Area agencies rush supplies to Gulf Coast

STAFF WRITER

In only a few short hours, Cheryl Hickman, a nurse at Pikeville Medical Center, spearheaded a relief effort that sent a medical team, ambulances and truckloads of supplies to help victims of Hurricane Katrina on Friday.

This tremendous effort was the latest of many contributions made by Pike County residents and businesses who are doing what they can to help those in need.

Charity Hospital in New Orleans helped Pikeville Medical Center set up a detox program. Hickman knew this was the right time to return the favor. At 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, Hickman called Walter E. May and began working with staff to gather donations and supplies and find other volunteers willing to leave that afternoon.

Hickman worked with Jenny Haddleston in U.S. Rep. Hal Roger's office to help expedite the process, and within hours, staff were packing their bags. Fellow nurses that joined Hickman for the trip, included: Sheila Belcher, Mary Bee Combs, Linda Hayes, Willena Moore, Richard Pinson, and Michael Wright. Doctors Kevin Brinker, Don Morando, and Dawn Pingleton, along with the Manager of Internal PR Marketing, Hunt Cooper also went to Louisiana to offer their services.

Volunteers from MedFlight including Kelly Bentley, Jim Nyberg and Ted Fizer drove the Pikeville ambulances that were full of medical supplies to assist relief efforts. Trucks and volunteer drivers also came from Dale Trivette Trucking and Skyhawk Construction. The drivers were Larry Bogar, Steve Johnson, Tommy Bevins, Billy Meade, Darryl Worrix, and Jason Belcher.

Donations for the relief effort poured in from hospital staff and local businesses. Radio Shack allowed medical staff to purchase walkie-talkies and batteries at cost, Wal-Mart donated $200, which was used to purchase tents to set up an outside triage, The Uniform Shoppe donated scrubs. Other donors included SouthEast Telephone, Highlands Regional Medical Center, who donated truckloads of supplies, Landmark Inn, Morrison's, Food City, Professional Home Medical Supplies, and Blue Grass Oxygen.

The caravan left Pikeville Medical Center at about 6:00 p.m. on Friday, heading to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, where a triage is currently set up. The Pikeville crew are hoping to relieve staff that have been working for days on end.

Kentucky Power also has assisted victims affected by Katrina. Late last week, prior to Katrina's impact on Florida, the company dispatched six line mechanics from the Ashland area, four from the Hazard area, and four from the Pikeville area. This week, in response to the storms impact on Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, the company dispatched 16 contract line crew workers to further assist recovery efforts. In all, the company has released 30 employees to the region.

"Kentucky Power is doing what it can to lend a hand to recovery efforts in the Gulf Region," said Tim Mosher, president and chief officer of Kentucky Power. "We have sent highly trained and skilled personnel who can jump in immediately and help restore power to people who desperately need it."

Food City is another local business offering assistance. Customers wishing to make donations can go to their local Food City and donate through the Roundup for Hurricane Relief program from now until Sept. 17. To jump-start donations, Food City began with a $10,000 pledge. All contributions will be presented to the American Red Cross at the end of the program, according to a recent press release. Food City also donated a trailer filled with water that left for Biloxi on Friday, and additional shipments are currently being organized.

The city of Pikeville is also working to set up a collection site to drop off any cash donations. An account has been set up at City Hall, and officials are currently working with the chamber of commerce to set up other drop off points in the area, said Donovan Blackburn, the Pikeville city manager.

"We (the city and the community) want to make certain that we're helping our fellow city and countrymen during this time, said Blackburn.

The Pikeville Police Department has also contributed by sending down a large supply of old uniforms, since many of the officers who are trying to keep the peace in New Orleans only had the uniform on their backs, as many of their homes have been destroyed, Blackburn said.

The Pikeville Rotary Club raised $5,000 at its Wednesday meeting this week, which has also been donated.