MD Anderson / Hurricane Ike
 

Soccermom (Marcia) asked me how the enormous medical community in Houston prepares for a hurricane... I know that the regular hospitals in the lower Gulf area evac-ed their patients to hospital in San Antonio, Austin, Waco, etc...

This is what I found from MD Anderson regarding Ike:
M.D. Anderson in Houston Prepares for Hurricane Ike

All patient appointments and surgeries at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston are cancelled for September 12, 2008 in anticipation of Hurricane Ike.
As of now, the hospital remains open for patients who have been admitted or had surgery today, September 11. However families of patients are urged to remain at home and not visit during the storm.
Non-essential employees are being released from their responsibilities at the end of their shifts today and will stay home tomorrow. From an M.D. Anderson News Release:

M. D. Anderson opened its Command Center at 10 a.m. today with representatives from clinical operations and administration overseeing final preparations and riding out the storm. All non-essential employees will be released today at the end of their shifts to secure their property and families, and will remain at home Friday, Sept. 12.

Updates will be available on the M.D. Anderson home page as the storm progresses.
People with cancer or other medical needs are urged to prepare for emergencies and natural disasters with a written plan to take with them if they need to evacuate. A form is available on the M.D. Anderson site. Information should include personal and family contact information as well as medications, physicians, diagnoses, diet needs, pharmacy contact, and other specialized needs.
People who are evacuating should take their medications with them in the original prescription bottles.

Thank you for posting this Brenda. I had just finished ACT and started Herceptin weekly when I had to evacuate for Katrina. I logged onto the ASCO site to find out HOW to make arrangements to continue treatment SOMEWHERE withought having any medical records etc. What a scary time..I 'd just lost my Mom to BC 4 weeks before and NO WAY was I going to miss any more Herceptin!
TY,Marcia