Preparing for Hurricane Sandy

It’s been over a year since Hurricane Irene made its way up the east coast, but the effects of that storm are still fresh in our minds. The health system demonstrated in extraordinary fashion how our preparedness measures are second to none, and that our team members are the most reliable when it comes to protecting the wellbeing of our community no matter the conditions.

Now, as Hurricane Sandy approaches Long Island and New York City, the North Shore-LIJ Health System is taking the same cautious steps it did last year to prepare all facilities to respond to this potentially destructive storm, while also making sure all employees remain safe.

The health system is currently working to make sure all hospitals and long-term care facilities have back-up power generators, pumps, and other emergency equipment and supplies that will be needed in the event of power outages.

Be Prepared!

As we take these steps to ensure our patients are being taken care of, we are also urging all employees to take care of themselves.  Read the health system’s emergency preparedness brochure, which outlines the steps needed to be prepared for a hurricane, including items you should have on hand this weekend and into next week.  You should also take a moment to update your personal/emergency contact information in Employee Self Service (http://ess.nslijweb.com).  You can do this from any computer with Internet access.

We recognize team members’ concerns about keeping their families safe.  At the same time, we need to keep our facilities staffed appropriately to support patient care.  Please note that those employees who are scheduled to staff our patient care facilities from Sunday, Oct. 28, through Wednesday, Oct. 31, should be prepared to work beyond their regular work shift. 

The Storm’s Projected Path

Hurricane Sandy is expected to make landfall as early as Monday afternoon as a category one hurricane.  Based on its current trajectory, the storm will likely cause severe flooding and widespread power outages in our area.  For the latest updates on the storm, visit HealthPort and check out the Emergency Management Department’s synopsis on the main page.  If you are not on a North Shore-LIJ network computer, you can get the latest forecast information at www.weather.com.