For the past two weeks, since Katrina hit, I have been volunteering
my time at the phone bank for the OKC Medical Reserve Corps. Its a
group of volunteers who during disasters helps the community. They
can be called my FEMA and local and state gov't to help out in
national emergencies. For the first time, FEMA requested a team 8
days ago be mobilized to care for Pt's in LA. We sent 3 teams.

Yesterday, we were notified that 3 flights with patienst from TX
were being sent to OK and we had to scramble on short notice to get
a team to meet the patients being removed from the aircraft and
transport them across the tarmac to the triage hanger so they could
be assessed and sent to medical facilities.

Of course being the trauma junkie I am and since they were short of
staff for the first flight, I got to go. We removed, triaged and
placed on ambulance for transport 45 patients in 30 mins.

There were surgeons, nurses, medics, firefighters, Medical Reserve
and national guardsmen who worked this detail in a way that was
totally amazing.

Of course it triggered stuff but not in a scary way. It was
organized, quiet, calm and very rapid.

When we did the lessons learned, the National Guardsmen Surgeon told
us we did great but in combat a sniper would have loved us!

Today we returnd for another flight but it was diverted to Kelly
AirForce Base, TX.

The sadest part was when the C130 opened the bay and the wheel
chairs, walkers, few family members (all elderly) came off with the
little personal belongings in a bag they were able to bring.

I still dont know if i am able to work soon. This made me think,
and of course because of the delay in processing things, I wont know
for maybe 1-2 weeks about how this affected me if any.