about my first disaster deployment, Hurricane Andrew in 1992. I've been thinking about how little the healthcare community was prepared in the 90s. As a young healthcare administrator, I had to figure out a way to help my employer respond to major disasters in a safe environment, deliver quality patient care, and stay in business.
We didn't have a framework, Incident Command System and it clearly showed. We arrived to Homestead with 30 trucks of supplies, no authorization to be there, no place to drop off, no method to unload, nor fuel to return to Orlando. My dad and I climbed down from our truck, met with the National Guard, and devised a plan. Dad organized the truckers and gave them their delivery instructions and authorizations. I recruited local volunteers to help unload. Btw, this is without cell phones, Internet, and social media. The communication mode was riding with my military detail to the shelters and asking folks to help unload trucks at Campbell Middle School.
I knew I found my professional calling.
I've been committed to healthcare disaster preparedness forever, it seems.
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