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MUSC readies for hurricane season by Mary Helen Yarborough Public Relations As the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) posts predictions of another active hurricane season, MUSC has adopted a get-ready attitude and has expanded its planning to include worst-case scenarios experienced after hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year.   So that resources are not wasted on smaller storms, the hospital will consider a Category 3 hurricane as the trigger for evacuations that would be modified for critical care patients, said Al Nesmith, director of MUSC’s Safety Security and Volunteer Services.   “We will activate our hurricane plan 48-to-36 hours prior to a storm hitting,” Nesmith said. “We wait until that time, because a storm could subside or shift toward another target. But if we get a major storm, one that is higher than a Category 3 hurricane where water would rise, we would get into the mode of getting patients evacuated or moved to other facilities.”   Disaster response officials from both the university and hospital will be aided by enhanced planning, several new technological devices, and enhanced coordination among local, state and federal agencies.   “First of all, the flooding here will not be like it was in New Orleans,” Nesmith said. “When the water floods Charleston, it’s like a wave on the beach. It comes in, and quickly moves out again.”   At the same time, should significant flooding and damage occur that affects any of the facilities, Nesmith said that MUSC will be able to use several facilities to accommodate patients and staff to above-flood-level structures. If the main hospital or Children’s Hospital is damaged, rooms and spaces at the Rutledge Tower will be used for patients. A protective flood gate surrounds generators at the Children’s Hospital, and the generators at Rutledge Tower are located in the upper reaches of the high-rise.   “We can move from the main to the Children’s to Rutledge Tower,” Nesmith said. “We won’t have to wait until the high winds to move patients [if we anticipate a major hurricane].”   The hospitals also have a memoranda of understanding with other hospitals in the Upstate region of South Carolina in case a mass evacuation of patients is warranted. To get critically ill and nonambulatory patients moved from the coast to inland hospitals, MUSC is working with the US Air Force and Navy for air transportation. MUSC, the Navy and Air Force will hold a drill June 27 to test how hospitals will use aircrafts to evacuate patients, Nesmith said.   “[In addition], we have contracts with 25 to 30 hospitals and we have consulted hospitals Upstate in Greenville and Spartanburg,” Nesmith said. “We have a template that tells how to assist in transporting patients. We would evacuate the most critical patients first.”   Adding pressure to MUSC to maximize space and service efficiency is the potential patient influx from other coastal areas. MUSC, being the key trauma care hospital in the Tri-county area, also has to be prepared to take patients from any of the areas affected by a significant storm. The potential for large influx of patients and how to prepare for it is discussed at the Region 7 Surge Capacity Committee, coordinated by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), on which Nesmith serves.   Patient surge, environmental hazards, and security issues will be addressed during a statewide hurricane drill on June 7 and 8. Run by the state emergency preparedness division, the drill will test the system of evacuation of patients, and “systems we’ve been using and developing for 20 years,” Nesmith said. Technology to aid planners Among the technological advances to be used is a computer-based hurricane tracking system called “Hurrevac,” which was tested successfully last year during Hurricane Ophelia. This system helps government officials determine whether an evacuation is warranted based on the track, speed and size of the storm. Another system used by University Risk Management is a secure weather satellite system called Meteorlogix. This system has a satellite link as well as an Internet connection so that MUSC officials do not have to wait for reports from meteorologists. Simultaneously, the governor will be in contact with coastal emergency officials and hospitals. He must keep tabs on the number of tourists in an area in order to calculate how much advance notice is required for an efficient and safe evacuation along the highways. To overcome concerns of highway traffic backups, regional planners are working with Amtrak on a plan to evacuate large numbers of people.   Meanwhile, in the office of Regina Dell, manager of health information file maintenance, a “super scanner” will be available to scan medical records quickly. A patient’s records also will include the patient’s picture, Nesmith said.   Since staffing is a key concern during a mass emergency, key personnel may be required to remain on campus for about three days. Personnel will be rotated in at least two shift teams: the A-team and the B-team. The A-team is the first in and will remain until after the storm passes. The B-team will replace the A-team after the storm and would address cleanup, system and business restoration, and repopulation of campus facilities.   For essential personnel required to remain on campus, MUSC will provide a shelter for pets and daycare facilities for children. NOAA warns East Coast for likely hits [The following was based on material provided by NOAA.]   NOAA on May 22 warned the north Atlantic region that a very active hurricane season is looming, and encouraged individuals to make preparations to better protect their lives and livelihoods. June 1 officially opens hurricane season, which extends into to November, but last year exhausted the list of names, Greek alphabet listings, and even crossed from 2005 to 2006 with Zeta.   During a news conference at the NOAA National Hurricane Center, Deputy Secretary of Commerce David A. Sampson noted, “Preparation is the key message that President Bush wants to convey during National Hurricane Preparedness Week. The impact from these storms extends well beyond coastal areas so it is vital that residents in hurricane prone areas get ready in advance of the hurricane season.” For the 2006 north Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become ‘major’ hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA administrator.   On average, the north Atlantic hurricane season produces 11 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes, including two major hurricanes. In 2005, the Atlantic hurricane season contained a record 28 storms, including 15 hurricanes. Seven of these hurricanes were considered “major,” of which a record four hit the United States. “Although NOAA is not forecasting a repeat of last year’s season, the potential for hurricanes striking the U.S. is high,” added Lautenbacher.   Warmer ocean water combined with lower wind shear, weaker easterly trade winds, and a more favorable wind pattern in the mid-levels of the atmosphere are the factors that collectively will favor the development of storms in greater numbers and to greater intensity. Warm water is the energy source for storms while favorable wind patterns limit the wind shear that can tear apart a storm’s building cloud structure.   This confluence of conditions in the ocean and atmosphere is strongly related to a climate pattern known as the multi-decadal signal, which has been in place since 1995. Since then, nine of the last 11 hurricane seasons have been above normal, with only two below-normal seasons during the El Niño years of 1997 and 2002.   With neutral El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions expected across the equatorial Pacific during the next three to six months, the NOAA Climate Prediction Center scientists say that neither El Niño nor La Niña likely will be a factor in this year’s hurricane season.   “Whether we face an active hurricane season, like this year, or a below-normal season, the crucial message for every person is the same: prepare, prepare, prepare,” said Max Mayfield, director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center. “One hurricane hitting where you live is enough to make it a bad season.”   The north Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. NOAA will issue a mid-season update in early August just prior to the normal August through October peak in activity. 2006 Hurricanes Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony Valerie William     Friday, June 2, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.