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Bracken County EMS joins hurricane relief efforts
By WENDY MITCHELL
BROOKSVILLE -- Filled with supplies, an ambulance from Bracken County EMS is headed for hurricane-strickened areas of the Gulf Coast.
Brian Harrison, an EMT for Bracken County EMS, called Director Betty McClanahan Friday night to ask for the final all-clear to go on the humanitarian mission.
"Things moved fast," said McClanahan. "He found out they had the OK to join the convoy that was going with the Kentucky State Police at the last minute. Then had to be in Paducah by 6 a.m., Saturday morning."
Pride is what the Bracken EMS director feels about Harrison.
"I cannot tell you how proud I am of him and everyone that is going. This will not be easy; they may be assisting with body recovery more than medical assistance, but they wanted to help and I am so proud of them," she said.
In Paducah, Harrison and two other EMTs met with dozens of other EMS crews to form a convoy with KSP.
"Three others from here wanted to go, but couldn't, then Brian hooked up with the other two EMTs, Christy Hagen and Beth Hopkins, who wanted to go but needed a unit," said McClanahan.
It may be only a weeklong stay for Harrison's unit.
"They were told they will probably be sent home after a week because it is so stressful to be doing body recovery and emergency work under those conditions," said McClanahan.
When he arrived in Paducah, Harrison found out he was not the only unit from the northern Kentucky area on the trek. A crew from Nicholas County EMS has also taken up the cause. Jeremy Hughes, EMT/firefighter; Darryl Gardner, paramedic and Nicholas County EMS director; Chasity Gardner, co-director; Shane Bussell, EMT/firefighter; Nelson Sewell, paramedic and Brad Gosney, EMT student were lined up in a Nicholas County ambulance.
As the convoy rolled along, the Nicholas County crew reported back to its home base in Carlisle, that at least one ambulance in the convoy had a tire problem, but overall they had not had any problems. That unit and a trailer in the convoy, involved in a minor accident, rejoined the convoy further down the road.
The closer they got to the damaged area, the harder it became to maintain cellular phone connections, said Aimee Hughes of Nicholas County EMS.
McClanahan has been in telephone contact with her EMT. He told her the convoy had neared the Louisiana border about nightfall Saturday.
Harrison anticipated the convoy would be getting to Baton Rouge, La., by 11 p.m., Saturday, said McClanahan.
Sunday afternoon, both units and three other Kentucky units were assigned to operate out of Harrah's Casino on Canal Street in New Orleans.
"They will be assisting the emergency units there as they bring in the survivors," said Hughes.
While these EMS members are on the mission, EMS services in their home counties will not suffer.
"We still have plenty of people to cover here," said McClanahan. "We have been as busy as usual."
Nicholas County reported it was fully staffed, and busy too.
Besides their own counties, Bracken and Nicholas counties share the responsibility of covering EMS needs in neighboring Robertson County.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 370.
For more area news, go to www.bracken-online.com
Brian Harrison, an EMT for Bracken County EMS, called Director Betty McClanahan Friday night to ask for the final all-clear to go on the humanitarian mission.
"Things moved fast," said McClanahan. "He found out they had the OK to join the convoy that was going with the Kentucky State Police at the last minute. Then had to be in Paducah by 6 a.m., Saturday morning."
Pride is what the Bracken EMS director feels about Harrison.
"I cannot tell you how proud I am of him and everyone that is going. This will not be easy; they may be assisting with body recovery more than medical assistance, but they wanted to help and I am so proud of them," she said.
In Paducah, Harrison and two other EMTs met with dozens of other EMS crews to form a convoy with KSP.
"Three others from here wanted to go, but couldn't, then Brian hooked up with the other two EMTs, Christy Hagen and Beth Hopkins, who wanted to go but needed a unit," said McClanahan.
It may be only a weeklong stay for Harrison's unit.
"They were told they will probably be sent home after a week because it is so stressful to be doing body recovery and emergency work under those conditions," said McClanahan.
When he arrived in Paducah, Harrison found out he was not the only unit from the northern Kentucky area on the trek. A crew from Nicholas County EMS has also taken up the cause. Jeremy Hughes, EMT/firefighter; Darryl Gardner, paramedic and Nicholas County EMS director; Chasity Gardner, co-director; Shane Bussell, EMT/firefighter; Nelson Sewell, paramedic and Brad Gosney, EMT student were lined up in a Nicholas County ambulance.
As the convoy rolled along, the Nicholas County crew reported back to its home base in Carlisle, that at least one ambulance in the convoy had a tire problem, but overall they had not had any problems. That unit and a trailer in the convoy, involved in a minor accident, rejoined the convoy further down the road.
The closer they got to the damaged area, the harder it became to maintain cellular phone connections, said Aimee Hughes of Nicholas County EMS.
McClanahan has been in telephone contact with her EMT. He told her the convoy had neared the Louisiana border about nightfall Saturday.
Harrison anticipated the convoy would be getting to Baton Rouge, La., by 11 p.m., Saturday, said McClanahan.
Sunday afternoon, both units and three other Kentucky units were assigned to operate out of Harrah's Casino on Canal Street in New Orleans.
"They will be assisting the emergency units there as they bring in the survivors," said Hughes.
While these EMS members are on the mission, EMS services in their home counties will not suffer.
"We still have plenty of people to cover here," said McClanahan. "We have been as busy as usual."
Nicholas County reported it was fully staffed, and busy too.
Besides their own counties, Bracken and Nicholas counties share the responsibility of covering EMS needs in neighboring Robertson County.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 370.
For more area news, go to www.bracken-online.com
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