Haiti Response Update

The following message is from Captain Rob Tosatto, Director, Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps, Office of the Surgeon General, dated March 10, 2010.

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Dear MRC Leaders, Volunteers, and Colleagues,

Though two months have passed since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti, response and recovery will be on-going for many more months, and possibly years, to come. As with other disasters in the past, the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (OCVMRC) was proud and touched to receive the many calls and emails from leaders and volunteers looking for ways to support the Haitian people.

While this was not an opportunity for the MRC to deploy, OCVMRC staff was on daily calls and participated in agency planning to stay involved in the response. Unfortunately, the many willing to help were not able to be utilized, as there was no infrastructure in place to manage, shelter, feed, or transport additional people. Though MRC volunteers were not deployed to Haiti, several units provided tremendous support in their local communities, including:

• The Hillsborough and Polk County MRC units (near Tampa, FL) responded to Haitian Med-Evacuations, receiving 72 patients via airlift. MRC volunteers provided emergency trauma care, management of patient flow, logistics support, and general assistance to the county health department, helping the community integrate the patients into the medical system.
• The Lowcountry MRC (North Charleston, SC) worked alongside health department staff to conduct health screenings and operate a medical station at the Haiti Repatriation Center, sponsored by the county emergency management division. More than 700 returning U.S. citizens were screened and referred as needed for on-site medical and behavioral health care.
• The Calcasieu MRC (Lake Charles, LA) trained civilian responders that deployed to Haiti via a local organization.
• The Schoolcraft County MRC (Manstique, MI) assembled “Health Kits” for Haitian earthquake survivors.
• The Southeast Wisconsin MRC (Waukesha, WI) hosted a donation drive to aid Haitian disaster recovery.
• The Beach Cities Health District MRC (Redondo Beach, CA) collected shoes as part of the Soles for Souls program, sending more than 4,000 pairs of shoes to Haiti.

The large-scale earthquake served as another stark reminder that we can never be too prepared. We encourage you to continue to recruit, train, build partnerships, and communicate with your members and those you serve. By working together now, we will create more resilient communities in the face of crisis.

We applaud the efforts made by all MRC units to respond to the horrific devastation in Haiti and your on-going willingness to give of yourself, your time, and your talents.

With sincere thanks,
Rob
CAPT Rob Tosatto Director, Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps