Hurricane Irene: Coordinated Response Prevents Dialysis Disruption

As Hurricane Irene headed for the East Coast of the United States, the dialysis community was prepared for the worst. These efforts, coupled with changes in storm strength and the weekend timing of landfall, largely had their desired effect, with most units from North Carolina to Maine up, running, and dialyzing patients the day after the storm. “Irene was a large, powerful storm that impacted millions of people along the Eastern Seaboard, many of whom had never experienced the direct effects of a hurricane,” wrote Seth Holloway, MPH, CPH, Emergency Management Specialist for the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition, in an e-mail message. “The kidney community, through preparation, collaboration, and coordinated response, greatly diminished the storm’s potential impacts to the dialysis and transplant populations, undoubtedly saving many lives.” Marathon and a Sprint The KCER Coalition, which was formed in January 2006, includes representatives of kidney patient and professional organizations, clinicians, dialysis facilities, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks, state emergency and survey representatives, and federal agencies. It facilitates timely and effi cient disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for the kidney community. Hurricane Irene: Coordinated Response Prevents Dialysis Disruption