DaVita Medical Insights

DaVita Medical Insights


Hurricane Harvey and Disaster Planning

October 01, 2019


Hurricane season generally begins June 1 and lasts through November 30; the damage from hurricanes can affect an entire community. In 2017, the flood waters from Hurricane Harvey paralyzed the entire infrastructure of the city of Houston, Texas, causing many dialysis units to close. However, a DaVita center not only remained open but became a major response center for the area, treating many patients who had not dialyzed for several days. Listen to this podcast, in which Ashley Henson interviews Steve Fadem, MD, medical director of the Houston Kidney Center and the DaVita Integrated Service Network, on his experience planning for and executing the plan in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, as well as other storms.