Shortly after 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 14th, the lights and power at Detroit Receiving went out. Most DRH team members assumed the power would immediately return throughout the building, but that was not the case. Within 15 minutes, the hospital administration suite became the command center, and would remain so for roughly the next 24 hours.

In less than an hour, the boardroom had been equipped with a battery-powered radio and television, as our team worked to understand the magnitude of the situation. Les Bowman, hospital president, had a hand-held walkie-talkie that provided him with a direct connection to our security team. DRH's physician leadership contacted DRH physicians, as well as other DMC and non-DMC hospitals, assessing the staffing and capabilities of the various facilities. Visitors were kept to a minimum to help ensure the security of all DRH staff, patients and guests.

One by one, we began to understand what the loss of power meant. Communication modes changed, utilizing overhead announcements to update and contact staff, as we realized that pagers and cell phones weren't working. Elevators were not working. Water pressure was low and dropping. Most computers were out of commission. And as everyone rushed to implement emergency measures, the heat inside the building began to rise.

The first emergency meeting was at 7 p.m. Approximately 25 - 30 managers and supervisors came together to be updated and discuss next steps. Shirt collars were open and sleeves were rolled up, but for the most part our dress code was still intact. Box lunches were provided, as this was sure to be a long night. The first agenda item was patient care. Were there any special concerns or circumstances we should be aware of? As team members outlined their individual patient care challenges, other team members offered suggestions and solutions-just the sort of teamwork we've come to expect at Receiving. Over the next several hours, these update gatherings became regular occurrences, with additional emergency meetings at 10 p.m. that night, and 8 a.m. Friday.

Everyone pitched in on behalf of our patients. That evening, a couple of DRH team members walked over to Woodward, flashlights in hand, to flag down cabs for patients. Some of our older patients were unable to make it home that night, and one of our team members volunteered to spend the night in the lobby with them to help keep them comforted.

Overnight, the feeling was one of heightened urgency mixed with unusual isolation. With little or no access to news via radio or TV, there was a strange sensation of being disconnected from the outside world. At the same time, it made team members rely on one another just that much more.

By the next morning, the heat had become oppressive, but DRH team members were still taking it in stride. "Do not drink the water" signs were posted near fountains and restrooms, and overhead announcements were heard frequently. Handwritten signs were taped to the walls, pointing out the nearest staircase. Team members were filling in wherever they were needed. About 20 employees from several different departments volunteered to deliver patient lunches. Others were running the elevators, two of which had returned to service.

Friday's noon emergency meeting looked a lot different than the first one. Many staff members and physicians had stayed at the hospital all night, taking care of patients, manning the phones, and helping out in any way they could. With about 50 people in attendance at the meeting, there was a mixture of team members from various shifts and departments. Traditional work attire had been replaced by scrubs and DRH "Worn With Pride" t-shirts. Hair was tousled, and brows were sweaty. Almost everyone was waving a fan of some kind, made out of interoffice envelopes, brochures or folders. As the meeting began, the power came on for a brief moment, eliciting cheers and applause from the team. But that excitement was short lived, as the room returned to darkness. Everyone was momentarily disappointed, but we knew that the power was on its way back.

The meeting offered various updates, including the impending arrival of a truck that would provide 400 gallons of water. This "water buffalo" was to arrive at approximately 5:30 p.m., and would be welcomed as a shared resource for the central campus, orchestrated by DRH's emergency preparedness experts.

Finally, at approximately 2 p.m., the power was restored. At the 3 p.m. debriefing meeting, the team was visibly relieved, although a bit exhausted. Everyone shared lessons learned, enabling us to be better prepared for next time.

For a while there, Receiving was a very different place than the one we've all come to know. But through it all, it was the same team we've all come to rely on. As always, it's during the hardest times when you realize the value of the family around you.