This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.

News Release

HHS SECRETARY VISITS HOSPITALS, THANKS HEALTH WORKERS
Department Works With Hospitals, State and Local Partners During Isabel

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson visited two Northern Virginia hospitals tonight to thank health care workers for their dedicated service during Hurricane Isabel and to offer any HHS assistance they need in responding to the storm. Secretary Thompson met with emergency room officials at Inova Alexandria Hospital and Inova Mount Vernon Hospital

"Families in Hurricane Isabel's path should be comforted that dedicated health professionals will be there for them 24 hours a day to provide the care they need," Secretary Thompson said. "And hospitals and health care workers can rest assured that help from HHS will be there throughout the night and in the days ahead. We are in constant contact with hospitals, health centers and nursing homes to assist in their preparations and to ready a rapid response to any storm damage and emergency health needs."

Secretary Thompson and officials from throughout the Department, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, monitored Hurricane Isabel's progress throughout the night. They remained in constant communication with federal, state and local partners and hospitals, nursing homes and health centers to assess damage and public health needs.

HHS personnel are working hand in hand with state and local health officials throughout the portions of the East Coast impacted by Hurricane Isabel. In Virginia and North Carolina, HHS officials are staffing state command centers, and rapid needs assessment teams made up of HHS and state personnel will be deployed as soon as the hurricane passes to determine the public health needs in the wake of the storm.

In the days leading up to Hurricane Isabel, Secretary Thompson deployed emergency response teams to Raleigh, N.C., and Richmond, Va., to assist state and local governments in their preparation and response to the hurricane. In North Carolina, for example, state health officials implemented a program developed by HHS that allows them to monitor hospital bed capacity on a minute-to-minute basis in every hospital in the state, allowing them to direct resources and assistance to where they are needed most.

So far, 96 HHS personnel are deployed along the hurricane's path, and dozens of others are prepared to help in areas most needing public health assistance. Additionally, there are 20 nurses and 10 mental health professionals prepared to be deployed with the American Red Cross for the recovery phase of the hurricane.

Additionally:

• HHS is in constant contact with the blood centers and banks, and stands ready to rapidly respond to any needs for blood as well as take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the blood supply.
• HHS is ready to work with local governments and the private sector to rapidly respond to protect the food and water supplies. HHS will work to make sure contaminated food or crops do not enter into the food supply, as well as help ensure the quality of water supplies. HHS will also work to ensure public health in the wake of any flooding or sewage backups.
• HHS is making mental health advice and counsel available to communities, schools and individuals, including how to talk to children about natural disasters. We will continue to make our mental health resources available widely.
• HHS has created a link at the top of its Web page - www.hhs.gov - for the latest health-related information related to Hurricane Isabel. The information includes links on hurricane preparedness in English and Spanish, mental health advice, blood availability, and safety of food and other products in the event of a power outage.

###

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: September 18, 2003