September 2, 2005

Katrina Response #2

HURRICANE KATRINA UPDATE #2

Today’s update focuses on the latest information about Florida Hospital’s response to the need for help and on sharing tips how you, our employees, can cope with the aftermath of this horrific disaster on the Gulf Coast.

FLORIDA HOSPITAL’S RESPONSE

Since Hurricane Katrina hit, a small group representing facilities, nursing, operations, mission development, government relations internal communications and media have been exploring how we can respond to the devastation of Katrina. Yesterday’s bulletin shared the type of interactions we are having with the federal government as it relates to the need for medical professionals to help with the M.A.S.H. units and patient transfers. Today we want to share with you what Florida Hospital is doing outside of those governmental operations.
Florida Hospital has donated a total of $100,000 to the American Red Cross, the United Way and to the Adventist Community Services. We encourage you to continue your generous donations as well.
In addition to the monetary relief, we are evaluating how we can get a convoy of trucks and ambulances filled with medical supplies, building materials, linens and other much needed support to the affected areas. We are eager to send the convoy, however we are facing significant challenges with fuel availability, downed power lines, impassable roads, the safety issues that fill today’s news, and Police roadblocks that are turning back all vehicles. These obstacles are frustrating our desire to move out immediately.We are working non stop to resolve these problems and praying for God to lead us to the right solutions.

Some of our best options right now seem to be in combining forces with the Seventh-day Adventist Community Services folks who are “on the ground” in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. We are also coordinating response efforts with Emory Adventist Hospital in Atlanta and a number of other hospitals and churches in Florida. We are also exploring how we might piggyback with some of the local county and law enforcement efforts.

Many of you responded to Thursday’s e-mail with offers to volunteer for the M.A.S.H. units as necessary, or to give/help/go as possible. We are not yet able to call for specific employees or skills, but will keep you updated as plans develop. In the meantime, if you are a medical professional and want to volunteer your services, contact the Florida State Department of Health website for medical professionals at www.diasterhelp.net/gulfcoast. If you are chosen to work we will have to work with you on your scheduling so we make sure we are able to ensure our high level of quality care for our patients in this community.

HELP FOR OUR OWN

We have received numerous messages regarding many of our employees who have lost family members and friends. Still others are holding on to hope that the loved ones they have not heard from are safe somewhere just unable to get contact out. Our hearts and prayers are with our employee family members who are suffering right now from the impact of Hurricane Katrina. For those employees who still do not know the status of their loved ones we wanted you to be aware of some websites that are set up for you to locate your missing loved ones: www.nola.com, http://neworleans.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_cl.html.

TIPS ON HOW TO COPE

We have been living with the horrific images for the past few days – homes destroyed, flooded neighborhoods, starving children, the sick and injured - and it is hard not to be impacted in some way. Similar to the images of 9/11 these sights can take a toll on people’s emotions and mindset. It is hard to escape that. We want to share with you some suggestions on how to cope for you and your family:

1. Turn off the TV. If you must watch the news watch it when your children are not present and only for 30 minutes. Do not watch TV right before going to bed.
2. Encourage your family members to talk. Provide an atmosphere of acceptance in which they can feel free to express all of their anxieties. This helps reduce their confusion about the situation. Reassure them repeatedly that you care about them and that you understand their concerns and fears.
3. For children – ask them to draw a picture of what they are feeling – sometimes for children that is the easier way of expressing their emotions.
4. Spend more time as a family unit. Do activities that reinforce the family bond and the power of play. Embrace the spirit of fun.
5. Re-read the 23rd Psalm. King David wrote these words when he was being attacked by enemies and hounded by problems without solutions. But “God is still my shepherd…”

We will continue to send you any updates regarding Hurricane Katrina and Florida Hospital’s relief efforts as we receive more information.

Dick Duerksen
Assistant Vice President
Mission development
Florida Hospital