North Carolina’s North Carolina’s Coordinated Medical Coordinated Medical

Response to Hurricane Response to Hurricane KatrinaKatrina

Challenges and Lessons LearnedChallenges and Lessons Learned

September-October, 2005September-October, 2005

Eye Wall of Katrina from 30,000 feet

Know what you face.

HANCOCK MEMORIAL HOSPITALHANCOCK MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

The “Safe Zone” Border

Prepare for the Worst and be Self-sufficient

…otherwise you become part of the problem

rather than the solution

Preparations

The Bus

Noble

Getting There

There is No Substitute for Adequate Planning

The Infrastructure Must ExistRegional Trauma System

• NC Trauma System mandated by State Legislature in 1992.100 Counties in NC with EMS Systems.Eight Regional Advisory Committees (RAC)Designed to coordinate trauma care.

Collaborative Effort

Office of Emergency Medical Services

NORTH CAROLINA

To develop a tiered State Medical Response System (SMRS)

Logistics!!!!

Just do it.

Untested Waters31 AUG 2005

• E-mail from Randy Kearns, MidCarolina RAC Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, notifying us that our SMAT had been activated.

• Gathered supplies

Chris Ogden, RN, BSN

Randy Kearns, CEM, NREMT-P, DHA(c)

Michele Rudisill, RN, BSN

The Plan ?

Trauma Resuscitation Algorithm

Be safe, establish security

Organization, SafetyVaccinations, ID’s

Charlotte-Mecklenburg SWAT

Expect hurdles but never give up.

The Importance of Boots on the Ground

If you build it, they will come

Waveland, MS

Tent City

Clearing the Staging Site by Hand

Securing the Perimeter

2 am, Open for Business

MED-1MED-1

OR’s

ICU CapabilitiesICU Capabilities

Digital X-rayDigital X-ray

Trauma

PEDIATRIC BURNPEDIATRIC BURN

Order from Chaos

The Kmart Clinic is Up and Running

Christian Life Church

Orange Beach, Alabama

Filling a NeedFilling a Need

• Population changed with time

• 250-350 pts. per day• Mostly during daytime• Over 7,000 patients

cared for

Establish communications and build infrastructure

A Helipad?

Rowan County Search and Rescue

Yes, A Helipad

Be creative.

Tree-age

Strategic National Stockpile

WALMARTWALMART““PRESCRIPTIONS”PRESCRIPTIONS”

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at

Mr. E’s

Inside the MidCarolina SMAT-2Inside the MidCarolina SMAT-2

Never underestimate the power of humanity.

The Remnants of City Hall

NC SMAT Team 1

Anything is possible…