Designing A Disaster-Proof Hospital

The author, an architect, describes how the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System was rebuilt by applying the lessons learned from that disaster as well as unique needs of veterans. Key features of the new hospital are meant to ensure that it can continue operations for up to 5 days post-disaster impact, including placement of the Emergency Room on the second floor; placing the generator fill line above the 500-year flood line; placing the generator underground; and placing the power grid on the fourth floor of the hospital.