HJNO Nov/Dec 2021

STORM SURGE 10 NOV / DEC 2021 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   What was different about this storm and its impact on public health? Robert Hart, MD, FAAP, FACP The speed at which the storm intensified; it became apparent very quickly that our facilities would experience significant impacts. Hos- pitals across the system, state and coun- try were full with critically ill COVID-19 patients due to the Delta variant, making evacuations in advance difficult to impos- sible. Given that the storm hit as we were still in the fourth COVID-19 surge, we had serious concerns about how evacuation and sheltering might impact transmission rates of the virus. Thank goodness, I have to say, I was very pleased that we did not see a big bump in our numbers. Jeffrey M. Elder, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FAEMS Hurricane Ida led to regional utility out- ages. The loss of power and water for the medically fragile and elderly population put stress on those who were electrically dependent and those with a need for dialy- sis. Additionally, widespread unsafe genera- tor practices led to multiple carbon mon- oxide exposures, burns and blast injuries. Patrick Torcson, MD I think for everyone, the timing was challenging, as it occurred in conjunction with the COVID-19 Delta vari- ant surge. Medical professionals in our own system and in our fellow healthcare institu- tions across the Southeast were already bat- tle-fatigued from the prolonged pandemic. Certainly, staffing shortages are already a reality in this ongoing pandemic environ- ment, and those were further exacerbated by having medical personnel dislocated by the hurricane. Andrea Lorio, DO The circumstance that made everything different with this storm was COVID. After the storm, there was limited access to testing. Extended fami- lies were sharing living space with lim- ited resources available in the community. There were handwashing and sanitation Robert Hart, MD, FAAP, FACP Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Ochsner Health Jeffrey M. Elder, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FAEMS Medical Director Emergency Management LCMC Health Patrick Torcson, MD Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer St. Tammany Health System Andrea Lorio, DO Pulmonary and Critical Care Specialist Terrebonne General Health System