| Updated: 8/29/2012 9:19 am |
Published: 8/28/2012 8:42 pm
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Depending on the severity of Hurrican Isaac, EMSA could send a team of medics into the path of destruction.
As Isaac’s eye bears down on the Gulf Coast medics are standing by, ready to grab every stretcher, syringe and case of bottled water they can.
In addition to answering calls across Green Country, about 20 medics and EMTs, all of them part of EMSA's Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Division, are waiting on a call from FEMA.
"From the moment we get the call from FEMA, we're expected to launch in about 90 minutes," said Kelli Bruer, EMSA's Director of Public Relations.
"There were some tryouts that everyone signed up for,” said paramedic Cody Cluck.
"These are additional assets we have thanks to some grant funding," said Bruer.
Bruer said crews were also dispatched during Hurricane Gustav and the Joplin tornado.
Cluck said this is no different than anything he'd handle locally. If people are in danger, he responds; it's what he does.
"It’s just the greatest job in the world to me,” said Cluck.
He’s been a paramedic for about four years. In that short time, he's learned every day is busy.
It's the same routine, but possibly a different place and possibly the same job, depending on who calls.
If EMSA gets the call, it will also send four ambulances, and a separate truck filled with a maintenance crew.
