Being prepared for emergencies is crucial at home, school, work and in your community. Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood, workplace or school or can confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services - water, gas, electricity or telephones - were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. The best way to make you and your family safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes.

Disaster preparedness is critical as practices encounter many kinds of disasters, including natural events like hurricanes, as well as pandemic influenza. These personal, practice, and community preparedness guides and checklists can provide practices and their patients helpful support in recovery during emergency conditions.

Recommended Checklist for Physicians

• Stay informed on the evolving event, and share that information with personnel/staff/employees to ensure enough time to take appropriate action
• Maintain an updated contact list of all personnel/staff/employees, including home phone numbers, cell phones and other emergency contact numbers. Encourage staff to share their personal evacuation plans and their availability for post-event emergency efforts
• Make decisions early about closing the office, or availability in services provided by your practice to your patients
• Communicate major changes in your office operations with patients; Be prepared to answer questions about rescheduling options, alternative treatment facilities and what they can do to maintain care of their diagnosed conditions 
• Charge cell phones and laptops prior to event
• Bring office server and back up files with you in the event of an evacuation; Files may not be easily accessed on another server with different software
• In the event of an evacuation, take important office business documents, such as insurance policies, payroll information, lease agreements, etc., with you when you leave  

Healthcare and Disaster Planning (LSMS) - DOWNLOAD the document

Emergency Preparedness Kit Checklist (GetAGamePlan.org)

Evacuation Guides (Louisiana State Police)

Call 1-888-LAHELPU (524-3578) for up to the minute information on obtaining food, water & shelter; volunteering for rescue/recovery efforts; prescription assistance; missing persons and more.