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Posted on 09/02/2005 3:03:06 PM PDT by NautiNurse
Katrina's Wounded Airlifted To Jacksonville
By Kyle Meenan
First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The military gray C-130 arrived at NAS Jax Sunday morning from Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio. On board, dozens of Katrina's wounded, and their family members who will be cared for at First Coast hospitals and shelters.
"I'm seeing both smiling faces and tears of happiness," said Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department Chief Rick Barrett as he described those getting off the plane.
"Just to be someplace where they know they will be taken care of or looked out for. They have gone through an unbelievable event over there in the Gulf Coast and I'm proud of the City of Jacksonville and the local area that's stepped up to help these people."
A massive coordination of Local, State, Federal and Military teams made the arrival possible, with funding to come from FEMA.
On hand there were teams of doctors and nurses from NAS Jacksonville, as well as Shands, Orange Park Medical Center and the Baptist Hospitals from downtown Jacksonville and the new Baptist facility south of I-295.
Our First Coast News crew passed a line of more than a dozen JTA buses as we entered the secure runway area at NAS Jax. The buses will be used to shuttle family members between the Red Cross Shelter at the Evangel Temple on Ramona Boulevard, and the designated hospitals where the injured will be treated.
To our left, a giant hangar converted to a triage center, staffed by medical personnel, as well as teams from JFRD, NAS Jax and the Duval County Emergency Operations Center. The Red Cross personnel were providing meals.
Between the hangar and the plane were more than two dozen waiting ambulances from private carriers. But while it appeared the ambulances were just staging on the runway, officials told First Coast News that the most severely injured were already inside these 'mobile triage units.'
They were transported directly from the plane to the care of doctors and nurses in each ambulance before they rolled to their respective hospitals.
"We transported 43 people to the hospitals. Triaged them. Had them out in less than an hour of time. A great effort between all the different agencies," beamed JFRD Chief Barrett.
Despite blazing humidity on the tarmac, inside the hangar, portable air-conditioners kept things to a cool 75 degrees.
Several dozen less-seriously injured were registered before being carried to other ambulances. Family members as well were greeted by warm, smiling faces before departing for the Red Cross shelter.
NAS Commanding Officer Captain Chip Dobson told First Coast News the team effort was to create the most efficient handling of the injured and their families.
"Making sure they understand where they are and where the family members are going to go," said Captain Dobson.
"But also providing a feeling of reassurance that things are going to get better for you here and we're going to take care of you."
With military precision, the injured and their families were checked in, checked over, and checked out to waiting ambulances or buses.
But there was also pride in the faces and hearts of all who were working together.
"A feeling among many people that, 'Okay I want to get in there and I want to contribute,' and here this morning you have people that locally are able to do that," said Captain Dobson.
Barret praised the cooperation between the agencies involved, including the JTA for "stepping up to the plate," with their shuttles.
"Transporting the family members back and forth from the shelter to the hospital back and forth so they can visit with their family members that are being hospitalized," said Barrett.
Better yet, was Jesse in NO last Friday, telling people to get out?
I mean, HE had to know, right?
sw
Caller (WWL 870) says 2 cops are trying to leave and are being held in St. Louis Cathedral by gunmen.
Thanks SamAdams76, I heard that, sad, sad situation.
Another report of shootings near St Louis Cathedral
Well, it's official; New Orleans is now a certified third world country in the midst of a disaster.
Christine Amanpour is there.
And Sissy Boy Anderson Cooper is there, wetting his pants again.
According to AP, Army Corps contractors were killed by New Orleans police as they were crossing a bridge. At this time, facts are very sketchy.
Great! I hope this works out.
One good thing I think about this is the exposure our corrupt dumb officials are getting. For that I am thankful. Also hopeful they all end up in jail.
Oh my god the war slut is now in NO.
She and Gloria's son can have a collective hissy fit together.
This is exactly what happens when there is no central command. Tragic, but very predictable. NOPD is not known for astute decision making to start with. Words fail me.
And still the governor won't turn over control to the feds.
Kat, we should have known something wasn't right, because they all but quit reporting the original story. Too quiet for comfort.
sw
By BREAKING NEWS
Updated: 6:14 p.m. ET Sept. 4, 2005
NEW ORLEANS - Police shot eight people carrying guns on a New Orleans bridge Sunday, killing five or six, a deputy chief said. A spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers said the victims were contractors on their way to repair a canal.
The contractors were walking across a bridge on their way to launch barges into Lake Pontchartrain to fix the 17th Street Canal, said John Hall, a spokesman for the Corps.
Earlier Sunday, New Orleans Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said police shot at eight people, killing five or six.
Is there a link? I need to enlighten a few on the corrupt political machine here.
Yes <blush/
Only when they can insure that the whole AO has gone to hell.......
"(You may need to install Winamp to listen to these scanner broadcasts. Visit http://www.winamp.com to download the free player.)"
If anyone has ITunes, that works well too.
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