Rural hospital emergency preparedness: A case study of Glades General Hospital and Hurricane Wilma

Glades General Hospital, a 73 bed hospital located in rural Palm Beach County, Florida is presented with a unique challenge for a small rural hospital. Located in the remote community of Belle Glade, Florida, the hospital has planned for and weathered natural disasters in the form of hurricanes and tropical storms and now finds itself in the unique position of operating under the daily risk of catastrophic flooding from a nearby dike. The goal of this presentation will be to provide an overview of the steps the hospital planners have taken to plan for and respond to hurricane and tropical storm events, a review of damage sustained and reimbursement from insurance carriers and FEMA from Hurricane Wilma and on-going attempts to mitigate the potential impact of a breach in the nearby dike. This presentation is important for providers in areas prone to natural disasters and will provide a case study of experiences dealing with insurance companies, federal relief and public safety agencies. The presentation will be divided into the following three parts: Part I - Planning for Hurricane Wilma - 2005; Part II - Damages, Recovery, and Compensation; and Part III - Herbert Hoover Dike Emergency Preparedness Planning.