NHRMC still assessing damage post storm

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Two weeks post-Hurricane Florence, New Hanover Regional Medical Center is getting operations back to normal.

A NHRMC spokeswoman says they do not have a full assessment yet on the extent of damage Florence caused, but the 9th and 10th floors, two floors that had water damage during the storm, are back open.

Spokeswoman Carolyn Fisher says patients on the 9th and 10th floors were moved before the storm ever hit.

A viewer contacted WWAY and provided photos of some of the damage inside the hospital during the storm, which shows missing ceiling tiles and garbage cans acting as containers to catch water.

The administration area in the SEAHEC area of the building had roof damage, which led to damage in the library and classrooms. Fisher says those areas were cordoned off and were not patient care areas.

Fisher says the photos do not reflect the way the hospital currently looks.

The viewer also complained about the length of time staff members had to remain at the hospital.

“Some staff were there for a week or more before the lockdown was lifted, requiring them to work 6, 7, 8 shifts without a day off in between,” the viewer wrote.

Fisher says the hospital put out there in advance that it could be long, knowing that people who had evacuated, might not be able to get back in.

Fisher says the hospital’s top priority is taking care of patients and it was ‘an all out effort to get staff back and relieve staff who had been there.’ Fisher says NHRMC had to ensure they had enough staff to treat the patients coming in.

Fisher says most staff were able to leave after their shift ended on the Tuesday after the storm.

NHRMC supplemented their staff through Atrium hospital and a traveling clinical agency. They also used private planes to bring in people.

Fisher says the challenge around getting staff back is significant and something they are going to look at. When asked whether NHRMC had a chance to look at what went right and what went wrong, Fisher said they kept a list of things to address and work into their plans for next time.

“Teamwork was amazing, during and after the storm,” Fisher said.

After the storm, every NHRMC staff member received a $100 gift card. Fisher says NHRMC recognized everyone has some kind of impact.

They also have an employee benevolence fund to help employees.