Dr. Mona's disaster relief work: Advance notice helped Isaac preps
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CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
Hundreds of people on the Gulf Coast are in shelters, waiting out the ongoing effects of Hurricane Isaac.
As we wait and worry, I can't help but think back to almost exactly 7 years ago when my federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team was "boots to the ground" after Hurricane Katrina.
From a group of new mothers clutching their newborns to wheelchair-bound nursing home residents, I helped in urgently offloading Hurricane Katrina evacuees from military choppers and then provided medical care for them at New Orleans International Airport.
Devoid of food, water, working toilets and other facilities, the airport was not an appropriate shelter to protect any evacuee, much less our most vulnerable people with health conditions that required medication, IVs, wound care, and catheter changes among other needs.
When it comes to weather disasters, the one thing we have on our side is advanced notice so that we can prepare for the worst – at the levels of local, state and national government as well as on an individual basis, since we best know our own specific needs.
There are important precautions we should all take to mitigate the effects of any disaster, no matter where we live.
For Hurricane Isaac, federal assistance has been in place for a week, so hopefully we won't see the same scenario repeated.
Monday, June 10 2013 10:46 AM EDT2013-06-10 14:46:54 GMT
Twenty-three years ago, almost to the day, I met one of the most formidable characters I would ever encounter and one that has had a powerful influence in my life. His name was Dr. Charles Everett Koop.
Twenty-three years ago, almost to the day, I met one of the most formidable characters I would ever encounter and one that has had a powerful influence in my life. His name was Dr. Charles Everett Koop.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:18:01 GMT
What a thrill to be invited as one of only two American journalists and nine other international journalists on a medical journalism study tour of some of Poland's finest international medical tourism destinations.
What a thrill to be invited as one of only two American journalists and nine other international journalists on a medical journalism study tour of some of Poland's finest international medical tourism destinations.
Wednesday, November 21 2012 11:11 AM EST2012-11-21 16:11:29 GMT
Our team was sent to hard-hit Long Beach, on Long Island, NY. Similar to the Jersey Shore and Rockaways, residents on Long Beach were suffering from a lack of electricity, water, sewer, gas and phone service.
Our team was sent to hard-hit Long Beach, on Long Island, NY. Similar to the Jersey Shore and Rockaways, residents on Long Beach were suffering from a lack of electricity, water, sewer, gas and phone service.
Wednesday, November 7 2012 8:44 PM EST2012-11-08 01:44:12 GMT
12 members of our team were deployed to Brookdale University Medical Center to assist with an influx of patients from a nursing home that was devastated by the Superstorm Sandy.
12 members of our team were deployed to Brookdale University Medical Center to assist with an influx of patients from a nursing home that was devastated by the Superstorm Sandy.
Wednesday, November 7 2012 7:31 PM EST2012-11-08 00:31:57 GMT
My official Deployment Activation orders came down from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response, Dept of Health and Human Services.
My official Deployment Activation orders came down from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response, Dept of Health and Human Services.
