An initial triage level classification for a latest patient to arrive at an emergency department (ED) is received. Availability levels of resources needed to treat the latest patient are electronically collected, along with triage level classifications for all other patients currently in the ED. The initial triage level classification of the latest patient is adjusted upward or downward based on the availability levels of resources needed to treat the latest patient and based on the triage level classifications for the patients in the ED. The triage level classifications for all patients currently in the ED are summed up. If a sum of all triage level classifications exceeds a first predetermined threshold, other resources are reallocated in order to provide the resources needed to treat the latest patient to arrive at the ED. If the sum of all triage level classifications exceeds a second predetermined threshold, then a disaster plan is implemented.