Often overlooked during emergency preparedness and disaster management training is the development of a family plan and a personal preparedness plan.
Plans might include situations such as what to do if there is a fire, what to do if parents do not make it home, the location of second copies of all important documents, and where to meet if the house or neighborhood is destroyed or not accessible.
Many assume that they will be able to communicate with loved ones during a disaster, but often cell phone towers are damaged or so many people are trying to use the system that they network is overwhelmed. Plan in advance so that you are prepared for these contingencies.
Ever since the anthrax attacks of 2000 and 2001, the destruction of the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, 2001, the SARS epidemic of 2004, and the continued devastation caused by nature (hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and fires), The Joint Commission (TJC), the American Hospital Association, and state and county health departments have more closely monitored and evaluated hospitals' and communities' emergency preparedness.
Despite the best effort of law enforcement, fire and rescue teams, and emergency medical agencies, hospitals will continue to play a vital role in helping communities respond to catastrophic events.
TJC has been proactive in recognizing the need for a “surge capacity” within health care systems to handle the large number of patients who might be victims of catastrophic events.