Every year around this time, we post the same information about being prepared for a disaster.  We do so because it is very important to be prepared.  With Hurricane Irene continuing to keep North Carolina in its sights, it is important to think about disaster preparedness and an emergency kit if you haven’t already. 
Natural disasters, such [...]

Forecast for the next three months: hot, humid, with a chance of thunderstorms.  Summer thunderstorms are not something to be taken lightly – especially in North Carolina where thunderstorms bring danger in the form of lightning, high winds, falling trees and occasional tornadoes.  In fact, North Carolina has the second highest number of lightning strikes [...]

Hurricane Preparedness Week is this week, because believe it or not, hurricane season starts June 1st.  While we recently experienced the severe tornadoes, it has been several years since our state has been impacted by a major hurricane.  It is important that we remember North Carolina is at risk of being impacted by hurricanes, and [...]

Meteorologists are getting much more accurate predicting when conditions are right for violent storms and tornadoes.  But, what do you do if your area is under a warning or a watch?  The answers are not as simple as you might think, and as we learned during the recent tornadoes there were a lot of questions.  [...]

It can’t happen. It will not happen. It will not happen to me. If it happens, there is nothing I can do. If it happens, the government will take care of me.
Many believe disasters will not impact their community or affect them and, if a disaster does happen, that they will be taken care by [...]

Barb Bisset is executive director of the WakeMed Emergency Services Institute.
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes and ice storms can quickly sweep into a community and cause major disruption.  Manmade disasters, such as chemical explosions, transportation accidents, such as train derailments can easily occur and can require rapid evacuation of the area. Unfortunately, disasters [...]

The National Weather Service has issued a “WINTER STORM WARNING” for our area, beginning this afternoon continuing into Sunday morning.  Forecasts are calling for winter precipitation, including the potential for freezing rain, ice and/or snow, and the forecast says Wake County could see 8 to 12 inches of snow. (See details on www.wral.com.) WakeMed employees [...]

Barb Bisset, PhD is the executive director of the WakeMed Health & Hospitals Emergency Services Institute. 

WakeMed employees volunteering in Waveland, Mississippi, in the wake of Katrina

WakeMed employees, physicians, supporters and readers of this blog have demonstrated an immense spirit of generosity in their continual requests to expand WakeMed’s role in the response to the catastrophic [...]

Many have inquired about WakeMed’s response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The WakeMed Emergency Services Institute (ESI) has been in close contact with the Triangle Chapter of the American Red Cross and the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services, who are advising us as to the current situation and the various needs. We [...]