KBEMS Katrina response update: Sept. 5

By KYLE THOMPSON
General Counsel, Kentucky Board of EMS

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services activated volunteered response agencies and personnel for deployment to Louisiana on Friday, September 2, 2005 at 8:00 P.M. EDT to assist in the relief efforts associated with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

This group was activated and sent through a request of the state of Louisiana via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. EMAC is a congressionally ratified organization of state emergency agencies that provides form and structure to interstate emergency mutual aid.

The amassed resources of this coalition came from nearly every corner of the Commonwealth.  All totaled, over 80 personnel including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, nurses, physicians’ assistants, pilots, and mechanics, as well as a cadre of response vehicles including 20 ambulances, an air ambulance, a mobile command post, a mobile mortuary, 4 All-Terrain Vehicles, and 2 boats were deployed.

This contingent of emergency medical professionals were organized and staged in Paducah, Kentucky at 6:00 A.M. EDT on Saturday, September 3, 2005 and left for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After receiving certification and briefing the group was deployed Sunday, September 4, 2005 to the exchange of Interstate 10 and Interstate 610 in downtown New Orleans where they have become involved in a major rescue operation with the United States Marines and Louisiana State National Guard.

The thoughts and prayers of a proud Commonwealth are with these brave men and women as they sacrifice so much to aid our fellow Americans.

The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services will continue to compile additional resources and volunteer personnel to assist in these relief efforts.

If these operations continue for greater than seven days it will be imperative to send additional volunteers to relieve the emergency medical personnel on the ground in Louisiana. Anyone wishing to assist in this operation should contact their local EMS Directors and ask that they contact either Brian Bishop or Kyle Thompson at the Frankfort offices of KBEMS.

If information or questions arise concerning these endeavors please contact Kyle Thompson at (502) 330-9000.

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