contracting the virus, which gamble do you take? Howmight this change the timeline on evacuating if it is necessary? If shelters are opened, how do we keep ev- eryone healthy once brought to safety?The what ifs seem endless, but they are serious logistical problems that must be addressed. The complexity of this hurricane season is something we all must critically evaluate, and remain in continuous evidence-based dialogues going forward. HURRICANE SUPPLIES TO CONSIDER Let’s start with the obvious: make sure everyone in your household has a mask. It does not matter if you wear one daily, or haven’t put one on at all; it’s worth having. It is likely they will be required in shelters. Hand sanitizer is also something to consider having. While it may have been in your hur- ricane box already, go ahead and get another bottle. Share it with someone if things get bad. If hand sanitizer is unavailable, dish soap, or hand soap works just as well. The last thing we want is a repeat of clusters of COVID-19 developing during recovery from a natural disaster. Hopefully, this hurricane season doesn’t yield any major storms, and we can continue tomove forward fromCOVID-19. Only time will tell. Until that time comes, stay safe and be prepared. A simple plan could be much more important than ever. “It is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.” – George Ellis n Jordan Bloodsworth earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University, and is a board-certified emergency manager. He is the senior advisor of emergency preparedness for the Veuleman Group. Jordan works with healthcare providers, corporations, and governments to prepare, educate, drill, mitigate, respond, and recover for and from emergency management events. As an original member of the Louisiana Cajun Navy, Jordan works with emergency opera- tions centers to coordinate rescue efforts across the country for the organization. Considered a national expert, Jordan is regularly featured on national television news broadcasts, both televi- sion and radio, and cited in print media. Jordan Bloodsworth Senior Advisor-Emergency Preparedness The Veuleman Group