Brooks City-Base: Small base offers big support

By Larry Farlow
311^th Human Systems Wing Public Affairs

BROOKS CITY-BASE, Texas -- In support of the Air Force’s primary focus of saving and sustaining lives and assisting Federal Emergency Management Agency in recovery operations from Hurricane Katrina, small teams of doctors, medical technicians, environmental engineers and epidemiologists from the 311^th Human Systems Wing headed east from Brooks City-Base in San Antonio late Sept. 2.

Public health specialists from the Air Force Institute for Operational Health conducted environmental and health surveillance and risk analysis to assist in relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

Led by Col. (Dr.) James Neville, the five person epidemiological rapid response team flew out of Lackland Air Force Base on a C-130 transport, loaded with all of their specialized equipment, and landed at the New Orleans International Airport. 

The team’s mission is to protect human health and safety of civilian and military personnel by looking for infectious disease by testing water, air and soil for contamination and to minimize risk. It is expected that as time passes, the health risks in New Orleans will become more and more acute. The team, which is trained to respond to crisis situations all over the world, is prepared to stay on scene as long as they are needed.

Col. (Dr.) Rick Bachmann, commander of the U.S. School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks, deployed to Tyndall AFB, Fla., to take command of the Air Force Medical Forces.  In that role, he directs aeromedical missions in the entire gulf region hit by Hurricane Katrina.  Flight doctors, nurses and technicians working on the ground and in the air have joined with other medical forces to care for sick and injured civilians. 

Because of their quick response, hundreds of our fellow Americans were airlifted to hospitals around the United States where they could get state-of-the-art medical care in modern facilities.  Many were transported by the Air Force to San Antonio.  As of Sept. 6, medics had treated 5,512 injured and sick, and aeromedical personnel evacuated 2,552 patients to other locations.

While troops deployed, others here at home were supporting displaced Air Force personnel from Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss., who needed shelter, food and support. 

Under the leadership of Command Chief Master Sgt. Reggie Williams, the first sergeants have put together packages including groceries, money donations, phone cards and other needed supplies.  The sergeants held a steak fry and families are being fed. 

More than 50 troops from the 68^th Intelligence Squadron spent all night Friday at KellyUSA cleaning the area and setting up cots for incoming evacuees. 

Over Labor Day weekend, many flight nurses, aeromedical technicians, critical care transportation instructors, their spouses, and students of class number 050819 from the School of Aerospace Medicine school performed over 350 man-hours of volunteer service supporting the relief effort.

Volunteers directly participated in the intake, screening and care of over 300 evacuees requiring medical attention including many with acute and emergent medical conditions.  

They coordinated with FEMA and Disaster Medical Assistance Team leadership to provide military medical assistance from flight surgeons, flight nurses and technicians to a shelter population that swelled to more than 3,000 in less than 48 hours. 

The volunteers also assisted FEMA and DMAT leaders with medical command and control, organizing medical operations, and establishing a pharmacy to service the population while providing patient care capability on a daily basis. 

School volunteers also participated in planning and execution of cargo operations.  Activities included unloading, sorting, packaging and staging more than 1,000 pallets of donated items for the relief effort as well as loading and driving delivery trucks.  Their efforts resulted in the timely delivery of more than 500 pallets of materiel including water, clothing, shoes, bedding, hygiene items and toys for the evacuees.

“The men and women from Brooks made a tremendous difference,” said Eric Stephens, director of the 311th Human Systems Wing, “continuing our tradition of responsive community service.”