Louisiana flooding forces hospital to evacuate patients

The historic flooding in southern Louisiana yesterday forced Ochsner Medical Center Baton Rouge (O’Neal campus) to transfer a number of critically ill patients to other Ochsner facilities, the hospital reports. Several post-acute facilities and nursing homes also were evacuated, according to the Louisiana Hospital Association. The Louisiana Department of Health has opened an evacuation shelter for people with special medical conditions in the Field House on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge. LHA staff have been embedded with state response agencies at the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness since the event began and have been facilitating rescue, evacuation and response activities. “The LHA wants to thank all of its hospitals and health care professionals for their tireless efforts and professionalism in the face of this catastrophic event, often facing flooded homes themselves,” the association said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has made federal disaster aid available to East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena and Tangipahoa parishes, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs. For more information, visit http://www.lhaonline.org.