Home At Last!

After 22 long days of boredom, fatigue, and many other emotions, I am finally back from my first, and probably last, FEMA deployment. I arrived back in Oakland around 12.30 this afternoon, and I was happily greeted by two screaming children and an exhausted wife. I stopped by the deployment center, picked up my car that was covered with three weeks of dust, and drove home. After a family lunch at The Hopyard Alehouse, I am slowly trying to catch up with all that I missed while I was gone. I am too tired to really post a final comment on how I felt during the trip, so I will post later after I have about three days sleep. I will be posting a photo album of pictures I took on the trip as well...watch for those.

c-ya...

-Mike

So Close Yet So Far...

Some new folks arrived today from the Bay Area, and at first we were told they were our replacements. We were to pack our stuff, clean the ambulances because they would be taking over in them, and to report to the IC to start the demobilization process. We would be flying out today. YES!! Finally! But no sooner do we get to the IC...you guessed it...CHANGE OF PLANS!! We are still sitting in this damn warehouse twiddling our thumbs. What a screwed up system. We have done a total of FIVE transports in the three weeks we have been here. We have driven almost 5000 miles around this God forsaken countryside, wasted untold gallons of fuel idling to keep cool in the heat and for what? To keep getting smacked down over and over. What a messed up system. Never again. Ever.

Houston, You Are Cleared For Takeoff!!

It finally happened. Six of us have been demobilized and are in the airport heading home. We have an eight o'clock flight outta here in the morning. The remaining four have new partners, and will stay a while longer. I should be home in about 12 hours. Hallelujah!

c-ya

Mike

Here Gator, Gator, Gator...

We are now in Port Arthur TX after doing missions here that amounted to nothing. When we arrived the locals didn't need our help. We did rescue an American flag from a flooded bayou. It looked like it came from the place where we were waiting, so I dried it a bit, folded it properly, and left it with a note on their doorstep. Even a hurricane cant diss our flag. We had some good bbq and gumbo for dinner, listened to some live music, and now its bedtime. We are sleeping on a stage because apparently a gator wandered into the hall last night. They keep the back door open since theres no AC. Lovely...

Nothing Funny About Being Here...

We got the call around dinner time that we would be deployed to a high school in Galveston where a DMAT was set up. Search and rescue teams were going door to door looking for victims. People needing medical help are brought to the DMAT, treated, and if need be, transported off the island. The amount of sheer destruction is humbling. Dozens of boats that were blown onto I-45 were just bulldozed to the side of the road with all the debris. Homes were destroyed by water, wind or fire. Of course there is no power or water. Things wont be normal here for years. Sad.

I'm Running Out Of Witty Subject Titles...

Ever drive an hour to do laundry? We did. Many areas around Houston are still without power, and we ended up in Katy, TX at a beat-up old "washateria" nestled right in the middle of an obviously Hispanic neighborhood. We must have scared the locals because they all cleared out when we walked in. We did our laundry while making minimal contact with anything in the filthy building, then headed to Denny's for dinner. Apparently all Denny's are alike because a few in our group got sick. "I'll have the Super Slam with a side of salmonella please!" I got a shower this morning before breakfast, so I feel somewhat human now. And so we wait. At least we have power in this area now.

A Day Late And A Dollar Short...

The EMS Gods that be left us alone last night after we got back to Houston. Food was finally brought in and there was enough water pressure to actually flush the toilets. We ate, then collapsed into bed...well...OK...gurneys and cots. We got to sleep all night, thankfully. Today we are in Conroe, TX taking patients out of the hospital. Then back to Houston. Joy.

Change of plans...our patient adamantly refused to go to SAT, and left the hospital to go home. We are going to go do laundry. Lets see...dirty patients...dirty laundry...great choices.

Ever Hear Of Kerrville? Me Neither...

Guess what time we bagged our first mission? Yup..1am. We were sent to evacuate a con home in Texas City...not too far from Galveston. It was running on a failing generator, and 39 patients needed moving. We took 2 and started our 300 mile drive. We were followed most of the way by this awesome thunderstorm, brilliant flashes of lightning backlighting the clouds in an eerie glow. It rained a ton too...of course. We almost hit this dumbass who fell asleep in the fast lane while waiting in stopped traffic at a bus fire. Some lady trooper ran across the freeway and screamed at him in a not so ladylike manner. Its now 7.45am and I need food and sleep. Desperately. I still hate Texas.

Ike Does Not Like Islands

We started the day off at 6am in San Antonio. We were told to be up and ready to run at 6. In reality we finally left SA at noon. We have been sent to Houston to stage to support the rescue effort here. Some areas of downtown are flooded, trees and power lines are down and power is out, and there is a lot of damage. Pretty sobering to see firsthand. At least its not raining now. Galveston is basically under at least 3 feet of water. Completely. Beaumont got hit hard too...we left there just in time. I dont know how long I will be here in Houston. We will see....

Here We Go...

We arrived back in San Antonio last night around 10pm. We were told we would be sent out starting @ 6am today. The hurricane has been pounding the Galveston area all night. Officials expect 6 million people to be without power, and say about 40,000 people did not evacuate. Those folks were told to write their social security numbers on their arms so their bodies could be identified. We are waiting to find out where we are going. It is going to be a long week.

The Calm Before The Storm

We spent the night at an old hospital in Kountze, Texas. Our plans changed yet again and we got sent back to Beaumont. We snagged a mission to transport a couple of patients to Livingston, TX. After we finished, we came back to sleep since more patients need to be moved. We will finish those and clear to San Antonio to wait out the storm. One of our guys got to leave for home yesterday...the lucky bastard. I am being eaten alive by mosquitos. They must love the taste of dirty California paramedic. Tastes like chicken...

On The Road Again...

We were demobilized last night, well, early this morning, from Alexandria. We were told yesterday we would be staying here for two more days. There was a *change of plans* yet again, and we were woken up at 1am to go through the demobilization process. After being released from Louisiana we are headed for San Antonio again...a nine hour drive. We will be doing evacuations along the coast, I guess. Then we wait out the storm. It might be a while before I update again...I'll let you know...

Peace.

It's 4am...Where The Hell Am I?

I am sitting in the parking lot of this small hospital in Sunset, LA. Earlier I was awakened from a very nice sleep and told we were packing up and moving out. Apparently our team leader got into it with another non-AMR guy who thought he was the grand poohbah. This yahoo was withholding info and dumping calls on everyone else but his crews. He was quickly set straight. We started for Alexandria, but one of our crews on a call couldnt drop their patient because he had no power and the house had flooded. He complained of shortness of breath, so he was taken to the ED. So now we are back in Alexandria. Why? Who knows. I am going back to bed.

Louisiana Food Is Pretty Good...

Nothing much happened today. We went to the Olde Tyme Grocery and had the world famous poor boy sandwich. A simple sandwich...meat, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo, but it just tasted different for some reason. The sandwich was huge! The store is right in the middle of Ragin' Cajun college country, and here I was wearing my LSU shorts. Oh well...
After lunch we went to get the flat tire fixed. Such fun. For dinner we ate at The Blue Dog restaurant. Wonderful food! Now that we are sufficiently stuffed, it is time for bed. Still no ETA for coming home...rumor had it we might be sent to Texas again, or demobilized and sent home. All depends on Ike. We'll see...
A couple of our units ran missions tonight...they sat and did nothing while we worked last night.

cya...

Killing Time In Louisiana

Yesterday was quite an active day, the first day in a while we weren't bored out of our skulls. We started off the day by showering, doing some laundry, and then we headed across the street to a diner straight out of the 50's. I felt like I was in an episode of Happy Days, and half expected Potsie to come walking in. They have a large statue of a pelican by the door dressed as Elvis, and they call him Pelvis.

Cute.

After we ate, our strike team leader let us go out for a couple hours on our own to get stuff. We went to a huge sporting goods store to get some more shorts and other stuff. After we got back, we learned we were going on a field trip to catch a movie. We went to see 'Traitor' and when the manager learned we were from California on a FEMA trip, she treated us to the movie. We almost finished the movie, but we got called back because we had some missions.
We reported to the headquarters of Acadian Ambulance in Lafayette for our assignments. We were to take a couple of patients from a facility in Baton Rouge to their home facility in Kenner, Louisiana, about a 140 mile trip total. On the way to Baton Rouge, we got caught in a hell of a thunderstorm. Oh, and about that time we got a flat tire. Someone must have spilled crap on the causeway, because dozens of cars also got flats. Changing a tire in the middle of bayou country, with thousands of mosquitos trying to help certainly sucked. We got the tire changed, and were on our way. The transport was uneventful, and we cleared Kenner at about 10:30. There was another crew close by, so we drove about 12 miles into New Orleans and had dinner. We ate at this killer burger place called Yo Mama's Grill. Best burger I've had in a long time. We walked around Bourbon Street, bought some goodies to bring home, then headed over to the Cafe DuMonde for some beignets and coffee. My partner bought some to bring back for the crews that didn't get to enjoy 'Nawlins' with us. We got back to Lafayette at around 3:30am. Best day of the trip so far. I slept pretty well until these two backwoods country redneck yahoos started making noise again at 7am. Argh...

Lafayette ain’t much better than Alexandria...

We were relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana tonight, around 60 miles south of Alexandria. Our accomodations are a performing arts center that has been turned into a medical clinic for special needs patients. They have long since been evacuated, so the remaining staff is sitting around doing nothing. Like we did. But we do have cots, showers and laundry facilities, and televisions so we can see what is going on in the world. Now we sit and wait to see what Hurricane Ike will do. Please head to Mexico so we can all go home. I am exhausted, so I am going to bed.

Into Double Digits...

Well, I made it to double digits on this magical mystery tour of the South. As usual there is nothing going on today. I am waiting for my laundry to be done, and just finished a yummy wrap for lunch. At the briefing meeting today, we learned we might be here until September 26th at the latest. They are waiting to see what path Ike takes. Until the direction is clearer, plans can't really be made. We also were told no more sleeping in the rigs. Apparently in San Antonio a female EMS worker was sexually assaulted while she slept in her rig. A member of her team was arrested. Nice. Once the hurricane's path is clearer, I'll have more to report. I just need to think of all the money I'm making right now, and not the fact I miss my family like crazy.

Just A Steamy Louisiana Saturday Night...

It's now Saturday night, and I found a wireless signal in the parking lot of the Ag Center where we are staged at LSU. I just grabbed a shower, and dropped off my laundry to be washed. Pity the poor person who opens that bag. Having the wireless makes it nice in that I don' t have to blog from my cell phone. We heard the FEMA contract is up at 9.30 tomorrow night, and it hasn't been renewed yet because they want to wait and see what Ike does. If this means we come home soon? Dunno. I take it day by day. Thanks to you readers who have sent comments of support. They mean a lot to me. I'll let you know what happened. For now, it means another night on the bench seat...heh heh.

Saturday In The Bayou...

Saturday morning, sun is peeking out of the clouds. Didnt sleep well last night. Getting tired of sleeping on the bench seat, although its great on my back. Tons of food available for breakfast. Some ambulances have been sent home, and there is a meeting @ 10am today. No one has done any missions...there are none. We all passed inspection, so we can practice as paramedics in Louisiana if needed. Joy. I would just be happy to get away from all the chain-smoking yokel volunteers around here. Smokin' & spittin'...thats all they do. So I guess today will be more of the same...waiting. Woohoo.

And now a blast from the past..1985...

So we have been without an ECG monitor since we arrived, as well as narcs. One of our guys from Santa Cruz talked to a logistics person, and we were allowed to cannibalize a pile of old monitors. We were able to get 5 old Lifepack 5s up and running! All we need now is an APCOR radio and we are good to go. I had to give an in-service since I was the only person who had ever used one before. Oh, and someone saw an alligator in the pond out front. Guess that kills any thoughts of swimming. And no...we have not done anything today.

Right Back Where We Started From...

Its almost noon on Friday, we are back in Alexandria, Louisiana. We arrived at about 5am this morning after more than 5 hours on the road. We finally got to touch a patient after a week of waiting. We took a bariatric lady from this really nice con home in San Antonio 308 miles to Vidor, TX. And what are we greeted with after a week of waiting? A huge belch as we enter her room. Perfect. But she was nice enough, the ride was fine. After we drop her off @ her podunk little apartment, we find out we are being redeployed to Tyler, TX. Another 5 hour drive. We stopped @ Target and bought some sorely needed supplies. We had some real TX bbq @ Fat Mac's BBQ. We then started for Tyler. We stopped at a truck stop and paid $9 for a much needed shower. About 100 miles into the trip we learn there is a _change in plans_. We are to return to Louisiana. Great. An additional 4 hours of driving. All told I think I drove about 700 miles yesterday. So now we are right back where we started. Looks like rain...perfect.

A Whole Lot Of Nothing...

A little after 9pm and we have done nothing at all. We were supposed to do a mission, but after we went to get fuel, we were told we were off it because we left- even though the task force we are on was still in the same line they had been in for 4 hours. Our strike team leader blew a gasket. After some more words, we were back on the job. Then the mission was cancelled. So here we sit. Supposedly there are 100 missions tomorrow. At least we will get the hell outta Texas. Still no eta to coming home. No bbq for dinner though; we had Subway, and the mess hall served spaghetti. No beans!

If this is Wednesday, I must STILL be in Texas...

8.30am Wednesday, just had yet another breakfast of tacos and beans. But I feel slightly more human after a shower. There are 40 foot trailers equipped with shower stalls lining the walls. Water was warm and strong, and after 2 days of your clothes pasted to your body, a hose and a bar of soap would have been fine. There is a possibility we may have a mission today. Otherwise we sit and swelter in the sun, while the Louisiana strike teams are getting pounded. Still no ETA to coming home. There was a rumor last night FEMA was looking for volunteers to stay 2 additional weeks. No freaking way. We estimated FEMA is spending at least $300,000 a day in EMS salary alone just for this site, not including food or supplies. Wow...

Tuesday Night Update

It..s 8.30pm and it is finally cooling a bit. We had yet another bbq dinner tonight. Some teams have been deployed, but here we sit. Some entrepreneurial dude was selling t-shirts about the disaster for $20. And he sold out! Pretty sad making a buck on a disaster. Still don..t know if and when we might go anywhere...I have used more diesel running the damn A/C than driving anywhere. But we did get Klondike bars today...yum!

A Quick Thought

Kinda funny to be 1700 miles from home and I just saw my old unit physical 00-433 roll by. Probably the only saving grace of being in this oven-like hellhole is we have a brand new '08 rig with A/C that works well. Especially since with the humidity the heat index is 118 degrees. Did I mention I hate Texas?

Tuesday In Texas

Well I lied about the farting cots drowning out the snoring. Didn't sleep much, and they awoke us at 7am for a lovely breakfast of BBQ brisket tacos. Tacos for breakfast? I guess when in Texas, do as they do. Dunno what we're doing today. If the past few days are a predictor, we will probably drive aimlessly around the damn Gulf. Still don't know when I am coming home.

Back To School...

Back to school...

It is after midnight now, and we are bunked down in an abandoned elementary school in San Antonio. The cots we are sleeping on make these *wonderful* farting noises when you turn over. They ran out of food, and we may be sent back to Louisiana later. Just lovely. This still sucks. At least the farting cots drown out the snoring.

Gotta Love The Federal Government...

It is almost 9pm and we are now in San Antonio. We evacuated Beaumont and drove 250 miles Code 3 to get here. Another first in my career; my longest Code 3 drive! The poor folks in Louisiana are working their asses off and we are driving all over the freaking South. We have not touched a patient yet. This sucks.