The phenomenal increase in the number, magnitude and duration of weather disasters in the past few years has been an obvious challenge to patient safety in health care institutions and to the health of the larger community. Media descriptions of hospital staff protecting and even evacuating critical patients during power interruptions with loss of usual transportation options are gripping to watch. Those who were instrumental in managing these disasters during and after hurricanes in New Orleans and New England, tornadoes in the Midwest and other less-publicized events will not soon forget patients at risk and the overwhelming problems for immediate management and long-term recovery, despite our ubiquitous committees on disaster preparedness.