Veoci hosted Lauren Jones, Emergency Management Manager at Ochsner Health, to discuss the evolution of hurricane preparedness and all-hazards planning in healthcare settings, using Ochsner’s experience as a framework. The conversation centered on lessons learned from major events including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ida, and the Bourbon Street terrorist attack, and how these experiences have fundamentally shaped Ochsner’s emergency response protocols.
Lauren detailed how the catastrophic failures during Katrina, particularly those dramatized in “Five Days at Memorial,” catalyzed a shift in emergency preparedness strategies—from evacuation-only models to nuanced, resource-based decision-making that emphasizes pre-storm patient redistribution and continuity of care. She emphasized the critical importance of proactive patient triage, staffing models that preserve workforce stamina (Team A and Team B approaches), and comprehensive incident communication systems.
The conversation expanded into the Joint Commission’s six critical areas, covering communication, resources and assets, safety and security, staff roles and responsibilities, utilities management, and clinical care. Lauren shared poignant examples from Hurricane Ida, including rapid changes in storm trajectory, communications blackouts due to infrastructure failure, and how on-the-ground decision-making—such as moving vulnerable patients ahead of time—was essential.
A significant portion of the discussion addressed the necessity of real-time, trusted information and the pitfalls of misinformation from well-intentioned partners. Lauren’s example of personally verifying oxygen cache locations highlighted the need for solid community partnerships and “trust but verify” practices.
Jones also presented Ochsner’s innovative “Let’s Get Ready” initiative, a hurricane preparedness module that educates staff on deployment processes, communication protocols, and post-deployment mental health resources. She underscored the importance of empathy and staff wellness during and after events, including structured decompression opportunities and access to mental health support.
In discussing infrastructure, the webinar covered everything from dual-SIM emergency phones and satellite communications to managing hospital space for staff lodging and safeguarding utility functions like generators and oxygen reserves. Lauren also explained Ochsner’s wristband accountability system and strategic lockdown procedures to ensure security during crises, while maintaining compassion for community members seeking aid.
Watch the webinar in its entirety here.
