Elsa Was a Good Test Run for a Severe Storm and SMH Was Ready

Earlier this month, Hurricane Elsa recently gave local residents good practice in preparing for severe weather. Sarasota Memorial, however, didn’t wait until Elsa was heading our way to prepare; the health system focuses on emergency planning and readiness year-round to help ensure its facilities, systems and equipment can withstand a hurricane.

SMH has devoted tens of millions of dollars over the years to “hardening” buildings and improving the hospital’s ability to continuing caring for patients during and after a severe storm. Extensive construction and renovation have been conducted to strengthen the facility’s roof, reduce vulnerability to wind and flooding, enhance back-up power, and protect medical equipment.

The upgrades include:

The hospital’s Energy Center, located in the back of the campus, has six generators that can keep critical hospital systems running for more than a week.

Installing extra protection for generators to help ensure they can provide back-up power if there are local outages:
- Sarasota Memorial has six emergency generators housed in the main campus’ Central Energy Center that can power the hospital’s critical equipment and systems for approximately 11 days. The North Port Emergency Room, the Bayside Center for Behavioral Health, the Endoscopy Center on Hillview Street, the Heart & Vascular Institute on Waldemere Street, and the Nursing & Rehab Center on Rand Boulevard also all have back-emergency generators. Facilities teams monitor storms closely and may decide to activate generators proactively, before local power is compromised.
Sealing windows and doors
Installing hurricane shutters for storm deployment at some older locations (newer facilities have hurricane-rated windows and doors)
Building a wall or installing hurricane impact-rated screens around medical gas tanks
Installing flood-detection equipment and new pumps
Installing hurricane protective screening on windows of older towers on the hospital campus
Ongoing and continual repair or replacement of the facility’s old gravel-top roof with fiber-reinforced, thick rubberized roofing that is anchored to the building and rooftop equipment
Anchoring or enclosure of existing rooftop equipment for wind and storm resistance
Replacement of older utility piping and related components to ensure continual service, including steam, chilled water, potable water and medical gases
Upgrading the hospital’s main kitchen, including replacement of food preparation, refrigeration and freezer equipment, to ensure continual food supply during storms

The new Sarasota Memorial Hospital – Venice now under construction also will have advanced hurricane hardening, as well as back-up systems and generators to help ensure continued operations when local power grids are compromised.

SMH’s Role During a Storm

In addition to strengthening our facilities and equipment, SMH leaders and emergency management staff continually review and update the organization’s hurricane plans. Our team works closely with Sarasota County and other agencies to discuss the needs of the community during and after a storm.

Unlike many businesses, the hospital can’t shut down its operations in advance of a storm, and must be ready to continue caring for patients. In addition, if residents need to be evacuated from low-lying or vulnerable areas, the county may ask Sarasota Memorial to serve as a special shelter for medically dependent people (MDPs) with serious health conditions requiring a hospital setting. MDPs must register with Sarasota County ahead of time: Click Here or call 941-861-5000.

Hurricane Staffing Reminders:

Each department is responsible for developing its own hurricane staffing plans, and assigning employees to one of the following teams. SMH leaders may activate these teams if the storm is projected to significantly impact our area:

— The Pre-Team, which helps with hurricane preparations

— The Hurricane Response (A) Team, which reports to work prior to the hurricane’s arrival and remains on-site for the duration of the storm

— The Recovery (B) Team, which relieves the Response (A) Team after the storm

Employees should address any concerns about potential work assignments with their supervisors now, as all members of the teams will be responsible for reporting to work at times designated by hospital leaders.

Update Your Contact Info:
Be sure your emergency contact information is up to date in the “Personal Details” tab in MyHR. (Click here.)

Hotline, Email Will Have Updates for Staff:

Throughout the hurricane season, leaders will provide updates and instructions via SMH email and the Hurricane Hotline, 941-917-8799, if a storm is forecast to reach our vicinity. Updates also will be shared on social media and the hospital’s website at www.smh.com/hurricane, and if urgent, sent through the Regroup mass notification system.

Key Links with Helpful Information:

Hurricane plans for staff: Click Here for info on smh.com. Click Here for info on PULSE (inside SMH network only).
Community shelter information and hurricane preparedness tips for local residents: Click Here