Introduction (or The Soundtrack to Your Life)

Welcome to my blog covering the US Public Health Service deployment for Hurricane Gustav in Baton Rouge, LA. The dates are August 30 through September 12, 2008.

The pictures come from RDF-3 members and Tier III augmentees (including myself). I hope that I'm able to include everyone who was present in someway. If not, you have my sincerest apologies.

So, without further ado, lets venture forth and take a gander at some of the amazing and unique experiences (good, bad, and ugly) that we had. I'm sure this will be a bittersweet journey for most (there's always the ones that'll find it either wholly bitter or completely sweet).

Thanks!

Ibad

P.S. Here are the only instructions you need:

1. A blog normally has the most recent post at the top and older posts at the bottom. However, for this blog (more like a memoir, anyways), I have it chronologically. So, the posts at the top are "older" or happened first and then the ones below. In short, the best way to navigate this blog is to click on the top post (i.e. the one you're currently reading) and then click "Older Post" at the bottom of the entry to move through the blog in the order that events happened.

2. These photos are mostly quite detailed and this detail may be lost when this website resizes them for posting. To really enjoy the photos, please click on them. This will give you the best view. You can click back to get back to the entry you were reading.

3. I've made this blog with settings that allow everyone to post comments. I hope you take advantage of that because I think it'll be great to hear what you have to say. However, I would ask that you kindly identify yourself since the current settings will show you as anonymous. Thanks.

P.P.S. I'm sure everyone distinctly remembers the decision to ask to extend our stay for the deployment past the 2-week period. I realized that if there could be a soundtrack to our deployment, the following song would've to be our theme song:

Departure from Atlanta and Arrival in Baton Rouge, LA

It's well after midnight and officers are beginning to plan and strategize...
Just a couple of hours later, we arrive at Baton Rouge, LA

Playing the waiting game in Baton Rouge
Little do we know that this is probably the most comfortably dressed we'll be for the next 2 weeks!

Arrival at Carville, LA

Bldg G where we stayed (oh so briefly, more on that later)

Boys on the left, girls on the right
Off to that imressive looking structure for a briefing...

Officers relaxing a bit before the scheduled meeting...


A briefing from our command
The theme of being fluid was emphasized from the very beginning.
I find it ironic that "fluidity" (albeit of a biological nautre) is exactly what a lot of officers had problems with


Officers gather in their assigned groups to strategize and plan but...


...we pharmacists are too handsome to pass up a photo-op!



P.S. Not a lot of people may know this but Carville, LA is the location of the National Hansen's Disease Museum, which records the history of the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital there. This hospital treated leprosy (now known as Hansen's Disease) patients for a hundred years.

Oh, Carville, we hardly knew ya!

The trip to Cracker Barrel for a nice morale dinner. I should have known just from the boarded windows that this wasn't going to be good for morale or my esophagus. Hey, I did get a nice pillow for dirt cheap.

Long story short, we're quickly informed that we're leaving Carville ASAP and going to LSU in Baton Rouge. So much for beds and private showers.

Everyone starts packing and loading the vehicles!

I hope it's now ok to tell LCDR Byron Henry that I never tied my linen the right way.

The Fieldhouse!

I really don't think anyone on our team is ever going to forget this place!
Oh, you think this is nice? Wait till you see the sleeping quarters!
But then again, there's always the PMAC.

Preparing for the Patients

Lotta work to be done


Some food after long hours of work.
Wow, this hamburger is delicious! I bet we're gonna have something different and
delicious every day!

The 2nd Wave!

Arrival in Baton Rouge, LA
The new arrivals getting acquainted with their new surroundings.
I wonder who will take care of their luggage?

CDR Guia just discovered where he will be sleeping.

There's a great deal of strategy in where to place one's cot.

Not too far yet not too close to the exit...

...but as close to the trampoline as possible.

Place to hang wet towel is a bonus.