Dr. Kestner: Why I am so proud of our Murfreesboro community on The Murfreesboro Post

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Dr. Kestner: Why I am so proud of our Murfreesboro community

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Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2009 6:13 am

This past weekend brought devastation to many members of our community. Without warning, many lives were changed forever. The tornados wreaked havoc in a diverse selection of neighborhoods. As I have spoken to patients and friends this week, it seems as though everyone had a close-call experience. Thankfully, most of us were spared severe damage. Unfortunately, not all families escaped harm.

After the storm clouds had passed I monitored the emergency response to the disaster by following the events on local radio station WGNS and a scanner tuned to many local emergency channels. As the scanner switched from one channel to another, the quickly paced broadcasts of a half dozen agencies kept me sporadically informed as new emergencies unfolded. After spending a half-hour monitoring emergency channels, I began to realize that there were several communities throughout the county that had been badly hit. I wondered how the police, fire, utilities and other emergency personnel would possibly be able to respond to so many areas in desperate need.

How does an agency respond when they are needed virtually everywhere, immediately, and in our case with intense, well-organized, disciplined professionalism? Within minutes after the storm had passed, the police had begun to set up local command posts to direct resources. There was a coordinated effort by city, county, state, professional and volunteer emergency responders.

This did not happen as a result of a spur of the moment reaction. This was the result of thousands of hours being devoted over the past few years by professionals from many agencies to making plans to be able to respond to various types of emergencies. This was the result of countless emergency management personnel saying “What if…” What if a tornado hits? What if more than one hits? What if we have no power? What if cell phone lines are jammed with anxious callers trying to reach loved ones? What if gas lines are disrupted? What if the number of injuries exceeds the capacity of local emergency rooms? What if it is in the middle of the night and most are asleep? What if emergency communications are disrupted by loss of radio towers or power supplies? Dozens of contingency plans had been prepared.

Response was not perfect. It never is. I’m sure there are members of every response team that have looked back on their efforts and had opportunities to consider what steps could have been handled better, more quickly, or with better outcomes. That’s how they will be better prepared the next time.

I’m thankful for all of the dedicated professionals that have chosen to make their career one of service to other people in need. Thanks to every one of you who have trained so diligently for years and were ready to step up in a time of great need.

I’m also thankful for all of the trained volunteers. The volunteer firemen, rescue personnel, Red Cross and others that spend their free time and often supply their own equipment to be ready to serve their neighbors.

Another group of responders really makes me proud. That group is everyone else that stopped what they were doing Friday afternoon and transformed themselves into amateur emergency responders. As I listened to WGNS, I heard multiple callers simply ask directions for how best to offer their assistance. “Hello?” “Go ahead, you’re on the air.” “Yessir, I have a pickup truck and a chain saw. Can you tell me where I can go to help someone?” Or, “I have some food that I would like to take to people working in the disaster areas, Can you tell me where to take it?” Another man volunteered his motor home for a family to live in so they could stay close to their damaged home. Others offered generators, labor, room for people to stay and other generous gestures.

This has been a week to truly be proud of our community as countless professionals and volunteers responded to the needs of others without a moment’s hesitation. As the weeks progress, there will be many more opportunities for all of us to step up to help our neighbors. Let’s work to be a shining example of a community that cares!

Dr. Mark Kestner

mkestner@DrKestner.com

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Member Opinions:

By: GELewis on 4/22/09
Sure would be nice if some of this feelgood spirit would translate over to our streets & roads. M'boro = RUDEST DRIVERS ANYWHERE.

By: RaiderXpress on 4/22/09
true, I am one of them I think, but it's because of how frusrtated i get because of how BAD so many drivers are!