Living in Louisiana is great: the food, the people, the vibrant culture. But there are six months out of the year that give many of us pause. Hurricane season can lead to unpredictable events that present unique challenges for physicians. Thankfully, anesthesiologists are notorious planners. In times of impending disaster, hospitals must have emergency operation plans and activate an incident command center. Planning is essential, but each storm brings unique challenges.
It was a rough year for all in 2020; no one will argue with that statement. For southwest Louisiana, and in particular the city of Lake Charles, Mother Nature brought “a little something extra,” or “lagniappe” (LAN-yap), as we say in Louisiana. However, the lagniappe was neither little nor welcomed. Two major storms, Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020, and Hurricane Delta on October 9, 2020, delivered a devastating blow to the area.
Category 4 Hurricane Laura became the...