The 6.0 magnitude earthquake that rattled Napa County on August 24th served as a good reminder that California is earthquake country and that we all must be prepared for whatever Mother Nature sends our way. Only 44% of individuals have a household emergency plan in place, according to the recent FEMA Personal Preparedness in America Survey. Americans, myself included, would much rather plan for vacations, work, social activities and even a marathon; than prepare for an event that could keep us from enjoying said activities, our homes and loved ones. If an emergency occurred tomorrow, would you be ready? Is your hospital ready? 

September is National Preparedness Month – a month dedicated to educating and empowering Americans to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. We know that emergencies can happen unexpectedly in communities just like ours, to people just like us. We’ve seen historic earthquakes, tsunamis, flash floods, water main breaks, and even power outages that can impact communities for days at a time. A quick visit to the CDC website was enough to remind me of the many looming health emergencies that pose real and terrifying threats to communities across the globe. Beyond natural disasters of wildfires, floods and hurricanes there are bioterrorism events – Anthrax, Plague, Smallpox and more; chemical emergencies and recent incidents of Ebola are devastating. Not to mention mass casualty incidents such as explosions, train derailments, workplace violence and perhaps the most feared radiation emergencies caused by dirty bombs, nuclear blasts, etc.

Whether you are an individual or part of a hospital team, developing a plan can ultimately save lives. And, as commendable as they may be in their profession of assisting those in need, police, fire and rescue personnel may not always be able to reach you quickly in a time of disaster. Being prepared to respond to the aftermath of natural or man-made disasters can literally mean the difference between life and death, and staying in business and closing forever. According to FEMA, up to 40 % of businesses never reopen following a major disaster. Effective disaster planning is more than just planning and exercising – readiness is a continuous process.

This year’s theme, “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare,” underscores the importance of developing a plan to employ when a disaster occurs. Hospitals can learn how to adequately prepare for crises by attending CHA’s 2014 Disaster Planning for California Hospitals conference September 22-24 in Sacramento. The conference unites clinicians, physicians, emergency preparedness coordinators, facilities managers, security officers and government officials who collaborate to ensure continuity of care when faced with an emergency. For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.calhospital.org/disaster-planning. For tips on personal and family preparedness, visit the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services webpage.