PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — If hindsight is 20/20, local hospitals are seeing clearly on this Election Day and will have extra security and supplies on hand just in case there is any violence like there was after the last presidential election.
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After watching the political unrest that unfolded on January 6, 2021, as well as other politically charged incidents that have happened since, administrators from all Hampton Roads hospital systems are preparing for what could happen.
“So we’ve been talking about this probably for a good two or three weeks of just ways that we should prepare in the event there’s any civil unrest,” said Bon Secours Hampton Roads chief operating officer Craig Schmidt.
Schmidt told 10 On Your Side that Bon Secours is increasing security at all of its Hampton Roads hospitals.
Sentara Health is doing the same, but it is not out of the ordinary for it to do so.
“It is routine for our hospitals to preposition caches of extra medical supplies before major public or weather events,” said Sentara spokesperson Dale Gauding in a statement. “This is a prudent practice to ensure we are prepared for all potential medical needs that may arise. When the event is complete, we return the supplies to our regular inventory for routine consumption.”