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Emergency Management
Ashley Gutierrez signs in as a "patient" in the emergency tent during a drill at the Amarillo VA.
By Patrick Hutchison
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Stuff happens--plain and simple. When it does, it usually catches you unaware. A flood, a hurricane, or a tornado usually isn’t a welcomed guest, and when they show up in your living room it’s an emergency. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. The Amarillo VA Health Care System has a dedicated emergency management program that works with other federal, city, and state groups to aid emergency response and relief.
“[Emergencies] ties all of the community partners into one inter-jurisdictional program to ensure the readiness of our community to respond to hazards,” explains David Pritchard, the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Amarillo VA. “Family preparedness is a critical element. Home Based Primary Care provides the Veterans with an emergency plan that gives them access to important phone numbers that they can call in an emergency. During snow storms, fires, and tornados, our staff check on the Veterans in the community to see what their needs are.”
It’s not just this community. In times of serious disaster, VA personnel can volunteer to provide aid to the hardest hit areas. These teams provide medical care, but even non-clinical staff travel along to support the response. For this, the Amarillo VA sets up emergency tents that act as a mobile hospital unit.
“Working as a team in your community is the most important thing to do in an emergency situation,” Pritchard says. “Knowing that you have the capability to be prepared for the worst is a pretty good feeling.”
With tornado season spinning up (get it), preparation has been priority. Already, the Amarillo VA has trained in city-wide drills using vehicles from the VA to transport “patients” to area facilities. Practice, preparedness, and teamwork are cornerstones for managing crises, and the VA is committed to working with the city, state, and other federal agencies through any emergency.
