Inside Healthcare Computing, Oct. 13, 2008 UTMB's Ralph Farr and Todd Leach of IT are quoted in this article about how their department fared before, during and after Hurricane Ike. Farr says that organizations need to be well-prepared for emergencies:  "You don't want to invent who is in charge at the time of the event. People need to know exactly what their role is and then execute on the plan. When you have an 11-foot tidal surge is not the time to be creative."  And Leach says that a well-coordinated communications plan is a must: "We had a multi-tier communication strategy that included everything from cell phones, a central phone switch, to satellite phone systems. People typically think they will need all their clinical systems up during an incident, but the reality is that once you pass a certain point, all that is needed is an effective way to talk to staff or to the press."  (Subscription based.  No link available)