45 Seconds: Memoirs of an ER Doctor from May 22, 2011

A doctor on duty when the tornado hit the hospital in Joplin describes his experience of treating patients with no pain meds, no electricity, no equipment and leaking methane.

"“Like a bomb went off” — That’s the only way that I can describe what we saw next. Patients were coming into the ED in droves. It was absolute, utter chaos. They were limping, bleeding, crying, terrified, with debris and glass sticking out of them, just thankful to be alive. The floor was covered with about 3 inches of water. There was no power, not even backup generators, rendering it completely dark and eerie in the ED. The frightening aroma of methane gas leaking from the broken gas lines permeated the air — we knew, but did not dare mention aloud, what that meant. I redoubled my pace."

45 Seconds: Memoirs of an ER Doctor from May 22, 2011 « The Central Line