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.

Enter the Hurricane!

Most of these pictures speak for themselves.

Be sure to scroll to the bottom and play the video.

I strongly recommend having the audio on your computer turned up to

really get the most out of it.

The sound of the wind is quite harrowing (especially toward the very end of the video).

Remember to turn your audio up for it:

Things Kick into High Gear!

Officers hard at work!

Umm...CDR Lamer, where did you get them boots!

Pharmacists lined up outside the pharmacy to pick up their own (psych) meds.
Hey, we need to be mentally alert to do our job! :)

Looks like the Fieldhouse is ready for action!

Officers Wear Many Hats to Fullfil Our Mission!

Breakfast of champions, served by the cream of the crop, our Prev Med team!
Service with a smile :)

Heavy lifting!

Officers Continue to Work Hard!

Collaborative care at its finest!

I have to point because the radio is choking me and has rendered me unable to speak.
The wonderful LSU staff and volunteers who, despite all kinds of hardship, fed us.
(Even when we really didn't wanna eat.)

Getting the patients' food ready!

Our fearless leader compares notes as a way to avoid lunch.

Officers STILL Continue to Work Hard!

Studying hard.....or.....
.....hardly studying?

Before this deployment, I would have thought "muster" is something you put on a sandwich.

Officers in high spirits and overcome by the sense of camaraderie.

Rest at night.....
Work during the day! (Don't worry, that's not a patient. Yet.)

Multi-tasking. She even smiled for the pic!

Thanks to our fellow servicemembers, I always felt safe. And inadequate.

Mostly inadequate.

A Survey of the Surroundings

Off to an official mission. This is not a joy ride. Seriously.

Mike the Tiger.

Let's take a closer look. He's a very majestic animal and I hope he's happy.

One of my favorite pics! I need to go up to NC and hangout with the IHS peeps.

And the Work Continues

LCDR Frost, CAPT Petrie, and CDR Smiley appear to be locked in a deadly game of musical chairs. I think.
There is NO substitute for our wonderful nurses. For instance, this picture would be wholly unremarkable without them.

Some of the damage to the Field House.

Another view of the Hurricane's damage.