Surge

September 05, 2005 SURGE Deployment

Friday, September 09, 2005

• This will be the last update from the PA DOH, EMS Office.
• As of last night, the group completed 248 missions.
• They are staged at the airport, handling 911 calls and transports.
• They are also assisting the Marshalls and the US Parks Service and Forest Service.
• They are preparing for Stand Down and the convoy home. They will be leaving at 0600 hours tomorrow. They will be staying overnight in Knoxville, Tenn. Arrival is scheduled for 1800 hours at the Federation Region and 1900 hours at the Eastern Region and Seven Mountains Region. There will a rep from the State office at each location.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

• As of 0900 September 8, 2004 PA EMS Task Force 1 has completed 209 missions
• Morale remains good although crews are tiring out secondary to the demands of the on going assignment
• Missions continue to vary from assisting with triage and treatment at the airport to support missions with the military units into the city of New Orleans
• PA EMS Task Force 1 will stand down from operations Friday September 9 and depart the area of operation at 0600 Saturday September 10, 2005. The will convoy back as one unit, stopping for an overnight stay Saturday night . ETA into the Commonwealth is between 1700 and 2000 hours Sunday September 11, 2005.
• Regional Councils ( Eastern, EHSF and Seven Mountains) will be welcoming back their respective units at Council offices. More specific arrival times and regional plans will be made available as they are known.
• Eastern, EHSF and Seven Mountains have planned for CISM group debriefing FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS during the course of next week. More specific information will be made available as known

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 11:00

• To date 138 Missions have been completed by the crews that have been deployed they are stationed at Louie Armstrong Airport. The missions range from transportation from the triage area at the airport to appropriate facilities/shelters, incidents that occur at the airport and some scene responses.
• Nine (9) units have completed some scene responses in New Orleans. Scene responses are accompanied by a police escort. All units are pulled out of New Orleans at night due to safety concerns.
• Two of the crew members that were deployed from PA have been treated and released for gastrointestinal complaints.
• Crews are working 12 to 18 hour shifts, limiting shifts to 12 hrs was not logistically possible all of the time.
• All vehicles are running well. Acadian Ambulance has been assisting with any mechanical needs.
• Cell phones are useless at the Airport. The 800 MHz radio system is working well for communications.
• Medical command is being controlled through Dr. Stein. The online medical command process that was established is not able to be utilized due to the poor cell phone coverage.
• The SURGE units are scheduled to return on Sunday. At the current time no other units from PA are expected to be deployed
• There is no word on when federal money will be released or how much to PA organizations.
• The DOH emphasized this incident will be ongoing for months and future assistance is likely.
• The PA DOH emphasized not to freelance. The DOH is taking all requests through EMAC. Following this process is the only way (currently) that providers are covered under insurance and granted certification reciprocity signed by both states.
• Philadelphia will be receiving 160-183 persons from a Houston shelter today for temporary residence

Tuesday, September 6, 2005 15:15

• 19 ambulances and 3 support vehicles staffed with 86 personnel departed from the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg at approximately 1700 hours on September 6 arriving in Lafayette LA. at approximately 2100 hours on September 7, 2005.
• Mission assignment very fluid. At present PA EMS Strike Team 1 is to provide land transportation from Louis Armstrong International Airport to outlying hospitals and to assist Acadia Ambulance with staffing. (Approx 41 EMS providers assigned to Acadia on 12 hr. shifts) The airport is a central collection and triage point for individuals evacuated from New Orleans.
• Moral remains very high.
• As of 0900 EST September 6, PA EMS Strike Team 1 has completed approximately 40 individual missions ranging from routine transport to full cardiac arrest. Crews have had interaction with many patients who have been completely devastated by Katrina and her aftermath. All have been appreciative of efforts. Information has also been received on the plight of a new litter of puppies and their mother. It appears as though there maybe some four legged passengers returning with the Strike Team)
• Everitt Binns, Regional Director of the Eastern PA EMS Council has been tasked with command of PA EMS Strike Team. Staff from the EMS Office and regional EMS councils are comprising the remainder of the leadership team. Dr Tom Stein of Allegheny General Hospital Pittsburgh accompanied the strike team to provide on scene medical oversight as needed. Medical Command contingencies within Pennsylvania have not been needed to this point. On Friday, September 2, 2005, the Governor of Louisiana proclaimed all providers from other states have authorization to practice in Louisiana through Sept. 25, 2005
• Briefings to the Regional EMS Directors will continue through the week beginning at 1000 hours daily.
• Director Schmider has been in touch with Ambulance Association of America in order to minimize confusion they have agreed to discontinue the tasking of PA services to the Katrina recovery efforts at this time.
• All tasking of PA assists will continue to follow established procedures and chain of command (FEMA - PEMA - EMS Office - Regional Councils - EMS Agencies). Inquiries received from practitioners regarding volunteering for disaster relief should be directed to local surge services.
• DO NOT SELF DISPATCH
• This is an ongoing mission, at this time additional assists or relief needs have not been requested. The EMS Office realizes the frustration felt by the surge services that were prepared to deploy Saturday and were stood down. The tasking requirements as of 1200 hrs Saturday still called for 80 ambulances. This was amended at 1500 hours on Saturday to 20 ambulances secondary to military air assets made available at the airport. This reduced the need for ground transports. All partners involved in the mission to date should be commended for their efforts. Pennsylvania is the only state that has followed the established procedures and were able to mobilize the assets and resources in such a short time frame. (80 ambulances, support vehicle, Medical Direction, mechanic support, personnel in less than 24 hours). This is a massive under taking that was accomplished through the team work and cooperation of all involved.
• The EMS Office asks that the surge services maintain a state of readiness should additional deployments be required. As continued mission requirements are know the appropriate resources will be assigned in order to full fill that mission.
• Thank you again for the incredible work you all have done over the past few days.

Tuesday, September 6, 2005, 11:00

• 18 teams were sent from 3 other regions, leaving Saturday evening between 1600 & 1700 hours. One of the regions sent a mechanic along and we understand he was needed for the ride down. They drove down in 2 separate groups arriving in la approx 2100 Sunday night. They were told they would be house in LSU dorms, but that changed and they are being housed in local fire depts.
• Fuel was a small problem, however, the trucks and CB Radios's helped them out tremendously all the way down. Eastern Region, DR. EV Bins, is the PA Incident Commander. The mission they are doing is taking patients from Armstrong airport and area hospital to outlying hospitals. They are also supplementing arcadia EMS staff so they can finally have some down time. The crews are saying they are still in hurry up and wait mode.
• They report the entire area smells, working 12 hour shifts. They have completed approx 30-40 missions, and the mission continuously changes. One crew assisted in the delivery of 9 puppies and also attended to mom who had been struck by a car. Mom and puppies are doing better, and the pa providers will probably be bringing the family home for adoption.
• They are having cell phone issues, however, eastern region took a radio communication vehicle down with the pa teams and that has been working well. The crews are essentially in high spirits.
• As of now, they are not requesting any further help. We ask that our surge teams stay prepared; you never know when the request might come. We will still be participating in the daily conference calls, scheduled for 10am thru next week, we will try to keep you informed as best as possible. Stay tuned for daily updates.
• I thank everyone for their professionalism and dedication this past weekend. Every team came staffed correctly, arrived on time, and did not complain about the waiting game. I saw an EMS system of bucks county that we should all be proud to say we are a part. Again, i thank the surge teams, the chiefs, and the providers who came together and starting making sure that our own county system was not taxed. Providers and organizations working together to be sure that every resident in Bucks County was provided with their normal response and care. What a team, what a network and most of all ---- what a system.

Thanks
Jeryl DeGideo
Director of emergency health services

Sent: September 05, 2005 10:06

Subject: Surge Deployment update

• As promised, we are attempting to keep you informed of Pennsylvania’s EMS response to the Gulf Region. Here is a quick briefing of the response which is underway. Yesterday, around 1700 hours (Saturday, September 3, 2005), 20 EMS units from Pennsylvania were sent to Louisiana to assist with the treatment and transport of hurricane victims. They will be operating around the New Orleans area.
• These ambulances were selected based on their prior designation by the PA Department of Health as “SURGE” response teams. The mission was approved by FEMA.
• They are staffed with 4 providers each and they will work 12 hour shifts in 2-man crews. The mission is planned for 7 days.
• The staff at the EMS Office, PA Department of Health, the 16 regional EMS Councils, the Ambulance Association of PA and PEHSC has been involved in the preparation and coordination of this mission.
• Daily communication with the crews will be coordinated through the PA Department of Health. PEHSC will provide updates as to the progress of the teams via our email system.
• Please keep the safety and well-being of our fellow EMT’s, Paramedics, PHRN’s and Physicians in your thoughts and prayers.
• - Janette Kearney, Acting Director