MD Anderson is currently operating at normal status.

• All managers and employees assigned responsibilities for hurricane/severe weather and emergency planning and implementation are required to assess, review and prepare plans to ensure a constant state of readiness.

Alert information for employees is available via the institution's RING line at (713) 792-RING (7464) and in other internal communications vehicles.

Operational Status Indicators

Normal Operations

• All managers and employees assigned responsibilities for hurricane/severe weather and emergency planning and implementation are required to assess, review and prepare plans to ensure a constant state of readiness.

Severity Level 1

• A localized emergency occurred in a specific area, causing no disruption of function, very little damage and no apparent threat to personnel or patient safety (e.g., minor utility outage).
• All employees report for duty as scheduled.

Severity Level 2

• One major function has been temporarily disrupted (e.g., minor flooding); however, patient care can be maintained.
• All employees report for duty as scheduled.
• Individuals in the disrupted area may be directed to perform a horizontal evacuation if there is a potential threat to personnel or patient safety.

Severity Level 3

• Our ability to carry on normal patient care is restricted (e.g., major fire).
• Inpatient Units perform emergency discharges as appropriate to reduce the patient census.
• Incident Command Center activated.
• Non-essential staff may be released from duty or may not report for duty.

Severity Level 4

• All patient appointments and surgeries are cancelled (e.g., direct hit by hurricane).
• Note that essential personnel are released only during a hurricane.
• All operations are coordinated by the Incident Command Center under to direction of the Incident Officer and Section Chiefs.
• The institution is in complete lock-down.