Mercy Medical Center Flood of 2008 -my role as Nurse Leader
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Emergency Mgmt / Hospital Planning Preparedness(HPP) Officer at Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids Iowa Flood in June 2008. Our facility safely evacuated 183 patients to other hospitals and facilities. Responsible for the rollout, implementation, and maintenance of TJC requirements for the Emergency Mgmt (EM) standards for the facility.
![Mercy leadershipdecidedtoevacuate 183 patientsandactivate theirEmergency OperationsCenterasheavyrain,city
wide powerproblems,andinfrastructure failurescrippledthe city.Despite the chaoticenvironment,McMahonsaysshe
was able tostay calm andfocusedthanksto herCDP training.McMahon utilizedthe flexibilityand teamwork
emphasizedduringCDPtraining.
"The intense CDPexerciseswere constantlythrowinginjects,scenarios,andrequestsall atonce,"saidMcMahon,a 27-
yearveteranof Mercy Medical Center."Thiswasexactlywhathappenedduringourdisaster.[Asa resultof the training,]
I getit. I finallygetit."
McMahon stressedthatthe IncidentCommandportionof hercourseswere mostbeneficial duringthe floodand
ultimate standupof the EOC.
The EOC forMercy Medicalwas fully activated as flood waters threatened thehospitalon June12. A recentCDP student
saysthe conceptsand principlestaughthere assisted in theresponse
"The atmosphere inthe EOC waschaotic,"she said."I wouldsaythe ICS systemandthe constant planningand
preparednesshelped toeducate usall andhelpedusremaincalm.Asa representative forouremergencymanagement
groupwe constantlytryto integrate [CDPtraining] intoourobjectivesandshow everyonehow vital the toolswe've
learnedare to successful disastermanagement."
Mercy Medical'sflooded lobby
McMahon has consistentlystressedpreparednessandpusheshercoworkersandmostseniorofficialstoattendCDP
training.
"The conceptsand principlestaughtatthe CDP have helpedme tremendously,"stressedMcMahon."Iam sothankful
for the coursesand we continue toEDUCATE, EDUCATE, and reinforce all of the principlestaughtduringHCLand PIPP."
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Mercy Medical Center Flood of 2008 -my role as Nurse Leader
- 1. Centerfor Domestic Preparedness Centerfor Domestic Preparedness 61 ResponderDr. AnnistonAL,36205 1-866-213-9553 Main Content ο· IowaNurse CreditsCDPTrainingFor Successful FloodResponse Iowa Nurse CreditsCDP Training For Successful FloodResponse Joan McMahon Whenthe Cedar RiverreachedhistoricfloodlevelsJune 2008 andforcedthe evacuationof asmany as 10,000 townspeople fromnearbyCedarRapids,Iowa,alocal nurse knew exactlywhattodothanksto specializedtrainingshe'd receivedfromFEMA'sCenterforDomesticPreparedness(CDP). JoanMcMahon, a nurse withthe Mercy Medical CenterinCedarRapids,wasa recentgraduate of the Healthcare Leadership(HCL) andPandemicInfluenzaPlanningandPreparedness(PIPP)coursesatthe CDP. Hundredsof CedarRapidscitizens responded to help protect Mercy Medical. Eventually,therivercrested atclose to 32 feet,despite predictionsthatthe river would crest at 24 feet.
- 2. Mercy leadershipdecidedtoevacuate 183 patientsandactivate theirEmergency OperationsCenterasheavyrain,city wide powerproblems,andinfrastructure failurescrippledthe city.Despite the chaoticenvironment,McMahonsaysshe was able tostay calm andfocusedthanksto herCDP training.McMahon utilizedthe flexibilityand teamwork emphasizedduringCDPtraining. "The intense CDPexerciseswere constantlythrowinginjects,scenarios,andrequestsall atonce,"saidMcMahon,a 27- yearveteranof Mercy Medical Center."Thiswasexactlywhathappenedduringourdisaster.[Asa resultof the training,] I getit. I finallygetit." McMahon stressedthatthe IncidentCommandportionof hercourseswere mostbeneficial duringthe floodand ultimate standupof the EOC. The EOC forMercy Medicalwas fully activated as flood waters threatened thehospitalon June12. A recentCDP student saysthe conceptsand principlestaughthere assisted in theresponse "The atmosphere inthe EOC waschaotic,"she said."I wouldsaythe ICS systemandthe constant planningand preparednesshelped toeducate usall andhelpedusremaincalm.Asa representative forouremergencymanagement groupwe constantlytryto integrate [CDPtraining] intoourobjectivesandshow everyonehow vital the toolswe've learnedare to successful disastermanagement." Mercy Medical'sflooded lobby McMahon has consistentlystressedpreparednessandpusheshercoworkersandmostseniorofficialstoattendCDP training. "The conceptsand principlestaughtatthe CDP have helpedme tremendously,"stressedMcMahon."Iam sothankful for the coursesand we continue toEDUCATE, EDUCATE, and reinforce all of the principlestaughtduringHCLand PIPP." GetTo Know The CDP