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Precautions Minimize Hospital’s Katrina Damage
The following article has been provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
As Category Five Hurricane Katrina approached the southeast Louisiana coastline, the Louisiana Heart Hospital (LHH) prepared for the worst. Michelle Hays, the hospital’s chief financial officer and acting chief executive officer, led the effort along with Bart Gomez, team leader for facilities management, and committed medical staff and physicians.
During Katrina’s approach, the hospital accepted transfer patients from area hospitals located on low-lying ground. Devoted hospital staff cared for more than double its normal patient load. The hospital never lost power or water supply and sustained only minor roof damage. It also provided housing, meals, meeting rooms and medical care to law enforcement and response teams in the days following the hurricane.
Prudent decision making during the design and construction of the facility contributed to its ability to withstand the storm. Opened in February 2003, the 58-bed, specialty care facility, is located in Lacombe, in St. Tammany Parish. The non-flood zone property was selected for its convenient location between Covington and Slidell, above the storm surge projection. “Its location dictated a wind-resistant design per code requirements, including common engineering safety features,” said Wynn Searle, vice president of operations/hospital development at Medcath. Historical storm data also indicated the need for particular attention to hurricane-resistant design in this Southeast Louisiana region.
A wetland survey revealed the need for extensive site preparation, which included the placement of more than $1 million worth of sand to compress the swamp-like soil. Safety measures included installing impact-resistant windows that meet the missile impact test created for hurricane prone areas by Miami Dade County, Fla. These reinforced windows are designed to withstand sustained winds of 130 m.p.h. to 140 m.p.h. According to Searle, “measures were taken to attach the roof membrane to meet a certain ‘wind uplift requirement’ (determined by their insurance company and testing lab) to preclude uplift from significant wind storms.” He added that there were additional costs associated with the damage prevention measures, but that the minimal damage sustained by the hospital clearly demonstrates their cost effectiveness.
According to hospital officials, the facility’s flood insurance premiums would have been considerably higher if it had not been built with such hurricane-resistant methods and materials.
An independent water-treatment plant for domestic water supply and fire protection, and a 1,700-foot well that was drilled during construction, enabled the facility to keep functioning after the disaster.
The hospital’s two large generators engaged when electrical power failed. Additional diesel fuel was ordered as the storm approached, enabling the hospital to run air-conditioning units and continue dialysis treatments, cardiac catheterization lab procedures and surgeries. The protocol for back-up diesel fuel now has been addressed and cylinders have been purchased to hold an additional 1,800 gallons of fuel on site.
The staff realized that the worst was about to hit as the winds increased. All entrances to the hospital except the emergency entrance were blockaded and sandbagged. No flooding occurred and the only damage the hospital sustained was caused by mechanical roof screen panels bolted to a support system on the roof, designed to disguise the air handling system. The hurricane winds played havoc with the panels, slashing parts of the hospital roof and causing some leaks. Several cars in the parking lot were damaged by flying debris. Consequently, hospital officials have decided not to replace the cosmetically designed panels.
Problems with the hospital information technology system prevented outside communication during the hurricane. According to Hays, “there were no land lines, no cell phones, no e-mail, no form of communication with the outside world.” To prevent future interruptions, LHH has purchased a satellite phone, a satellite system enabling e-mail and voice capability via computer. Because some communication towers were working sooner than others, service from multiple cell-phone providers has been acquired.
More than a month after Katrina, the hospital continued to be a hub of activity. It served as a meeting place for local officials and law enforcement, and offered employment opportunities for at least 80 people who lost their jobs because of the storm. Patient transfers were still being made because of staffing shortages in other areas.
Clearly, the mitigation measures LHH took to reinforce their building benefited patients, staff and the surrounding communities. According to Hays, “No one expected this hospital to play the role that it did during this disaster event.”
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