FW: IKE Houston 9 12 08 11 AM

[Guest guest]

FYI - SORRY FOR THE Cross posting.

To CCM-L, Trauma-list, and Surginet. I sent this to a large network of

trauma and other physicians we have in the Texas area. Just to let you

know what is happening in Houston.

To All of my friends in the Trauma network and within the leadership of

Texas Medical Association

Thank many of you for your concerns, prayers, and inquires.

For our friends south and east of us. If you need us for major clinical

problems lets know. The persons on this list can make things happen.

We have 325 patients in this 600 bed hospital. The ICUs and EC are full.

We have at least 2 faculty from every service in house, and for some

services (Medicine) we have an excess. The reserve internists and

radiologists

are going home at noon today. The radiologists are here in mass to assure

that NO unread images are backlogged as of NOW. It is cloudy here, but

so

far NO WIND or RAIN in Houston. In Galveston 60 miles to our south, sea

water

is already lapping over a 17 feet sea wall. Those on Galveston Island who

are not OUT will probably not now get off the island.

The low areas to the south and east of Houston, are vulnerable, all the way

to Port Arthur over by the Texas Louisiana border, where a 20-24 foot surge

is

anticipated.

The state, county, and city governmental officials have communicated well

together. The 5000 person Conference Call 3 times a day has done a lot to

let

everyone know who has what assets and how needs help.

So far medical problems in evacuees (except a few problems in the relocated

special needs patients).

>From a medical standpoint, we do not need any additional assets in people

or

supplies, at least as far as I know. All tanks for emergency generators

are topped off. It is now just a matter of waiting and being available

first to those who are in the hospital right now, then to those who come in

after the impact.

I would recommend that none of you plan to come to Houston, unless it is

totally coordinated with the local Incident Commands. It would be much

better, because of loss of infrastructure, electricity, etc, after impact,

you

and your city consider having a sister city rescue facility to MOVE

activities

OUT of the impact area if this becomes necessary. We do not anticipate a

need to evacuate any hospitals, but it might happen. If it happens, it

would be wonderful, if someone had tabulated where and for what kind of

patients

(neonates, intubated, CV, septic, etc) your hospital could take if transfer

were made available.

It is not 13 hours before land fall, but we expect gale force winds to

begin

within a couple of hours.

We expect the impact area, including Houston to have significant power

outages, and property damage. We expect the power outages to last up to 2

weeks

or more. HOT & Humid.

L. Mattox, MD