A large fire in the community, a train derailment, a tornado that destroys several homes in town, a bioterrorism attack–these are all examples of external disasters that can bring a sudden influx of patients to your hospital.  Is your hospital ready?

In October of 2012, the northeastern United States was slammed with arrival of Superstorm Sandy. As the most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic season, Sandy wreaked havoc on New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Thousands of homes were destroyed, and vital infrastructure systems such as power, transportation, and water treatment facilities suffered billions of dollars in damages.

The hallmark of a great hospital lies in its ability to consistently deliver high-quality patient care. This can only be possible with the proper resources, including staff, medical equipment and supplies, and physical space.

Depending upon where you work as an EMS professional, chances are you’ll respond to a natural disaster at some point in your career. In Florida, it could be a Category Five hurricane. North Dakota, perhaps a record-setting blizzard. California medics could face “the big one” – that catastrophic earthquake many experts say is long overdue. Or if you work in Kansas, where tornadoes are as much a part of summer as hotdogs and fireworks, that F3 could be just on the horizon.

There is no doubt that we have witnessed many tragic events over the last 12 months. From the recent events in San Bernardino, to the shooting at the Charleston Church, to the attack at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado, the devastation caused by mass shootings is apparent. The November attacks in Paris also reminded us that such tragedies occur globally.