Weathering Any Storm 24/7
We are Open 24/7 Before, During and After the Storm
Altus is Committed to Stand By the Community Through Thick and Thin
Through the years, the Altus Community Family has evolved. Altus Baytown ER has become the preferred ER of Altus Hospital in Baytown, Altus Lumberton has become Altus Lumberton Hospital and Altus Emergency Centers in Waxahachie and Lake Jackson have become CIHQ accredited and now temporarily accept Medicare due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
One thing that has not changed through the years is that all of the Altus facilities are a safe haven for their communities, especially during our harsh hurricane season. Fortunately, all Altus facilities are ready for each, weathering any storm 24/7. Our Altus Lumberton Hospital Administrator and Risk Manager, Richelle Blackburn, couldn’t summarize it better:
“We go to great lengths to ensure that our patients and staff are safe. We are prepared and open 24/7 before, during, and after any potential emergency including natural disasters.” – Richelle Blackburn.
She and the rest of the brave staff at Altus Lumberton Hospital were positioned directly in the middle of the area strongest hit by Hurricane Harvey. With Beaumont hospitals shutting down due to the flooding, the facility was almost a “Noah’s Ark” for communities North and South from Lumberton.
Why We Get Prepared During Hurricane Season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting we will have an above-normal hurricane season this year.
During an average hurricane season, we will have 12 named storms, six of which become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher. Out of those six, three turn into major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher.
This year, NOAA predicts we will likely have between 13 and 19 named storms. Up to 10 of these storms will become hurricanes, and between 3 to 6 could become major hurricanes.
Our VP of Clinical Services, Amir Bashiri reflected upon our response to this potential threat:
“With full knowledge of the potential wreck that our storms, floods and hurricanes can have on our communities, Altus always plans ahead so if all other medical facilities close, we can remain open 24/7, fully functional with medical supplies, technology, ER physicians and back up generators. Basically, we get ready for the worst and expect the best.” – Amir Bashiri RN, BSN, MBA
The Hurricane COMMAND CENTER
Whenever a tropical storm is forming, from experience, we know that these can result in a life-threatening hurricane. For this reason, we set up command centers in each of our facilities to ensure that our staff and our patients are fully equipped to weather out the storm. Last month, hurricane Laura came by and, fortunately, did not escalate. Still, we were ready for a Harvey or worse. The following are images of our Hurricane Command Center.
Helping You Plan Ahead
We have been fortunate so far this year as far as hurricanes go, however, there is no room to let our guard down.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this year, we will potentially have a:
“Busy Atlantic hurricane season for 2020”
If you throw COVID-19 into the mix, it’s the recipe for a genuinely challenging time if a damaging storm hits. We recommend that you check out our free guide on:
How to Prepare for Hurricane Season During COVID-19
This includes:
- How to Prepare Your Home Emergency Supply Kit
- How to Create Your Disaster Plan
- How to Stay Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A Look Back at Hurricane Harvey
We could not be prouder of our dedicated staff, who put aside their personal needs during emergencies such as Hurricane Harvey to offer much needed medical attention to patients who otherwise would not have received any attention. We saved lives in the process and that is ultimately our mission.
