When I awoke at 6 a.m. on Sunday and looked down from
my high-rise, there was about 30 feet of water covering Route
288 into the city, as well as several feet covering the surface
roads, essentially marooning the entire city, which was eerily
quiet. Meanwhile the rain continued in alternating heavy bands
throughout the next three days.
One of my MSU nurses was staffing the Memorial Hermann Neuro
ICU. She told me the hospital and medical school were “dry” and
operational, but that all staff had been there at least 24 hours and
were unable to leave. Monday when I awoke, the water around my
complex was down to about two feet, and by 9 a.m. the roads to
the medical center looked clear. So, I loaded my inflatable kayak
into my SUV, got the concierge to open my apartment’s garage
gate, drove through the two feet of water inside the parking garage,
and made it to the medical center to help staff the stroke service.
I wasn’t needed at the hospital, so I went down to the George R.
Brown Convention Center, where about 10,000 displaced folks
were bedded and receiving donated food, blankets, etc. There
was plenty of medical help—nurses, students, residents, and
attendings from all of the Texas Medical Center institutions. I
was put in charge of one of the triage areas (where I couldn’t do
too much harm). I worked there until 11 a.m. I even diagnosed
two stroke patients.
When I left the convention center at 7 p.m., the sun was out, and
it was a beautiful evening. The hurricane had moved east, taking
the moisture with it!”
Coty Aiken, EMS, Quality Coordinator (Trauma/Stroke),
Montgomery County Hospital District
“This past week has been a very surreal experience. Hurricane
Harvey has amplified my personal definition of flooding. Puddles
turned into lakes, roadways turned into rivers, and 911 calls turned
into life-saving water rescue operations — some of people who
were inaccessible for days.
The biggest experience I would like to elaborate on and share
is the sense of humanity I felt while responding to these
emergencies. The acts of kindness and the surge of people wanting
to help in this time of need was overwhelming. I have witnessed
long lines of people waiting at shelters, but on the other hand,
I also have witnessed long lines of volunteers waiting to lend a
hand in any manner they can. Putting yourself before others is
exactly the mentality needed in emergency medical services.
I received a text from an emergency department director in
the middle of day four of disaster operations. I was exhausted,
worried about my family, and ready for this hurricane to stop
turning our county into the next Water World. The text stated, ‘I
just wanted you to know that your crew just brought us a stroke
alert, and the door-to-needle time was 26 minutes! Your crew
rocked it!’ This was the last type of text I was expecting to get.
I felt proud to be associated with this organization and proud
that our EMS providers were still providing top notch emergency
medical services, even in this unprecedented disaster.”
How Can NCS Members Help?
I would encourage NCS members to donate to the Southeast
Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC). I strongly
believe this is a great way to contribute toward maintaining
the safety of the region’s population. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit,
SETRAC is a volunteer-led organization that deals with disaster
preparedness, trauma, stroke, cardiac, and pediatric services.
By facilitating coordination of trauma providers, SETRAC has
supported such recovery efforts as Hurricane Ike in 2008 and
the Dow petrochemical plant explosion. SETRAC brings many
organizations under one umbrella, including EMS, the Houston
Fire Department, and health care facilities. I was a member of
SETRAC’s board of directors for several years while I lived in
Houston, and I can attest to the great service they provide. Please
help by visiting the following link: https://www.setrac.org/donate/
The beautiful people of Southeast Texas will be forever grateful.
View of Highway 288 on Tuesday, August 22. Gathering
dark clouds ominously foreshadow what was to come.
View of Highway 288 on Sunday, August 27. (Courtesy of James Grotta)
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