FEMA Activates National Ambulance Contract to Prepare for Hurricane Dean

FEMA activated a new national ambulance contract with American Medical Response (AMR) to help make sure there would be transportation for patients in the projected storm track who would need to be evacuated from hospitals and nursing homes. HHS staff members who worked closely with FEMA setting up the AMR contract were assigned to help oversee the movement and staging of ambulances and aircraft in Texas.

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On Saturday, August 18 as Hurricane Dean approached Jamaica, federal disaster planning and preparations were underway to assist Texas. FEMA activated a new national ambulance contract with American Medical Response (AMR) to help make sure there would be transportation for patients in the projected storm track who would need to be evacuated from hospitals and nursing homes. HHS staff members who worked closely with FEMA setting up the AMR contract were assigned to help oversee the movement and staging of ambulances and aircraft in Texas.

By Monday, August 20 nearly 300 ambulances and 25 aircraft were assembled at Kelly USA, a former US Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Although the hurricane did not hit Texas, this effort was an excellent test of AMR’s new contract and its ability to quickly establish medical transportation services in order to help state and local officials faced with the evacuation of a large number of hospital patients and nursing home residents.