Thursday, March 26, 2015
Norman Regional Health System treated 28 patients with weather-related injuries due to a tornado on March 25, 2015. These were minor injuries such as cuts from broken glass or debris. All patients were treated and released. Norman Regional Moore treated 15 patients, the HealthPlex treated 9 patients, and Norman Regional Hospital treated four patients.
Norman Regional Moore was in the path of the tornado and sustained minor damage to its entrance. During the tornado, doctors, nurses and other team members helped patients and visitors into the facility’s storm shelter. Once the tornado passed, staff returned to treating and accepting patients throughout the evening of March 25. The temporary emergency building is open and treating and accepting patients.
“Once again, because of the preparedness and courage of our team no one inside the building was injured during the tornado,” said Richie Splitt, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Norman Regional Moore and the HealthPlex. The previous Moore hospital was destroyed by a tornado on May 20, 2013. A temporary building houses the Emergency Department while the new facility is being built.
Norman Regional Health System has a severe weather plan in place that trains all employees on the actions to take during severe weather or a disaster, said Shane Cohea, Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness for the Health System.