Sunday, October 30, 2005 - DAY 16

Update from George Herrold at 1441 hrs EDT: WE'RE HOME!

Friday, October 28, 2005 - DAY 14

Update from George Herrold at 1226 hrs EDT: We all started packing our clothes and the trucks today at Camp Colorado.  It has been pretty much a stand down day.  We all completed our existing medical physicals without any problems.

We will all be lining up in formation for final pictures around 1400 hrs CDT.  Following formation, we will be having our final official briefing from Camp Colorado Command staff.

We will be heading over to Station #61 to say good bye to Captain Jone's guys since they took great care of us while we were here and made us feel at home in their home.  We are going to miss these guys and the others we met down here, but that's what e-mail is all about.

Thursday, October 27, 2005 - DAY 13

Update from George Herrold at 2028 hrs EDT: Currently Dale (from APTS Team) and I are working on copying the last bunch of picture CD's for the rest of the teams and camp administrators from Camp Colorado.  We currently have over 2000 pictures from all of the various teams that have been on the ground here in Louisiana.  As we said earlier in our reports, the pictures truly show the unbelievable devastation New Orleans and the surrounding communities have suffered. 

Yesterday's mission was a nice break from the daily DMAT assignments we have grown to be use to.  Our trip was from Our Lady of the Lakes Hospital to the Dubius Center in Lake Charles, LA.  The Dubius Center is an extended nursing care floor at the St. Patrick's Hospital in Lake Charles.

Since we have been down here, we have been asked by so many residences, "Are you guys from Louisiana"?  We didn't think much about it until Matt found the town of Berwick, Louisiana on the map.  So on our trip back to Camp Colorado from St. Patrick's Hospital, we stopped in at the Town of Berwick, Louisiana.

We stooped at a building which looked like a communication radio tower station.  The guy who works there is also a volunteer firefighter for the fire department and invited us for a tour of the police, fire and EMS station.  When we arrived, we were met by the Mayor of Berwick, the Police Chief and the Fire Chief.

We were given a tour of the departments and received "The Key to the City".

Fred Shotwell's daughter's, Sarah and Emma, and their fellow classmates collected 2 boxes of stuffed teddy bears for us to give out to the children of Louisiana during our time in Louisiana.  So we sent one of the boxes down to the St. Bernard Parish DMAT Center at the Chalmette High School so they can be forwarded to the DRT Center at the old Wal-Mart Center, where we were stationed on Day 10.  The other box was given to Captain Jack Jones from Baton Rouge Fire Dept - Station #61 so they can be given out to the local children in Baton Rouge.

Tomorrow we will beginning the stand down process here at Camp Colorado.  We will be mustering for group photos and existing physicals.  We should be leaving the camp on Saturday around 0700 hours CDT and stopping in Tennessee overnight and be home sometime late on Sunday night.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - DAY 12

Update from Matt Klinetob at 1110 hrs EDT: Today we left Camp Colorado a little after 0800 hrs CDT to transport a ventilator patient from Our Lady of the Lakes Hospital in Baton Rouge Hospital.   We are scheduled to leave around 0930 hrs to transport this ALS patient to St. Charles, LA.

St. Charles is about 130-140 west of Baton Rouge and we should arrive their around 1130 hours.  This will be Mission #4 for us.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - DAY 11

Update from Matt Klinetob at 2124 hrs EDT: Yesterday's mission was at the old Wal-Mart Center in New Orleans.  We assisted with the Disaster Recovery Team (DRT) who provided food, clothing and water to anyone in need.  Also on site were representatives from FEMA and American Red Cross who assisted residence with financial relief paperwork.

At the Disaster Recovery Center with assisted with assessments and the treating of minor wounds, nothing too intensive.  We reported back to the DMAT Center at Chalmette then returned back to Camp Colorado.

Today we spent the day on standby status.  I'm doing my laundry right now... and your looking at rain or snow outside of your window.

Monday, October 24, 2005 - DAY 10

Update from George Herrold at 0924 hrs EDT: We got up around 0400 hrs CDT for a 0500 hrs briefing.  We are headed back down to the DMAT Center in Chalmette H.S. in New Orleans for stand by emergency duty at a disaster refill station at the old Wal-Mart shopping center.

We will be assisting the Red Cross and some church groups with any emergencies they might encounter from residences returning into this area.  We should be arriving at the disaster station around 1030 hrs EDT and be stationed here for a 12 hour tour.

For the most part everyone is doing fine and so is the vehicle.     

Sunday, October 23, 2005 - DAY 9

Update from Fred Shotwell at 1343 hrs EDT: Currently we are 2nd on the list for a mission right behind AMED from Southern Alleghenies EMS council.  Things are starting to slow down which is a good thing.  They have changed the missions around and broke them down into 12 hour missions instead of 24 and 48 hour missions.

The guys from APTS are back down at the Chalmette High School DMAT Center in New Orleans for a 12 hour mission, they should be back sometime tonight.

The hardiest thing right now for us is keeping busy.  We are all use to being busy, however being at the end of the relief effort is slow.  If a task force is slow it only means one thing, the state is returning back to normal and that was the purpose of all of the task forces.  

This was the largest full scale multi state task force effort ever used.  No one know how it was going to work.  In speaking with the different commanders down here (i.e., DMAT, EOC, Colorado EMA) the Pennsylvania EMS Task Force Units were the must organized and professional teams that came down here.  We were all proud to hear that comment.  So I just want to let the members from the other 2 task forces know that in case they didn't hear it from them while they were here or before they left. 

Saturday, October 22, 2005 - DAY 8

Update from George Herrold at 1122 hrs EDT: So I hear it is 50^o and raining, well at 1000 hrs CDT it was 65^o and sunny.  I think I'm getting a little farmer tan, I didn't think I'd be getting a tan in late October, than again I didn't think I'd be in Louisiana either.

Our mission yesterday was to provide support to a special needs center, which was a make shift nursing home for the displaced extended care nursing residents of Louisiana.  We did have one transport from the support center in Alexandria to Hessmer, which was only a 30 mile transport.

We got back to Camp Colorado last night around 1800 hrs CDT and played poker with the guys from APTS and other team members before turning in early.  We didn't make a killing but we didn't go broke either.

Between Nate and Dale from APTS have between 800 to 1,000 pictures.  So we will definitely have a lot of pictures to show everyone when we get back.  The Pa EMS Task Force Command staff  has been putting in a lot of long hours at the Camp Colorado Command Center.  When they are done for the day they come in the tent and crash.  The whole task force is doing a great job and everyone remains in great spirits.  

Friday, October 21, 2005 - DAY 7

Update from George Herrold at 0905 hrs EDT: Today we received our second mission during our tour.   We are heading out to a Special Needs Support Center in Alexandria, LA which is 140 miles northwest of Baton Rouge and it should take us about 2.5 hours to get there.  We are unsure of the duration of the mission, it may be between 12 or 24 hours depending on the assignments.

We headed out around 0630 hrs CDT and we only have about 25 more miles to go... we will let you know more later.

Thursday, October 20, 2005 - DAY 6

Update from Nate Shelhamer at 2102 hrs EDT: Today has been pretty much of a resting day since our first mission at the clinic at the Chalmette High School.  Matt and I got George, Fred, and the other teams up around 0500 hrs CDT so we could be ready for our daily 0600 briefing and assignments.  Currently we are listed 5th on the red list, so we should be receiving a new mission by tomorrow.  So since we had the day off, I worked on organizing my pictures, George and Fred hung out with the other teams, and Lumpy slept all day.

Everyone is doing fine.  This has definitely been a life changing event for me.  The devastation is unbelievable and the words are just indescribable.  Wednesday night when we were at the clinic, Fred and I walked around the downtown area of New Orleans and the damage to the city was just incredible.

We spent a lot of time with the DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) team from South Carolina (SC1 DMAT).  Yesterday was their last day here in New Orleans.  Since the first hurricane, they have been here 4 times.  However on this round, they were short staffed so members from the Illinois and Georgia DMAT teams supplied staff to make a full DMAT complement.

The DMAT Teams are made up of 20 members who are doctors, nurses, PHRNs, paramedics and EMTs.  One of the doctors commented last night that they handled over 3,000 patients in the earlier stages of the relief effort.  The DMAT area is little a field hospital without the surgery suites, so more or less like an ER "under the big tent".

Last night, Fred and I were in the triage tent were we assisted in the triaging of patients and did a lot of vital signs.  I think we did over 374 vital signs... how I long for an automated BP cuff.

The citizens of Louisiana are very appreciative of our help.  We had to stop at Wal-Mart the other day for some small things.  The employees and the shoppers just came up to us and really thanked us for all of our help.  It has been such a changing experience in my career and life.  I am very proud to be representing our EHS council and state, being an asset to our team, and having the opportunity to make a difference.  

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - DAY 5

Update from Matt Klinetob at 2051 hrs EDT: We made it back to Camp Colorado around 1030 hrs CDT.  We had a great breakfast at Tent City in New Orleans before we left.  We were relieved by 5 MICUs from our task force around 0715 hrs CDT.  Three of the trucks will have a 12 hour mission at the Chalmette Clinic, 1 truck will be here for 3 days and the fifth truck may be stationed here for possibility 7 days.

APTS and Crozer Chester ALS units were only scheduled at the clinic for a 12 hour mission.  However 2 units from GoldStar EMS, Texas keep us company.  It was their last night here in Louisiana, so to celebrate we inventoried the clinic.  The night wasn't too bad, it was a little cold and damp but we were able to manage a little shuteye. 

During the day and evening they had the EMTs doing triage and assessments and the paramedics doing immunizations.  Since the state is slowly allowing the residences of New Orleans to return, they are stopping here for immunizations before returning to their homes to hopefully collect their personal belongings they couldn't take with them during the evacuation.

The scheduling of missions back at Camp Colorado is very organized.  All of the units that are ready to be deployed for missions are marked in red and the units returning from missions or that are scheduled for rest are in green.  Right now we are in the green and on the bottom of the list considering we had a 24 hour mission.  Some units had short missions which only lasted 1 to 2 hours, so they were placed right back into the deployable category.

Update from George Herrold at 0839 hrs EDT: Currently we are located at the Chalmette High School football field which is in the borough of St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans.  Since yesterday, we completed over 250 patient assessments and immunized over 300 people for tetanus and Hepatitis A & B.  It's a little chilly right now in the morning and we are getting ready to get breakfast.

As we speak there is a small pickup truck driving around our area spraying for insects.  We are currently waiting for our relief to get here than we are going to head over to "Tent City".  This place is about a mile away from the clinic and is literally a city under a huge tent.  The food is unbelievable.  Yesterday we had pork chops, roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, apple pie, you name it and it was there for free for the rescue workers and subcontractors.  After breakfast we are heading back to Camp Colorado for at least a 12 hour break.

The smell down here is indescribable.   A few miles away from the high school an oil refinery was damaged and 350 million gallons of oil and diesel fuel was released everywhere.  So the air kind of has a fuel smell.  The ground is muddy but dry.  However the first floors on all of the buildings are practically destroyed and the second floors are heavily water damaged.  They will probably have to bulldoze the area in order to rebuild it.

There is a 1800 hrs curfew in effect by the Louisiana National Guard and Sheriff Department.  Around 2300 hrs if anyone is found "out and about" they are taken into custody.     

We are all in good spirits!  The DMAT teams are here with us.  One of the guys got a sore throat which they gave him OTC medicine for, but its nothing bad.  We just have to report everything to COMMAND.   We still don't have internet access, but when we do we will be sending pictures back to everyone.  Everyone is safe, healthy and feeling just fine. 

Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - DAY 4

Update from George Herrold at 0918 hrs EDT: Matt woke our team up around 0545 hrs CDT to get ready for breakfast and this morning's briefing.  All of the Task Force teams received assigns this morning around 0700 hrs CDT.  All of the team members from Berwick, APTS, and Crozer Chester ALS units have been assigned to the New Orleans area for a 24 hour mission to assist the nurses and doctors at a clinic.

We will be assigned to the worst area hit by the hurricanes at one of the temporary clinics about 63 miles from Camp Colorado in New Orleans.  We are expected back to Camp Colorado sometime tomorrow.  All three teams are traveling in a convoy.  All of the other teams, to the best of my knowledge, are running IF missions.

On a good note, all of the Nextels are working and we have communications with all of the Pa EMS Task Force Teams, the Pa EMS Task Force Incident Commander, and Louisiana EOC.  They are providing us with breakfast and lunch, dinner is on our own.

The Pa EMS Task Force Incident Commander, Ralph Halper from Philadelphia Fire, is doing a great job down here!  He is really doing everything possible to make sure we are taken care of and we have everything we need.

Last night Freddy and the guys from APTS got together with the Captain from Baton Rouge Fire Department - Station #61, Jack Jones.  They got a tour of a couple of the fire departments and down town Baton Rouge.

Monday, October 17, 2005 - DAY 3

Update from Matt Klinetob at 1255 hrs EDT: The camp's kitchen facilities have been shut down.  However other arrangements are being made for us.  We have no access to the Wi-Fi internet access, but we do have satellite TV.   Currently we have been watching the future weather forecast of Tropical Storm Wilma coming up from Jamaica.

We did receive the Nextel phones as promised, however only half are up and running.  We are allowed off of the camp, but only in groups and during the day.  It's a lot of hurry up and wait, but the whole task force is hanging out together and getting to know each other. We are the only out of state task force left.

Update from George Herrold at 1030 hrs EDT: All the teams awoke around 0630, even though we were able to sleep in.  The teams are all excited about receiving assignments, however a lot of paperwork needs to be completed.  Louisiana EOC had all the teams complete certification paperwork with the La. state office so everyone would be able to practice in Louisiana.  Also they are making plans for issuing everyone ID tags.

Most of Camp Colorado has been already been broken down.  The camp is now a 200 bed facility on the State Police Academy grounds.  We are currently staying at Tent Steamboat.  Breakfast was good, however lunch is still up in the air.

Sunday, October 16, 2005 - DAY 2

Update from George Herrold at 1457 hrs EDT: Were in Alabama right now, nothing exciting just a lot of road and ambulances.  We should make it to Camp Colorado around 2130 hrs.

Saturday, October 15, 2005 - DAY 1

Update from Matt Klinetob at 2244 hrs EDT: We made it to the Hampton Inn in Kingsport.  We are all hungry so we are going to hook-up with the guys from APTS and head out to Applebee's and get our last good meal in before we come home.

Update from Matt Klinetob at 1357 hrs EDT: The convoy is around Gettysburg and the convoy had two mechanical problems.  We are doing fine, Freddy is still driving and we aren't lost yet.  We are planning on stopping in Kingsport , TN around 2100 hrs.

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