Hurricane Irma, the second historic storm to threaten the U.S. in the past three weeks, is churning its way through the Caribbean toward Florida, where it is expected to make landfall this weekend. Puerto Rico already has weathered this powerful storm. Our hopes and prayers are with the people of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the southeast region as they endure this tremendous storm and begin to rebuild.

Irma and its predecessor Harvey are powerful reminders of why emergency preparedness is so important, and why hospitals constantly drill to be ready in the face of natural and man-made disasters. Our communities depend on us, and the hospitals and health systems in Irma’s path will respond to this crisis just as heroically as those in Texas and Louisiana, who are still dealing with the devastating flooding brought by Hurricane Harvey.

In times of crisis, the women and men of America’s hospitals are at their best. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen hospital employees working around the clock, evacuating at-risk patients, and providing care to the neediest even as their own homes were being destroyed. That’s what it means to care.

Related News Articles

Headline
A 60-day appeal window has passed for the Food and Drug Administration to appeal a federal court ruling that invalidated its final rule to regulate laboratory-…
Headline
The AHA June 3 launched the first in a new video series, “Medicaid: Real Lives, Real Care,” highlighting the importance of Medicaid and why proposed cuts…
Headline
The Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said June 3 they are rescinding 2022 CMS guidance with the subject…
Headline
A JAMA study published June 3 found that of 2,237 counties across the U.S., 78% reported declines in vaccination rates for measles, mumps and rubella from 2019…
Headline
The AHA Leadership Summit will be held July 20-22 in Nashville, Tenn. AHA Executive Vice President Michelle Hood previews the conference designed to equip…
Blog
Public
The 2025 AHA Leadership Summit will take place July 20-22 at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn. Renowned speakers from across health care will provide…