Campus News
Secretary Michael Leavitt Visits Federal Medical Shelter at ETBU
by Mike Midkiff
MARSHALL, Texas (9/02/08)- United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt visited Keys Gymnasium on the campus of East Texas Baptist University on Tuesday afternoon . Secretary Leavitt came to ETBU to receive a briefing on how the FEMA Federal Medical Shelter was operating.
On Saturday, the gym floor was transformed into an 80 bed capacity mobile hospital by FEMA personnel with help from ETBU staff and students as they unloaded equipment and supplies from 18-wheelers. According to officials with the United States Public Health Service evacuees with special medical needs began to arrive from the Orange County, Texas area on Sunday.
"I want to express my thanks to ETBU, as well as county and city officials for helping in this operation,” said Secretary Leavitt.
"Our university was pleased to host this operation,” said Dr. Riley to the Secretary in a press conference. "It gave our staff and students an opportunity to be a servant to our fellow man. Our staff rose to the occasion to assist these people in need. As a Christian university we are pleased to help out.”
"How happy people are when they are serving others,” said Secretary Leavitt after walking through the mobile hospital and visiting with patients. "What a privilege it is to live in a country where people organize and do this, helping others. If we were virtually in any other part of the world the people would be left to themselves in this kind of situation.”
The mobile hospital was first staffed by medical personnel from both the Oregon and New Mexico Disaster Medical teams dispatched by FEMA before personnel arrived from the U.S. Public Health Service.
"The team is very experienced,” said Lori Christiansen, a registered nurse with the Oregon Disaster Medical Team. "Were were dispatched for Hurricane Katrina and usually go after the disaster hits. This is our first time at receiving patients before a potential serious event.”
ETBU is a four year Christian liberal arts university located in Marshall, Texas.
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