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Emergency response team: Hurricane Georges in Key West
T Wylie1, D Cheanvechai, D Seaberg
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida Health Science Center/Jacksonville, 32209, USA. twylie7@aol.com
Prehospital Emergency Care
|July 15, 2000
Summary
Hurricane Georges impacted Florida Keys, leading to emergency department operations managed by a specialized team. The study details patient visits, medical issues, and challenges faced during the storm response.
Area of Science:
- Disaster Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Hurricane Georges made landfall in Key West, Florida, on September 25, 1998, as a Category 2 storm.
- Lower Florida Keys Hospital initiated an evacuation of inpatients and staff prior to the hurricane's arrival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the operational challenges and patient care provided by an emergency response team during Hurricane Georges.
- To analyze the types of medical and trauma cases presenting to the emergency department during the hurricane event.
Main Methods:
- An emergency response team consisting of emergency medicine physicians and nurses was deployed to maintain hospital operations.
- Data on patient presentations, medical problems, and outcomes were collected over a 72-hour period post-landfall.
Main Results:
- Eighty-six patients presented to the emergency department, with medical problems (52.3%) and minor trauma (41.9%) being the most common reasons for visits.
- Six patients required hospitalization when evacuations were halted due to the storm's proximity. Four deaths occurred within 24 hours.
- Complicating factors included environmental conditions, limited diagnostic and medication resources, and pharmacy closures.
Conclusions:
- Maintaining emergency department operations during a hurricane requires a dedicated response team and careful resource management.
- Planning for disaster response must consider vulnerable populations, such as nursing home residents, and potential disruptions to healthcare access.
- Effective disaster preparedness necessitates anticipating and mitigating challenges related to limited resources and infrastructure damage.