Several Western Pa. EMS providers traveling to Florida to help during Hurricane Ian
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- As Hurricane Ian prepares to make landfall, seven western Pennsylvania EMS agencies are heading to Florida to provide medical assistance.
"Take everything and anything possible!" said Sergeant EMT Kyle Englert with Murrysville Medic One.
There was no hesitation from the Murrysville Medic One crews when they were asked to head to Florida before Hurricane Ian makes landfall.
"It's tough to tell what you're going to need because you could be down there for 14 days to a month and a half," Englert said.
Englert and Murrysville Medic One Administrative Director Darrick Gerano had to pack quickly and departed in a specialized ambulance on Tuesday afternoon. They must check in at a base in Orlando by 5 a.m. Wednesday.
"We're usually involved in evacuations and just the prep for the storm," Gerano said. "Once the storm hits landfall, we obviously obtain shelter, wait for the storm to pass through, then we're deployed out to the areas needed."
Another Murrysville paramedic-EMT pair left with crews from other EMS agencies Monday night. This is all part of a national EMS response plan. Fayette EMS sent four crews in four ambulances and Rostraver/West Newton EMS sent one crew.
Helping people after catastrophic storms is something they're honored to do. This will be Gerano's 10th EMS deployment.
"It's something we don't get to see every day. The devastation from the storm, the large number of people that need help, so it's something we don't get to do every day, do just that aspect of our job," said Gerano.
Responding to disasters is never easy, but it's worth it to them.
"I guess just not knowing what's ahead of you, not knowing when you're going to be back. It's definitely hard leaving your family, your co-workers that you grow so fond of," Englert said.
Gerano and Englert said during past deployments, they slept in their ambulance, in schools, hospitals and convention centers.
They just need some essentials to make it through and stay safe.
"Good partner, that's how you do it, you keep yourself entertained and once you get there and the activity starts it's kind of nonstop so you kind of keep yourself busy," Gerano said.
"Extra boots, tons of extra socks, you got to be ready," said Englert.
The ambulance they took on Tuesday is specialized for bariatric patients.
They left around 12:30 p.m. and the drive could take around 16 hours. They will stay in touch with crews back at home throughout their deployment.
Hurricane Ian is expected to continue strengthening as Florida remains in the path of the storm.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered on Monday for low-lying areas surrounding Tampa Bay, CBS News reports.
