Jordan Ellis
Hurricane Harvey caused severe flooding in Houston, Texas, in 2017, leading to the evacuation of 1,500 patients from around two dozen hospitals in the area. The storm was unpredictable, and its strength increased rapidly without warning, leaving hospitals scrambling to evacuate patients and find beds in other cities. The majority of hospitals in Houston stayed open, and the emergency response by health providers was commended. However, the storm caused significant disruption, and it took weeks for hospitals to return to normal operations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Houston-area hospitals and health facilities evacuated | 44 |
| Number of hospitals evacuated | 24 |
| Number of nursing homes or assisted living centers evacuated | 20 |
| Number of hospitals that remained open | 1 |
| Number of patients evacuated | 1,544 |
| Hospitals that evacuated patients | Memorial Hermann Hospital, Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital, Ben Taub Hospital, Bayshore Medical Center, East Houston Regional Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Colony First, Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital The Vintage |
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What You'll Learn
- Hurricane Harvey caused 44 Houston hospitals to evacuate
- Ben Taub Hospital evacuated three patients after basement flooding
- Tropical Storm Allison caused Memorial Hermann Hospital to evacuate critical patients
- Ambulance and airplane evacuations were coordinated by SETRAC
- Evacuation strategies: sickest patients first, or most mobile patients first
Hurricane Harvey caused 44 Houston hospitals to evacuate
Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented damage in Texas, with nearly 4.5 feet of rain and 130 mph winds. The storm was responsible for the evacuation of 1,500 patients from Houston-area hospitals, with 44 hospitals and health facilities in the region evacuating a total of 1,544 patients, according to the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC).
The storm's impact was so vast that hospitals were forced to make difficult decisions about evacuating their patients. One of Houston's major safety-net hospitals, Ben Taub, originally planned to move all 350 patients after its basement flooded, but ultimately only three patients were evacuated. Bryan McLeod, a spokesperson for the hospital, expressed their primary concern for patients on ventilator support.
Bayshore Medical Center, another Houston hospital, evacuated all 196 patients to surrounding hospitals due to rising waters. The hospital suspended all services, including its 24-hour emergency medical center. Darrell Pile, the CEO of SETRAC, acknowledged the unpredictability of Hurricane Harvey, which grew stronger without warning.
The storm's impact extended beyond hospitals, with 20 nursing homes or assisted living centers also evacuating. Twenty-three ports were closed, 781 roads became impassable, and 61 communities lost access to drinking water. The scale of the disaster prompted a response from FEMA, with nearly 31,000 personnel deployed to aid Texans affected by the hurricane.
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Ben Taub Hospital evacuated three patients after basement flooding
In 2017, Ben Taub Hospital, one of Houston's major safety-net hospitals, evacuated three patients after flooding occurred in its basement. The hospital had originally sought to move all 350 patients, including 17 or 18 on life support, but as the waters receded and additional staff arrived, the number of evacuees was reduced. The flooding was caused by Tropical Storm Harvey, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in central Texas. Floodwater and sewage infiltrated the basement of the hospital's main building, affecting the pharmacy, food service, and other key operations. The hospital was on lockdown due to surrounding water, and there were concerns about power outages and limited food supplies.
Ben Taub Hospital asked for ambulance buses to help with the evacuation, prioritizing those in critical care first. The SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC), which oversees catastrophic medical operations in Houston, coordinated the emergency response. Despite the challenges, officials commended the response of health providers, and no hospitals in the Houston area were devastated to the point of shuttering.
The evacuation of Ben Taub Hospital was part of a larger effort to evacuate patients from Houston-area hospitals during Tropical Storm Harvey. Approximately 1,500 patients were evacuated from 24 hospitals in the region. The storm caused flooding and power outages, compromising hospital services and prompting emergency transport of patients.
The response to Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston highlighted the importance of emergency planning and coordination among hospitals, EMS agencies, and first responders. While there were challenges, the majority of hospitals in the area remained open, and the collaboration between healthcare providers helped to prevent a bigger disaster.
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Tropical Storm Allison caused Memorial Hermann Hospital to evacuate critical patients
Tropical Storm Allison was a powerful storm that caused widespread flooding and devastation in Houston, Texas, in 2001. The storm dropped over 40 inches of rain in Houston, leading to severe flooding that affected many hospitals in the city. One of the hospitals significantly impacted by the storm was Memorial Hermann Hospital, part of the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical complex in the world.
Memorial Hermann Hospital experienced a loss of critical services due to flooding caused by Tropical Storm Allison. The rising water burst into the hospital's basement, short-circuiting key electrical components and disabling the emergency backup power generator. This loss of power and backup power put the lives of patients at risk, particularly those who were critically ill and dependent on mechanical ventilation.
As a result, the decision was made to evacuate the critically ill patients from Memorial Hermann Hospital. The hospital staff first evacuated those who required essential services, such as mechanical ventilation, to other hospitals. Once these patients were safely transferred, the remaining inpatients were also evacuated as a precautionary measure. In total, more than 600 patients were safely evacuated from Memorial Hermann Hospital, demonstrating the hospital staff's dedication and quick thinking during a challenging situation.
The evacuation process was challenging due to the hot and damp conditions caused by the flooding. Additionally, patients who could not breathe on their own had to be manually ventilated during the evacuation, which lasted for hours. The hospital staff's resilience and commitment to patient care were remarkable, ensuring the safe transfer of patients to other medical facilities. The experience from Tropical Storm Allison also led to improvements in building layouts, construction, and maintenance to enhance flood resilience and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Tropical Storm Allison caused significant disruption to healthcare services in Houston, with approximately 1,500 patients evacuated from Houston-area hospitals. The storm's impact on Memorial Hermann Hospital highlights the challenges of managing critical patients during natural disasters and the importance of effective emergency response and evacuation plans. The experience also underscores the resilience and dedication of healthcare professionals in ensuring the safety and well-being of their patients, even under difficult circumstances.
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Ambulance and airplane evacuations were coordinated by SETRAC
Hurricane Harvey caused the evacuation of 1,500 patients from Houston hospitals. Ambulance and airplane evacuations were coordinated by the SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC). SETRAC was formed by an act of the Texas Legislature in 1987, but its current operational system was put in place shortly after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.
During Hurricane Harvey, SETRAC oversaw the emergency transport of patients from 44 hospitals and health facilities. Twenty-four of the facilities that evacuated were hospitals, and another 20 were nursing homes or assisted living centers. The evacuations were slow due to the perils involved in moving patients and because it took time to find hospitals to accept them. Some patients were sent to other cities in Texas, such as Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, or Waco.
SETRAC's role in coordinating the emergency response during Hurricane Harvey was commended by officials. The organization's ability to pass along timely information to first responders allowed them to divert patients towards hospitals capable of treating them. This teamwork between hospitals and EMS agencies prevented the situation from becoming an even bigger disaster.
In addition to coordinating ambulance and airplane evacuations, SETRAC also operates a mobile command center and supplies medical assist vehicles and equipment trailers. They also maintain a Disaster Portable Morgue Unit (DPMU), which was recently deployed for the West, Texas, fertilizer plant explosion in 2013. SETRAC has been recognized for its role in coordinating efficient transport of patients during mass casualty events.
One example of an air medical transport service that operates in Houston is Memorial Hermann Life Flight. Life Flight is a critical care air medical transport service that has flown over 158,000 missions in 45 years of service. They are the only Air Medical Service accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) in the greater Houston area. Life Flight crews can fly patients from the Houston area to their destination of choice, bring patients back to Texas from overseas, or follow any other itinerary as needed.
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Evacuation strategies: sickest patients first, or most mobile patients first
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused 44 Houston-area hospitals and health facilities to evacuate approximately 1,500 patients. The SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) oversaw the emergency response, which involved evacuations by ambulance and airplane. While the majority of hospitals stayed open, 25 declared an "internal disaster", allowing SETRAC to pass along timely information to first responders.
When it comes to evacuation strategies, there are differing approaches. In most cases, the top priority is moving those in immediate danger, such as those closest to a fire, chemical spill, or other localized dangers. If the threat is not centralized, the focus shifts to evaluating time and resource levels. In some cases, the sickest patients are evacuated first, especially in post-event evacuations where the most resource-intensive patients are prioritized. For example, following Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, Memorial Hermann Hospital and Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital in Houston decided to first evacuate critically ill patients. Similarly, after Hurricane Katrina, the VA Medical Center in New Orleans evacuated ventilator-dependent patients first.
However, there are circumstances when maximizing the number of lives saved takes precedence. In the case of structural damage or an imminent building collapse, it may be necessary to evacuate the most mobile patients first. For example, following the Northridge earthquake, five hospitals evacuated their sickest patients first, while one hospital fearing an immediate collapse started with ambulatory patients, working upwards to those who were less mobile. Additionally, factors such as transportation requirements and matching patients with properly trained staff and appropriate technology may influence the decision to prioritize patient mobility over severity of illness. For instance, during the evacuation of Charity Hospital after Hurricane Katrina, ICU patients had to wait for 18-wheelers to arrive before they could be evacuated due to flooded streets.
Overall, the decision to evacuate the sickest patients or the most mobile patients first depends on various factors, including the nature of the emergency, the safety of patients and staff, the availability of resources, and the potential to maximize the number of lives saved. Each situation is unique, and evacuation plans should be tailored accordingly.
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Frequently asked questions
No, not all hospitals in Houston were evacuated during Hurricane Harvey. 44 hospitals and health facilities were evacuated, but the majority of hospitals stayed open.
The sickest patients were evacuated first, followed by those who were less fragile. Ambulatory patients were escorted out first, followed by those who couldn't walk but were self-sufficient.
Some of the hospitals that were evacuated include Ben Taub Hospital, Bayshore Medical Center, East Houston Regional Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Colony First, Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital, and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital The Vintage.
