Helping hands

1st Lt. Valerie Gauthier, 72nd Medical Operations Squadron nurse, looks after a patient evacuated ahead of Hurricane Gustav Sunday. Fears of a Katrina repeat had officials out in front of Gustav. Critically ill patients were evacuated from the affected region as part of the National Disaster Medical System. Airmen from Tinker and the Air National Guard at Will Rogers World Airport were there to help process the patients and get them to waiting.(Air Force photo/Ralph Monson)

Helping hands

Staff Sgt. Kimberly M. Lingle, 137th Maintenance Operations Flight and Capt. Robert Griffin, Public Health Officer, 137th Medical Group, both from Will Rogers Air National Guard Base track and input information with the arrival of critically ill evacuees from Louisiana due to the arrival of hurricane Gustav.(Air Force photo/Ralph Monson)

Ready to assist

Col. Craig Packard, 72nd Aerospace Med Squadron commander, addresses members of the 72nd Medical Group as they prepare for an influx of critically ill patients at Will Rogers World Airport. The medical group, along with the Guard members and other federal agencies were on hand Sunday to assist in the transition of patients as part of the National Disaster Medical System, federal program that aids regional medical staff in peacetime disasters. (Air Force photo/Ralph Monson)

Tinker, Guard members assist evacuees from Gustav

Published Sept. 3, 2008
By Micah Garbarino
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Air Force members from Tinker and the Air National Guard at Will Rogers World Airport had an eventful holiday weekend thanks to fears of devastation caused by Hurricane Gustav in the Gulf region.

Members of the 72nd Medical Group teamed up with their Guard counterparts to assist in the evacuation of critically ill patients to the Oklahoma City Area.

"I can't describe how proud I am that more than 30 people from the 72nd Medical Group who would volunteer their long weekend to help with the medical refugees from Hurricane Gustav. It's a perfect illustration of the Air Force's core value of 'service before self,'" said Col. Craig Packard, 72nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander.

The effort was part of the coordinated National Disaster Medical System, which is a federal program designed to augment a region's medical response during peacetime disasters.

"I work in vehicle maintenance, but when the call came for volunteers to help evacuate patients from Louisiana, I raised my hand. My heart goes out to the folks that have been displaced. I am ready to do whatever it takes to make that transition easier," said. Tech. Sgt. James Peters.

"Not only does it give our individuals a chance to help these Louisiana evacuees but we were able to accomplish many training requirements. Our airmen were given the opportunity to get experience unloading (from aircraft) and assessing patients other than in a training scenario," said Capt. Robert Anderson, deputy commander, 137th Medical Group said.

Transporting medical patients by air is an Air Force Medical Service core competency, The Air Force has special capabilities, and it's understandable that FEMA would look to the Air Force to accomplish this critical mission, Colonel Packard said.

The team at the airport processed 30 critically ill patients, 27 of whom were non-ambulatory.

"This was a great experience exercising our partnerships with our ANG brethren, the Veterans Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and our local EMS providers. I think every participant took away some valuable lessons, in addition to the satisfaction of helping our fellow Americans," said Col. Packard.