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Pope Airmen aid hurricane evacuees

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mindy Bloem
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Members of a Pope AFB Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facility team providing assistance to Hurricane Gustav evacuees hit the ground running when they arrived at Lakefront Airport, La., Aug. 30, after spending much of the day in a C-17 aircraft.

Once the plane landed, the MASF team immediately plunged into action by unloading Humvees filled with essential supplies and equipment.

Their sense of urgency kicked in when the team learned that in just a couple of hours, more than 100 patients would be arriving in need of care and attention.

The MASF team, many of whom were functioning on little sleep, worked through the night and morning hours to care for the influx of patients, most of whom were elderly.

The team only recently completed a two-week training exercise and was now being thrust into a real-world situation for the first time since forming the team.

Many of team members didn't know what to expect, but noted the gravity of purpose carried them through.

"It lets us know that what we are doing is actually worthwhile because we are getting people to a safer environment," said Staff Sgt. Cindy Pezely, 43rd Medical Operations Squadron. "It's different than training because your patients are actually real people ... so your emotions are more involved. They like to talk and you get to know them and you realize they are depending on you."

"I think it feels better than I thought it could - just talking to the people you realize that if not for us they might actually be in some real danger," said Tech. Sgt. Krystal Marks, 43rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

The Disaster Medical Assistance Team also contributed, working side by side with Pope's MASF team.

The patients arrived by steady stream throughout the night, but the team never faltered.

Even after having their plans changed again and again, the team remained flexible and managed to improvise on the spot in some situations with the resources they had available to them.

"It's probably because the patients are here and we realize we have to get them safe and get them out of here," Sergeant Pezely said.

Sergeant Marks added, "I haven't had much sleep in the past two days, but it keeps me going to realize we have to get these people to safety, and that is a satisfying feeling."

Their humanitarian efforts meant a lot to the patients, as well.

One evacuee from New Orleans, Oren Walker, arrived at the MASF with his mother and grandmother. His grandmother was being cared for by the Pope medical team.

"Anything man-made can be destroyed, which is why it's important to not put too much thought into materialistic things," he said. "As long as I am living and my family is living, I will feel blessed.

"Also, the military is here and everyone is playing a part in helping each other out, which is good. That is what it is all about. Everyone should unite together to help each other out. They have all been really helpful and compassionate and I feel grateful for that."