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47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

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m LSU Health Sciences Center (New Orleans, Louisiana)m Charity Hospital (New Orleans, Louisiana)m University Hospital (New Orleans, Louisiana)4.2.2 Effects of Flooding<strong>The</strong> damage caused by Hurricane Katrina flooding was significantlymore serious than the damage caused by wind. Along theGulf Coast, the storm surge was higher than previously experienced,which caught many health care providers by surprise (seeFigure 1-2). In most places, the storm surge flooding receded inseveral hours, but in New Orleans the floodwaters remained formore than a week. Apart from the damage and disruption causedby floodwaters that penetrated the facilities’ lower levels, manyhospitals in New Orleans were completely surrounded by floodwaters,which cut off all surface access.As a result of the disrupted access, most hospitals had to manageon their own, without any assistance from the outside. Patientsand visitors were stranded, along with staff that could not be relievedfor days. <strong>The</strong> injured, and others in need of emergencycare, could not be brought in for treatment. Family and friendsof people stranded in the hospitals had no way of communicatingwith them. Food, water, medical, and other supplies could not bebrought in except by small boats and helicopters, or in some instances,by military vehicles. <strong>The</strong> evacuation of the critically illpatients, and eventually others, was possible only by boat or by helicopter.Hospitals with dedicated or improvised elevated helipadsmanaged the evacuation much better than others.Hospitals and nursing homes that were inundated during Katrinaexperienced the greatest damage. Hospital functions located inthe areas exposed to floodwaters had to be shut down. In manycases, the elevators and other mechanical and electrical serviceswere shut down by the floodwaters.Flooding caused considerable disruption of utility services in mosthospitals in the New Orleans area. Sewers flooded or pumpingstations shorted out, disabling sewage and liquid waste disposal.OBSERVATIONS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CRITICAL FACILITIES4-5

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