Current Posting
Blog Credited as Hurricane Repellant

One reader made the astute observation that since we started this blog, there has been absolutely not even a hint of any tropical storm activity*  As a matter of fact we have been in a mini-drought with no rain for the past three weeks, until yesterday.  So far, so good, but as Dr. Snow always cautions us, it doesn't matter how much activity you have in a season, it only matters if you get a direct hit from a hurricane.  One of the quietest seasons on record was the year that Andrew hit Miami.

 

Thanks Diane Rourke, Medical Librarian Extraordinaire, for the credit, we will enjoy it while it lasts!

 

*Keep blogging...it's great hurricane prevention strategy so far this season !

Created: 7/22/2009 8:17 AM | Category: Blog Archives | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (17)

 Stories Worth Remembering

11-05-2009 

One of the most fascinating, and terrifying storms was the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.  It was what would be called today an "extreme storm", most definitely the storm of the century with a loss of life of officially 8,000 people.  A book that tells the story of how this tragedy unfolded, and how man's arrogance contributed greatly to this tragedy is Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson.  Subtitled, "A Man, A Time and the Deadliest Hurricane in History", this book reads like a novel more than an actual history.  The newly formed U.S. Weather Bureau disregarded vital information, and let political issues interfere with science and real time information, resulting in a community being nearly erased from the earth without warning.  Interesting footnote for us in Miami, the most highly regarded hurricane forecasters/meteorologists in the world at that time were the Cubans.  The information they were providing to the Weather Bureau was ignored, and proved to be deadly accurate.

I highly recommend this book, even though I first read this nearly ten years ago, it has timeless lessons, and is edge-of-your-seat exciting.

"I was hiding in Honduras
 I took a little hit
 Send lawyers, guns and money
 Dad, get me out of this"    -Lawyers, Guns, and Money- Warren Zevon

More Stories Worth Remembering

Comments

doctor

glad to see you feature a doctor finally, we have covered the hospitals emergency rooms during hurricanes in year end and year out, with no compensation.  we gladly do it, but I was wondering why no acknowledgment.  by the way I have covered other hospitals and the baptist hospitals do have their act together in comparison.
at 7/22/2009 9:20 AM

reader

goes to show that Dr Weise is a person first and a doctor second; everyone experiences these situations at some time;it is their response that makes the difference
at 7/22/2009 1:17 PM

Wayne Brackin

Dear Doctor,
Thanks for your response and you are right, the medical staff has contributed mightily to the hurricane effort and in all ways, more to come in future blogs.
at 7/22/2009 1:56 PM

Jamaican at SMH

I believe that is a Bob Marley song sir.
at 7/22/2009 1:57 PM

Wayne Brackin

Dear JA nurse,
In my view Sir Bob is the greatest of all Jamaican artists, however the correct answer is Johnny Nash.  Big ups to everyone.
at 7/23/2009 11:08 AM

Retired Pathologist

Yes, hurricanes do indeed, in the short term, blow away the business of medicine, leaving only the simple art of medicine. I was fortunate to have been part of the remarkable Homestead Hospital team which was handed the rare opportunity to practice that art under the most dire and rewarding of cirstances. Sometimes "Laboratory Services" entails skills far outside those taught in medical school or residency regardless how many alphabets appear behind one's name.
at 7/24/2009 11:42 AM

Excellent Communication Tool

Excellent communication tool Mr Brackin. As usual you always come through for us. We are very fortunate to have you as our COO of this wonderful organization Baptist Health South Florida.
Big up to you! and all of Baptist Health.
at 7/24/2009 1:48 PM

Director

BHSF is ready and prepared should a storm come. We fell safe working under the Leadership of Mr Brackin, organized, informed,and prepared. Patient feel safe coming to our facility before, during and after a storm. We are prepared.
at 7/24/2009 1:50 PM

lab tech

Post Hurricane Andrew, I recall the folks from Holmes Regional at SMH, sleeping in the education center and working 8-12 hours shifts, no A/C, no mall to go shopping, no nothing for entertainment, just work, eat, sleep.  Thank God for those people.  I was able to stay home for 2 weeks to help w/ the massive repair and clean up, thanks to folks like them and to the regular employees who dutifully reported to work.

Andrew was no fun but it taught us valuable lessons.  We now have high impact windows AND shutters.  Next will be a new roof.  The plan is to drop some of our insurance coverage, since they don’t pay for damage anyway…

And at work – planning on upgrading our Lab Wide UPS so we can keep running when the power dies.  The one thing we weren’t successful w/ was selecting chemistry analyzers that don’t require water.
at 7/24/2009 4:11 PM

Director, Emergency Preparedness & Security

Outside the hospitals are the unique folks from Home Care.  After Andrew, they were on the streets (many times on foot) with their bag of supplies trying to find their patients in the South Dade area. Street signs were a thing of the past, homes were unrecognizable and their own homes destroyed.  They were concerned that the diabetics had insulin, the wounds were dressed and water was available.  They infused IVs in patient's automobiles and make-shift shelters.  They too were heros.
at 7/27/2009 3:41 PM

Nurse

I thought it was Jimmy Cliff....but I defer to the blog writter because I want no hurricanes :0)

This was great blog. Thank you!
at 7/27/2009 7:21 PM

Way Up North

Not being a local, we don't see too many serious threats from hurricanes in Virginia, but when they do threaten, things get "real" when the Air Force noisily flies their planes out the day before and the Navy hurriedly moves every ship away from local piers and out to sea in advance of the threat. That always seems to get the lions share of the video press. Makes for great footage. I don't blame the military, those guys are doing their jobs and leaving family behind. But the TV news guys never really notice the Hospital folks moving their gear INTO their workplaces, not dodging the storm, but getting ready to provide needed support "in case". Reassuring to know that you guys are prepped and ready to respond. Hope the hospitals up here are doing the same. Keep up the good work down there.
I'll continue to blog if this (sort of) helps keep the weather subdued.
at 7/27/2009 8:56 PM

Robert Richie

Nice dedication to the caregivers. I can see clearly now... Covered by many but written originally and best known by Johnny Nash. My favorite is by Willie Nelson. Show some more love to the docs Mr. B!
at 7/29/2009 9:27 AM

Clarity

Sometimes clarity comes in many forms; hurricanes and other types of storms. Whatever the source, the true nature of the person is revealed in how they respond and in actions. You told a wonderful story which is a testament to the character of those people who work in hospitals and why we are all in this business of caring for people.
at 8/1/2009 9:03 AM

Clarity

Sometimes clarity comes in many forms; hurricanes and other types of storms. Whatever the source, the true nature of the person is revealed in how they respond and in actions. You told a wonderful story which is a testament to the character of those people who work in hospitals and why we are all in this business of caring for people.
at 8/1/2009 9:04 AM

Going into August

I always get more nervous when we haven't had any named storms before August...reminds me of Andrew -- the first of the year and fiercest! Let's hope and pray things stay as they been the past couple of months!
at 8/3/2009 12:31 PM

employee

It is in the family way that BHSF builds the culture in all of us to be there. The leaders encourage the team that knows there is a community dependance on us doing our jobs....and that our families are also being cared for. Is it always easy? NO,Are there always Nay sayers? YES
But as you can see by DR Weise's answer even after we retire we don't go away....
at 8/3/2009 9:12 PM
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