Lower Keys Medical Center staff, along with the Monroe County Emergency Rescue Services, American Medical Response (AMR), and the North Carolina National Guard recently held their first hurricane preparedness drill for the 2006 hurricane season. The Guard flew down the massive C-130 medical transport plane to the Boca Chica Naval Air Station just for the drill. Guardsmen played the role of hospital patients on the third floor of the hospital, and were transferred by ambulance to Boca Chica to be loaded onto the C-130.

Hurricane Drill Team for Lower Keys Medical Center (l-r): Meylan Lowe-Watler, John Norris M.D., Renee Makimaa and Cindy Sayre

North Carolina National Guardsmen play the roles of hospital patients during the drill

These drills are extremely important in assuring that all runs smoothly and everything is accounted for in case of a true mandatory evacuation of the hospital and its patients. June 1st to November 30th marks the hurricane season and it’s crucial that drills are done well in advance to satisfy the necessary state requirements of a mandatory hospital evacuation.