EDITORS: SHEILA HALL AND TERRY
SWANSON
January/February 2006
DAVID HUNT IS
THE REGION V 2005 DISTINGUISHED MEMBER/VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Congratulations Dave!!
Congratulations also to our runner-ups (in alphabetical order):
Jim Adams Leslie
Eisenberg Don Simley
Caroline Caliguri Todd Grisier Terry Swanson
Kelley Cissell Sheila Hall Allan Warnick
Scott Davis Mark Haskins Jim Weldy
Joyce deJong Jack Horbal Shawn Wilson
Region V and DMORT itself are fortunate to have these people and the
rest of you as team members!
Please join Region V
at the NDMS Annual Conference in
LEARNING MORE ABOUT
OUR TEAM MEMBERS
DONALD O.
SIMLEY, D.D.S.
Dr. Don Simley is a General Dentist and Forensic
Odontologist. His private dental practice in
Prior to earning his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from
Marquette University School of Dentistry in
Don is actively involved in numerous dental and forensic
organizations: American Dental
Association, Wisconsin Dental Association, Dane County Dental Society, American
Society of Forensic Odontology, Wisconsin Association for Identification,
Wisconsin Coroner’s and Medical Examiner’s Association. Dr. Simley has achieved
Fellow status in the
In addition to his private dental practice, Dr. Simley
possesses a strong interest in forensic dentistry. Since 1981, he has attended
a number of forensic-related continuing education courses, meetings, and
training sessions. Don lectures extensively on forensic dentistry to dental
professionals and law enforcement personnel. He is a consultant at the
Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Laboratory Bureau, as well as the
Department’s Division of Criminal Investigation. Don also consults for the
Dr. Simley is also a member of several forensic identification teams: Wisconsin Dental Association, Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office (Illinois), Lake County Medical Examiner’s Office (Illinois), and Minnesota Dental Association.
Don joined DMORT Region V in 1992. He was deployed to New York City, New York following the tragedy at the World Trade Center (2001) and St. Gabriel, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina (2005). In St. Gabriel, Dr. Simley was appointed section leader in the dental area of the morgue.
Don currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin with his wife – Linda. They have two children: Mike (21 years old) and Lisa (23 years old). When he is not preoccupied with work or forensics, Don enjoys golf, tennis, biking, and working out on the treadmill.
Region V has been “brushed” with good fortune to have Don Simley on the team!
NEW ACTING DPMU AND
FAC TEAM COMMANDERS APPOINTED
In early January, Shannon Dotson (Region V) was appointed Acting DPMU Team Commander by Gary Moore. Shannon will continue to lead the DPMU Team as the mission progresses, and through its demobilization.
Jennie Thommen (Region X) was appointed Acting FAC Commander.
REGION V TEAM MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN A FUND-RAISER FOR HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS
While deployed in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, a group of creative individuals contrived a fund-raising project to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina. The group included: Region V team members - Shawn Wilson, Mark Whetstone, and Randy Mayfield; Region IV team member - Jason Hucks; Region VII team members – Tommy and Donna Hensley, Mark Frill, and Carlena “Wink” Grandgenett; AFDIL team members – Faith Patterson, Sean Oliver, and Ryan Vachon. The group designed a “Katrita” (effectively combining the two hurricane names) tee shirt and sold them for a profit.
All proceeds were donated to Mr. John Vickers (DMORT Region VI) and Mr. Carl James. Mr. Vickers was a resident of New Orleans and lost everything, including his house and funeral home, following Hurricane Katrina. Mr. James was an employee of Mr. Vickers and lost everything as well; his family fortunately evacuated to Atlanta to stay with close relatives. The compassion in Mr. Vickers and Mr. James directed them to assist in DMORT operations at St. Gabriel: their presence and spirit inspired everyone at the camp.
A total of 150 tee shirts were ordered and sold, raising a profit of $400. The money was presented to John and Carl on behalf of the entire camp, honoring the group’s anonymity.
From the recipients’ emotional reaction, this heartwarming act of humanity and kindness was deeply appreciated!
Participants in the “Katrita” t-shirt fund raiser include: Jason Hucks,
Randy Mayfield, Donna Hensley,
Tommy Hensley, Carlena Grandgenett, Shawn Wilson, and Mark Whetstone.
LOUISIANA DEPLOYMENT RELOCATES
FROM ST. GABRIEL TO CARVILLE
By David Hunt, Region V Training Officer
DMORT West Operations took place in St. Gabriel, Louisiana from August to November 2005. Over Thanksgiving weekend, morgue operations relocated from St. Gabriel’s City Hall to a newly constructed facility in Carville, approximately ten miles away. The complex, situated on a 32-acre field, is called the Victim Identification Center.
The Victim Identification Center consists of eight buildings, all of which were constructed in just over a month. The two main buildings are tensioned fabric construction and resemble large tents - they are designed to withstand 150-mph winds and last for fifteen years.
The main building is comprised of several areas, utilized for a variety of purposes: a large business area, with several offices and conference rooms; a warehouse for additional storage and receiving of supplies; an overflow sleeping area that can accommodate up to 250 people in open dormitory style; a medical clinic; a recreation/lounge room, consisting of a spacious common room, with two televisions and separate sitting areas for socializing; a fitness area, with weights, treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical trainers, pool table, and air hockey table; a laundry facility for the workers; a great dining hall, with an impressive commercial quality kitchen.
The second large building is the morgue facility. What a difference from past morgues! It is split in half lengthwise: one half is the morgue, and the other half is used for warehousing, office space, and casketing operations. The morgue has an anti-skid, easy- to-clean floor. The cubicles are very large and wired for computer networks. Everything is washable and easily decontaminated. Lighting, airflow, and comfort are dramatically increased in the new facility.
Behind the main building, there are six “butler” buildings; each building has 25 rooms, used for housing the workers. Each room includes a bunk bed, a double storage locker, a bedside table, and a table with two chairs. Currently, everyone is delegated their own room. Each of these buildings has shower facilities and a common room, with a microwave and refrigerator.
The move to Carville has been positive. The Victim Identification Center is a well-designed complex, adequately meeting the needs of morgue operations and addressing the well being of workers.
ARTICLE ABOUT DMORT AND THE CARVILLE OPERATION
Click on the link
below (or do a copy/paste) for a good article about DMORT and the Carville
operation.
http://www.kbtv4.tv/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=10069
REMINDERS FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
SUE ATWOOD
When your professional license expires and you receive the current license, remember to send me a copy.
When you get called to deploy, remember to let me know when
and where you're going. Call ADD 1-888-853-9648 once you
arrive.
Before you leave to go home, remember to request a copy of your timesheet and travel voucher. I need a copy of all timesheets.
When you return home, remember to let me know you're back. Call ADD also.
When your ID card expires in April, remember that I will have your new card but will need to receive your 05 card first. The date on the card is the expiration date.
When you move, change phone numbers, change banks or get a new email address, remember to notify me of these changes.
When you have completed the required immunizations and your yellow immunization card is filled out, remember to send me a copy.
Sue Atwood’s Contact Information:
8269 Golfside Drive, Jenison, Michigan 49428
Cell: 616-723-3433
Home: 616-669-0902
Fax: 616-669-1690
Work: 616-774-7499
April 22 - April 26,
2006
PURPOSE:
The
purpose of the 2006 National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Conference
is to promote interaction between Local, State and Federal public health
practitioners and policy makers. Expert faculty from a variety of local, State,
and Federal agencies as well as from academic entities will present on key
topics such as clinical medicine, health system, response teams, veterinary
issues and mortuary issues. Networking with these expert faculty members as
well as many of the Nation's leaders in the field of emergency management will
give participants access to the latest in emergency response coordination
capabilities.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
REGION V CONDOLENCES
It is with great sadness that the Region V family grieves the loss of another valued team member. Donald Lukomski passed away on January 12, 2006 from heart problems.
Don was an experienced Medical Investigator at the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office in Detroit, Michigan.
The DMORT family expresses their deepest sympathy to the Lukomski family.
DMORT NATIONAL
CONDOLENCES
The Region V Team would like to express its deepest sympathy to the Oldfield family. John “Cliff” Oldfield – Region II Commander – passed away on December 24, 2005. He suffered a heart attack while visiting Disney World in Florida with his family.
Several members of our team have served with Cliff on previous deployments, and most recently in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. Please keep his family and the DMORT II Team in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.