Medical team members assist with hurricane relief

Three IU Health team members were part of the rescue efforts after deadly hurricanes swept Florida, North Carolina.

By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org

Two IU Health doctors and a nurse recently joined Task Force 1, aiding in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The storms caused extensive damage in Florida and North Carolina communities. Task Force 1 is a highly trained group that responds to natural and manmade disasters.

IU Health team members included Dr. Christian Strachan, Nurse Kyle Fleck, and Dr. Andrew Watters. All three have extensive experience in emergency medicine.

Strachan described their role working with FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (USAR):

“For physicians and paramedics who are part of the USAR teams we have specific tasks, such as medical care for rescue personnel and victims. This includes treating injuries, performing triage, managing acute medical conditions, and stabilizing critical patients before they are evacuated.”

Hurricane Helene’s path extended from Florida, to Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina September 24-28. High winds and flooding resulted in one of the deadliest hurricanes in US history. Days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida, causing mass power outages and more devastation.

As rescuers from across the country made their way to Florida and North Carolina, the three IU Health team members helped monitor workers for signs of fatigue, heat stress, dehydration, and other potential medical conditions. Drs. Watters and Strachan served as “Medical Team Managers;” Fleck served as a “Medical Specialist.”

In addition to monitoring and treating rescue workers, medical personnel help assess environmental hazards; maintain and coordinate medical command posts; ensure that health and safety protocols are implemented; and document and record patient care, injuries and treatment.

About 90 people participated on the medical team, prepared to work day and night. The three IU Health team members were on the mission for 15 days.

“The outpouring of support from locals and emergency operations teams was stupendous. Florida had a tremendous amount of storm surge and flooding damage and to a lesser degree wind damage,” said Strachan, who has joined 19 missions since 1998. He added that in North Carolina, they witnessed mass devastation in mountainous areas caused by flooding and mudslides.

He described how a 10-foot creek area changed into a 200-foot gorge with enough force to move homes. The team also worked with canine search dogs to recover victims swept away by flood waters.

“Hurricane Helene was like no other mission as we started with true urban search and rescue operations in Florida neighborhoods but then moved to North Carolina where we did wide area search and water operations in very rural mountainous settings,” said Strachan. “I speak for all of us that we appreciate the support that IU Health provides to allow us to patriciate and help in these activities.”