The grant announcement came through U. S. Representative Charles Boustany, Jr.’s office (R), but has not made it through channels as yet to the hospital, according to hospital director Ray Landry. “When both hurricanes hit over such a short period of time this past September, FEMA and the Office of Homeland Security urged us to apply for the grant that would help to improve our facility and now we’re just waiting for word to come down to us.”
In his press release, Congressman Boustany is quoted saying “Abbeville General is an integral part of our region’s hurricane preparedness plan, and this funding will help put the hospital in better shape to serve Vermilion Parish during future storms. As a former doctor, I know how important secure facilities are for people in Southwest Louisiana. FEMA’s grant will be put to good use.”
Landry said that “we’re very excited about receiving this grant. This will allow us to take funds being set aside for a new roof and put it to use for other things that we need. This also means that we won’t have to take the money out of the taxes we receive to improve this particular part of our facilities. The reason the two agencies suggested we apply for this grant is because AGH is considered a critical care facility. They must have realized that every coastal parish was going to be in similar positions of having to relocate patients at growing costs for each time you have to move and that this was going to be a better plan financially than having to pay to move everyone.”
In the press release, Abbeville General Hospital is described as “a critical care facility for critically ill patients during disasters. Roofing and shutters will be improved to meet new building requirements, providing protection from wind speeds of up to 120 mph. This project is expected to be completed in three years.”
During an evacuation period, Landry said that it gets very difficult to find places that the hospital can evacuate patients to places of safety. Evacuation locations for patients cannot be located south of I-10, according to Landry, and destinations generally end up in north Louisiana when driving is the mode of transportation. Texas, Oklahoma and almost anywhere else are possible evacuation sites when air transportation is available.
“The hospital maintains a core group during an emergency situation for us to be able to open our doors,” said Landry. “We have 48 designated positions in the core group that stay here no matter what happens to the rest of the plans for the hospital. With the improvements to the hospital, we know we can stay here a lot safer now. The rest of the OEP personnel on duty, like the city police, fire department and sheriff’s department all stay to perform their jobs and look to us for help in times of emergency as well.”
CEO Troy Hair said that “with the grant, the hospital will now be able to change around where some of the money was intended to go and will be allowed to fund additional items for patient services.”
The grant application required specific information to be directed to Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff. Working through the State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the initial outline said “a recent letter from Secretary Chertoff encourages this preference to harden structures so that unnecessary movement of critical patients is minimized. State and federal support will be focused on assisting hospitals to care for the most vulnerable in hardened facilities. Support will also be provided to assist hospitals with moving those patients that can be safely evacuated.”
Questions in the initial material included generator and fuel requirements; a listing of the food, water and other vital resources needed; if the facility planned to move patients, what storm intensity would be the deciding factor; how many staff members would be on-hand; the number of days the facility could be operated independent of municipal or parish resources.
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