NOVEMBER 2004

 

 

 

UPDATES FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

SUE ATWOOD

 

 

  1. Immunization cards and requirements will be sent to each team member within the next several weeks. Please note that some vaccines are a series, requiring several months to complete; therefore, get started soon after receiving the cards. Also, NDMS is well aware of the national flu vaccine shortage.

 

  1. Some team members will be receiving a SF50 – Notification of Personnel Action. This is merely a notice, indicating a pay increase, and no action is required.

     *Not every member will be receiving one at this time.

 

  1. Please REPORT TO SUE ATWOOD – YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER – before leaving for deployment AND after returning. Your leadership team needs to know where you are at all times during a deployment.

 

  1. All time sheets must be filed with Sue Atwood; that is, she must have copies on file. On deployment, even if there is a FEMA Travel Representative or another  

Administrative Officer on-site to process timesheets and travel vouchers, Sue still    needs copies of everyone’s timesheets. These can be either faxed or mailed to her:

 

     

Fax:           (616) 774-5280

        Address:     8269 Golfside Drive

                                    Jenison, Michigan 49428

 

     1.

 

 

 

 

 

 5.   Please check your professional license expiration date.  A copy of your current

       license can be faxed to Sue Atwood at (616)774-5280.

 

 

 6.   The 2005 NDMS National Conference will be held on April 30-May 4, 2005     

        at the Caribe Royal Hotel, in Orlando Florida. Pre-Conference courses take 

        place April 30-May 1.  The main conference courses take place May 2-May 4.

        The hotel rate is $98 per night. The hotel has set this rate for 3 days before and 3

        days after the conference for anyone who might want to arrive early or stay   

         later. The hotel is located approximately 1. 5 miles from Disney World and has

         free shuttle service. Please check the DMORT website (dmort.org) periodically

         for registration and course information.     

 

 

 

FEMA DEPLOYMENT

October 19, 2004 Commuter Plane Crash

Kirksville, Missouri

 

 

On the evening of October 19, 2004, a commuter plane – traveling from St. Louis to Kirksville, Missouri - crashed while on approach to the Kirksville Municipal Airport. The incident killed eleven of the thirteen passengers on board, as well as two crewmembers.

 

DMORT was activated, and thirty-five DMORT members from Region VII were deployed, as well as our X-ray Technologist, Mary Fischer, from Region V, the DPMU, and the FAC team.  The DPMU team set up the Morgue on October 21, and the operation commenced on October 22.  FEMA, NTSB, and FAC personnel were also present.

 

DMORT completed their mission smoothly and expediently, considering the condition of the remains. Some victims lacked both dental and fingerprint information.

 

Morgue operations shut down on October 26. Victims were positively identified, with the exception of four, who had presumptive identifications, but were awaiting DNA results.

 

Bill Young (Region VII Commander), with the help of Mike Henderson (Region VII Deputy Commander), oversaw the deployment in a very efficient and organized manner.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR TEAM MEMBERS

 

MARY FISCHER

 

Mary Fischer is the Chief X-ray Technologist at Provena St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, Illinois. She has devoted her time and efforts at this hospital for twenty-five years, where she has also been their Chief Technologist in the Imaging Department, for over four years.

 

Mary was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Northern Illinois University, in DeKalb for two years, before receiving her Associate’s Degree in Radiologic Technology from Kankakee Community College in Kankakee, Illinois. She now resides in Bourbonnais, Illinois. She is a member of several organizations, including the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety, and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

 

Mary’s involvement with DMORT began, following the Amtrak “City of New Orleans” Train Crash, in March 1999 (Bourbonnais, Illinois). Due to the close proximity of the incident to Provena St. Mary’s Hospital, Mary was asked to x-ray the victims from the accident. During this difficult time, she experienced first-hand the skills, professionalism, and teamwork, demonstrated by DMORT. Shortly thereafter, Mary was greatly influenced to become a team member.

 

Mary has contributed greatly to DMORT, on the following deployments: Hurricane Floyd (Tarboro, North Carolina), 1999; Egypt Air (Quonset Point, Rhode Island),1999; Executive Air (Scranton, Pennsylvania), 2000; World Trade Center Tragedy (New York City, New York), September and November 2001; Night Club Fire (Providence, Rhode Island), 2003; Topoff 2 Midway Airport Exercise (Chicago, Illinois), 2003; and

American Airline Flight 5966 (Kirksville, Missouri), 2004. When Mary is not radiographing victim remains, she is entering data for Information Resources.

 

Mary has been married to her husband, Rick, for thirty years. They have two sons: Paul – age 21, and Kevin - age 19. When not at work or on deployment, Mary enjoys spring gardening, golfing, bowling, and shooting pool.

 

We are “x-tremely” fortunate to have Mary Fischer as a member of Region V.

 

 

Next Month in the “Voice of V”

 

Learning More about our Team Members

NDMS Annual Conference

And More!