​Hospitals across California are dealing with the effects of a series of wildfires that have sprung up across two parts of the state, according to a November 9, 2018, release from the California Hospital Association. In Northern California, where the Camp Fire has become the deadliest wildfire in state history, it took about 20 minutes to successfully evacuate one hospital, according to a November 11, 2018, article from NBC News. A nurse credited the hospital's emphasis on fire drills for the timely evacuation. However, getting staff to safety was challenging. After helping to evacuate patients, the nurse soon found her car trapped on a gridlocked highway, with the fire approaching. Thinking she was going to die, she abandoned her car as it filled with smoke. She ran, eventually being pulled into a firetruck which "appeared to be melting," according to the author. A bulldozer cleared the street and the nurse returned to the hospital. Remaining staff set up a makeshift triage in the parking lot, and then on an abandoned helipad, where they treated but did not admit 50 patients who "had no other place to go." The roof of the hospital eventually caught fire and firefighters informed the staff that they could no longer stay at the facility. At that point, the roads were abandoned and staff were able to reach safety in neighboring towns. The total death toll from the fires continues to grow and many residents remain missing, according to a November 9, 2018, article in USA Today. Several victims were found in a retirement community that was "devastated," according to USA Today. The town of Malibu, in Southern California, was evacuated for a different wildfire the following day, according to USA Today. California's government has set up a resource center that includes evacuation information for both fires, as well as the Hill Fire, which is ongoing in Ventura County. The website features evacuation information and real-time updates as to where the fires are.

HRC Recommends: Preparing for wildfires, flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other weather-related disasters must remain high priority for healthcare facilities. As such events occur and are responded to, there are lessons learned and wisdom to be shared with others. Risk managers should be familiar with the various resources available to their facilities to prepare for and respond to weather-related disasters that may continue over prolonged periods of time and that may affect a wide region.