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

12-02-2009 

Nowhere to Run

If you are from a smaller place and you move to a bigger place, everyone in the smaller place likes to warn you about all the bad things that can happen to you in the bigger place.  When I was in the Navy I was stationed in the Washington DC area, which was the big city compared to my hometown.  People used to tell me don't go here or there, at this time or that, and watch out for DC people in general as they are not to be trusted.  It seemed just a matter of time before a boy like me might be bamboozled, hoodwinked, and sent home with my tail between my legs.  Eventually this became a small irritation as I was taking it as some kind of commentary on my life skills in general.

 

Later on the same thing happens when I move to Miami, which was around the time of Miami Vice, and not so long after the Scarface movie, so you can only imagine.  It was going to be me, Crockett, Tubbs, the chupacabra and Tony Montana roaming the streets (not to mention Bo Boulenger) in the middle of Cat 5 hurricanes.

 

Back in DC, I served my time (in the Navy), went to school, worked at NIH and generally had a great life experience.  In fact, I don't recall anything bad ever happening the entire almost six years I lived there.  Except…..this one time I went home for the weekend to visit, about a 200 mile drive, and like people do, I packed up all of my unwashed clothes in a sack to wash (for free) back home.  When I got back into town, I went to Smitty's Better Burger, a local drive in style institution, to grab something to eat.  I got out of the car and walked over to the bathroom, leaving the car unlocked, because after all I was back in my hometown.  When I got back to the car, about ten minutes later, my dirty clothes had been stolen.  This was not good in most ways, as these were practically all the clothes I owned at time.  On the other hand, it provided me with a ready counterpoint that allowed me to interrupt anytime anyone had anything bad to say about the "big city".

 

Because of the stolen clothes incident, the critics needed to switch to the weather as it was hard to argue with the idea that Miami was way more hurricane prone than Hampton Virginia.  So I get the annual "how can you live there when you are about to be blown into the ocean at any moment, we always thought you were crazy anyway ever since you left for DC" routine.  Except…..this year we had one of the most peaceful hurricane seasons on record in Miami and guess what happened you know where.  Here is a text message I got a few weeks ago from a high school friend just as the season was wrapping up…. 

 

The North Easter we had several weeks ago was awful.  My neighborhood was flooded and it NEVER floods........the house I grew up in, which is now my brother's house, had three feet of water in the garage and it came an inch from getting in the house.............and, at least since 1960; it has only been that bad in 1963's North Easter (we had to leave the house by boat), Isabelle in 2003?? and the one a few weeks ago........

 

So if you are ever visiting the Tidewater area, let me tell you a couple of things.  First, never leave your clothes unattended.  Second, the weather there can be ferocious……….

 

 

 

Got to get back now to Florida
Lay out in the morning Sun
Got to get back to Miami
Have a whole lotta fun
Going back to Miami    -Wayne Cochran and the CC Riders

 

www.weatheringthestorms.org

 

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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