Posted on 09/27/2005 4:46:58 PM PDT by SandRat
CAMP MABRY, Texas (Army News Service, Sept. 27, 2005) – Task Force Search and Rescue of the Texas National Guard helped move 87 residents of an assisted-living facility to safety Sept. 24 after Hurricane Rita passed through the area.
Task Force Bowie in Beaumont had received word earlier that day that the residents of Pine Forest Senior Center were in a school in Fred, Texas, without electricity or running water.
A four-Soldier Humvee reconnaissance team was dispatched to check out the story.
“We were en-route to Beaumont when we received the word,” said Sgt. Maj. Robert Strzelczek, who was part of the team.
He continued: “All we knew on how to find them, was to look for a school in Fred, from the information that 12 senior center employees had moved residents to Fred two days earlier, in an attempt to take them farther from the hurricane.”
The he said that apparently the less-intense storm had eventually caught up with them.
“When we found them, four of the residents needed medical assistance, and two were supposed to be on oxygen,” said Sgt. Brian Colt, another team member, and he added: “They were glad to see us.”
With the report of the situation and the location confirmed, FEMA organized a combined Guard/civilian team.
The convoy consisted of 13 vehicles with Texas Guardsmen and a long line of ambulances manned by civilian emergency service technicians from throughout the United States.
Capt. Anthony Bryant led the Guard element.
Travel was hazardous, because the men could only rely on their own headlights, the usual streetlights or glow from windows not available.
By the time the convoy reached Fred Elementary School, members of the original reconnaissance team had already begun loading residents needing the most urgent attention aboard three helicopters from the 3rd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment.
After the ambulances arrived, EMTs began triaging the residents and determined that they had to be moved. The patients were placed on stretchers and moved into the ambulances with the assistance of the Guardsmen.
“One EMT member had to stay with each patient,” explained Capt. Bryant, and he said: “As more ambulances filled, fewer EMT personnel were available to bring out patients. If we had not been there, the evacuation would have taken much longer.”
“Just in case,” the Guardsmen loaded water, juice and food on the ambulances as well.
With the residents, ranging in age from 58 to 85 safely on their way to Wharton, Texas, the Guardsmen on the ground began the arduous track back to Beaumont.
However, the feeling of having successfully completed their mission made the trip easier and in the abnormal darkness, they could see above them a clear sky with an opulence of stars, which seemed to be shining brighter just for them.
“We played a major role in this evacuation,” Capt. Bryant said. “The mission was a success.”
Freeze senior! Move that walker one centimeter and I'll gun you down!
On a more serious note....
windows not available.
Darn BSOD's are a killer. I hope FEMA gets that fixed.
LVM
Wow, 58 seems so young to be in an assisted living home.
Quick call Bill Gates.
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