Critically Injured Haitian Earthqake Victims Arrive in Atlanta

By Susan Mittleman

Atlanta, GA – At Dobbins Air Force base in Marietta, six ambulances wait on the tarmac. Inside an enormous hangar, 21 volunteer soldiers from Georgia's State Defense Force get last minute instructions.

They, along with doctors, nurses, translators, customs officials and a myriad of military personnel, are preparing for the arrival of the C-130 from Haiti.

Around 10 Friday night, the giant aircraft finally lands with its precious cargo: four critically ill Haitians, ranging in age from 16 to 50. Everyone goes to work getting the patients and accompanying family members checked in and checked out.

Planes have been arriving at Dobbins every couple days for the past four weeks - bringing in patients from the U.S. Navy Hospital Ship Comfort in Port-au-Prince. It's part of the National Disaster Medical System, operated under the department of Health and Human Services.

More than 39 victims--plus family members--are already in Atlanta area hospitals. Although Tampa is also receiving patients, Atlanta has been the main destination.

"We were chosen because for one thing we have outstanding medical care in the area, plus it's a large area so a lot of beds available," said Ken Wheeler of the National Medical Disaster System. "There's a large Haitian community here. Also, we're within flying distance of Port-au-Prince."

The National Medical Disaster System, based out of the Atlanta VA Medical Center. The NMDS was first activated in Atlanta during Hurricane Katrina.

"Atlanta is looked upon favorably in these situations is we have experience doing this. It's a well oiled machine and that's well known in the system," said Wheeler.

Greeting every flight that's come in, Marie Mompoint, originally from Haiti, is a translator and one of 30 Haitian nurses with the Atlanta VA.

"I assure them they will be ok, let them know where they are going, and once they got there, who's going to help them as far as follow up," she said.

Mompoint, along with others from the 15,000-strong Haitian community, are also working with the Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services in Atlanta. Known as "RRISA", the organization works to help evacuees once they're discharged from the hospital.

"We resettle them like we resettle other populations," said RRISA Executive Director Paidea Mixon. "We look at finding more sustainable housing, helping them get Georgia ID, Social Security cards, helping them apply for medical and other benefits they qualify for," she said.

Haitian evacuees are here on Medical Parolee status - which is separate from the refugee program, but entitles recipients to temporary benefits for about a year.

"It's very similar to a program we've done in the past with Cuban paroles. The only difference with this group is we're not certain how long people will want to stay, some will want to go back, that's a detail still to be worked out," said Mixon.

At Dobbins, about 35 minutes after the plane lands, the last of the evacuees is checked, certified and readied for transport to Grady, St. Josephs, and North Fulton hospitals.

The night's operation comes to a close.

How many more will there be?

With at least 50 of 59 hospitals back up and running in Haiti, The U.S Southern Command says there are less than a dozen people on board the Comfort that still need a place to go.