As of the National Hurricane Center's 10 AM CDT advisory on Thursday, October 8, Hurricane Isaias had 85 mph winds and was expected to keep strengthening before landfall on the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday. A Hurricane Warning covers Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida, and a Storm Surge Warning reaches the Suwannee River. Check hurricanes.gov for the latest.
If you work in a hospital in the warning area, today is the day you find out which team you're on.
FIRST, KNOW YOUR TEAM
• Team A reports before the storm and stays inside the hospital until relieved, often 48 to 72 hours, sometimes longer. You work, eat and sleep there.
• Team B rides out the storm at home and reports once it passes to relieve Team A. Plan for blocked roads and gas lines.
Names, timing and rules vary by hospital. Confirm your team and your report time with your manager today.
YOUR RIDE-OUT BAG (3 TO 5 DAYS)
• Scrubs and clothes for 5 days, plus a second pair of shoes
• Your own medications for 2 weeks, plus a written list
• Charger, a long cable and a charged power bank
• Pillow, blanket and a sleeping pad (if your hospital allows them)
• Snacks, a refillable water bottle and any special-diet food
• Toiletries, earplugs, an eye mask, glasses or contacts
• Flashlight, spare batteries and some cash in small bills
• Badge, ID, insurance card and key phone numbers on paper
Ask what your hospital provides (meals, cots, showers, laundry) and what isn't allowed.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME
1. Kids: who keeps them if you're held over 3+ days, and who is allowed to pick them up from school.
2. Pets: most hospitals don't take them. Line up a pet-friendly shelter, boarding or family now.
3. Home: shutters up, loose items inside, photos of every room for insurance.
4. Car: fill the tank. After the storm, gas can be hard to find.
5. Phone tree: give your family your unit's direct line.
YOUR PAY: ASK BEFORE THE STORM, NOT AFTER
• Are all my hours on site paid, including standby?
• Is there incentive or crisis pay for Team A?
• How will my sleep hours be handled?
The federal rule (29 CFR 785.22): on stays of 24 hours or more, up to 8 hours of sleep can go unpaid only if you agreed to it, you have a real place to sleep, and you sleep at least 5 hours without interruption. Calls that wake you are paid. If you can't get 5 hours of sleep, the whole period counts as work. This applies to hourly (non-exempt) staff. Keep your own log of hours.
PATIENTS AT HOME (HOME HEALTH & PRIVATE DUTY)
• Oxygen, ventilator or CPAP? Charged backup batteries and extra oxygen cylinders. Generators run outside only.
• Register for a special needs shelter at FloridaDisaster.org or with the county. It isn't a hospital: a caregiver has to stay.
• Early refills: when a county is under a hurricane warning or a state of emergency, Florida law (§252.358) requires insurers to allow early refills of prescriptions that still have refills left. Call the pharmacy today.
• Grab bag: medication list, allergies, and the numbers of the doctor and the equipment company.
• If home isn't safe, evacuate early. Don't wait for the wind.
One more thing: keep your license and certifications in your myFHC wallet. If you have to evacuate, your documents go with you.
Stay safe, and send this to your Team A.
Sources: National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Isaias Public Advisory 8 (Oct 8, 2026, 10 AM CDT) · 29 CFR 785.22 · Florida Statutes §252.358 · FloridaDisaster.org.
General information. Follow your hospital's emergency plan and the instructions of local officials.
