Surviving the Storm | 2007

SURVIVING THE STORM documents the actions a New Orleans hospital took to survive Hurricane Katrina.

For several days, Ochsner Medical Center was the only one of 13 major hospitals in the city capable of accepting new patients. For months, only three hospitals were able to function.

Staffers at Ochsner had learned from the hardships of other hospitals crippled by Mother's Nature's wrath. Despite preparations, the hospital still faced many challenges - from replenishing its food supply, to worries about water for dialysis and the need to get paychecks out to employees who had damaged or lost homes. Despite power and water outages that weakened the hospital, some of the medical center's doctors knew they were needed more in the community where people were sick and dying.

This documentary shows us all why it is important for our medical community to survive during disasters. More importantly, it provides valuable lessons on being prepared.

Narrated by John Goodman.