P3.B039: Safe Passage: Protecting Our Littlest Ones During Hurricane Evacuation

Purpose/Objectives: Since the start of the 21st century to 2022, Florida has been impacted by 79 tropical and subtropical cyclones. On September 28, 2022, Southwest Florida sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Ian, a category 4 storm. Hurricane Ian was to date, the most deadly hurricane to impact Florida in this time frame. Due to the loss of water pressure government agencies mandated the evacuation of three local hospitals.

One of the hospitals, Golisano Children’s Hospital, was included in the evacuation. Evacuating critically ill neonates provide added vulnerabilities due to their complexity and can be difficult to safely and efficiently evacuate in a disaster..

Design/Methods: The Florida Neonatal Pediatric Transport Network Association (FNPTNA) recognized a gap in disaster response within Florida when it involved critically ill neonates and pediatrics. The disaster plan was developed in conjunction with the Florida Association of Critical Care Transport Specialists (FACTS) and the Florida Department of Health. FACTS and FNPTNA sent one representative to sit in the chair as the representative for the air medical side in the Florida Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. The President of FNPTNA, who happened to be the Golisano Children’s Hospital of SWFL transport team manager, followed the plan, and coordinated with FNPTNA, DOH, FACTS, FHA, and the Lee Health Command center for the evacuation. All transport teams who were part of the disaster plan were contacted and notified an evacuation was occurring and included 67 neonatal patients. The state of Florida ambulance deployment plan had already been set in place and FEMA ambulances would arrive within the hour of the call.

Results: In 36 hours all 81 patients from Golisano Children’s Hospital of SWFL were evacuated to fifteen facilities across the state. Of the total 68 neonates in the NICU, seven babies were discharged to their parents and 61 babies were evacuated, one neonate was delivered in the middle of evacuation, stabilized, and transported. Of the 62 evacuated babies, 21 were categorized as level 3 critical care and the others were intensive care level 2 patients. The other patients included eight from the pediatric intensive care unit, six from the pediatric medical unit, three from the pediatric oncology unit, and two from the pediatric emergency department. No adverse or safety events were reported. The pediatric emergency room remained open for the community and over the following five days, an additional 10 patients were transported to other facilities.

Conclusion/Discussion: Disaster planning, networking, and the relationships, between the FACTS and FNPTNA groups, were the key drivers of the successful evacuation. Knowledge sharing within the group regarding resources, practices, and passion for the best patient outcomes, showed the dedication to the safe transport of critically ill neonate and pediatric patients.