Even the most powerful nations become frail in the face of natural disasters. The paths of destruction wrought by storms Katrina and Rita during the 2005 hurricane season were stunning in their impact on America’s Gulf Coast. Landscapes were dramatically altered, and thousands of lives were changed forever.

 We saw the results “up close and personal” through real-time media coverage. Continuous streams of film footage and commentary kept us closely in touch with the plight of those directly effected by the hurricanes. Americans responded by opening their hearts and homes to the storm victims. Donations of money, products, and services poured forth as well, from individuals and organizations alike as we rallied to the call for action.

 Through adversity, we sometimes realize more clearly than ever, that we have the capacity to surmount tremendous difficulties and, in the process, discover some of our best qualities. The challenges were huge, but Americans used ingenuity and determination to begin the process of healing and recovery. In the pages ahead, you will read excerpts from the journals of professional caregivers from the private and public sectors who volunteered their support for the relief efforts. Their stories are firsthand accounts of their observations of and responses to one of America’s worst natural disasters—and the amazing efforts of inspired and dedicated healthcare providers as they joined initiatives to aid the storm victims.

By Nature’s Hand...

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, two of the most severe storms in America’s history, reached the Gulf Coast on August 31 and September 26, 2005, respectively. Katrina is calculated to be the most destructive and costly natural disaster this country has ever seen. Its storm surge breached the levee system that protected New Orleans, flooding that city and its suburbs and making most areas of the city uninhabitable. The coastal regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama suffered massive damage. As the storms pushed inland, cities and towns reeled under their fierce winds and rain that disabled the services and communications vital to all.

From Katrina alone, the Red Cross estimated that relief efforts exceeded $2 billion, most of which was allocated to immediate post-disaster needs: food, shelter, emergency financial assistance, and physical and medical health services. Although it is still to early to assess the full extent of damage to the dental profession, it is clear the impact of the storms will be felt for many years to come.

An Industry Response...

Answering the request of the Mississippi Department of Health, participants in the public, private, and professional sectors partnered to dispatch “Tomorrow’s Dental Office Today!” (TDOT) to Waveland, Mississippi to help treat Gulf Coast residents in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The mobile exhibit, which is a fully functional, technology-driven dental office of the future, traveled to this devastated town of 7,100, and was set up at the local Kmart parking lot that became Waveland’s new community hub. TDOT provided care to over 620 patients during the outreach, and supplemented the ongoing relief efforts among the federal, state, and local government and nonprofit agencies.

The TDOT outreach was led by Dr. Nicholas Mosca, State Dental Director of the Mississippi Department of Health, and complemented the ongoing relief efforts at Caroline 1, the North Carolina State Medical Assistance Team based in Waveland. 

Interior of Truck

Originally scheduled to appear in Philadelphia, TDOT answered the call of the dental community and took a 900-mile detour for disaster relief.

“As you can imagine, a facility of this type is in high demand,” said Dr. James Bramson, Executive Director of the ADA. “It was scheduled to leave from the Ohio Dental Association’s Annual Session in Columbus for the ADA’s Annual Session in Philadelphia, when the call came from Mississippi. Sullivan-Schein’s TDOT mobile dental facility joined with public and private healthcare providers in Waveland to help ensure that those in need had access to care.

STORIES FROM THE FIELD

Dr. Nicholas G. Mosca State

Dental Director Mississippi State Department of Health

Katrina ranked among the worst natural disasters in our nation’s history. Its 30-foot storm surge left many of those living in the area without clothes, clean water, medication, and access to healthcare. The Mississippi State Medical Association estimated that half of the 700 physician’s practicing in the state’s coastal counties were impacted and reported that over 80 dental offices were partially or completely destroyed.

The Department of Health deployed a volunteer mobile dental van from Birmingham, Alabama to Waveland, Mississippi, one of its hardest hit communities where the entire local government, police, fire, and school infrastructure was destroyed. The mobile dental van...was positioned next to the Carolina MED-1, a mobile hospital provided by the state of North Carolina. Over 300 people were seeking medical care each day at the MED-1, and the physicians were visibly thrilled to learn that dental services would be available due to the number of dental emergencies seen prior to the van.

 During the first week of operation, about 40 people were seen daily in the two-chair facility, augmented with portable dental equipment outside of the van under a tent. We soon realized we would need a much larger facility to accommodate the growing patient demand.

The Sullivan-Schein “TDOT” arrived on September 14...my initial impression was dumbstruck at how large and modern the facility was compared to my expectations. TDOT allowed us to work in air-conditioned comfort while Mississippi’s heat blazed outside.

Dr. Mosca registering a patient for dental work

Sullivan-Schein also donated a...large amount of dental supplies and purchased desperately needed instruments for our use. With the support of USPHS, Sullivan-Schein, and federalized private dentists, over 60 patients were seen each day in Waveland. Mississippi was fortunate to have used a public-private approach to providing access to care for those devastated by Katrina.

 I am very appreciative of the hard work and dedication of Sullivan-Schein and the crew of TDOT, who stayed with us in Waveland and helped to provide dental care to so many during their stay. I am also very appreciative of the efforts of the U.S. Public Health Service in deploying dental providers who showed skillful compassion and concern for our citizens. Words cannot describe the devastation of our communities; I am thankful that we had these strong working relationships to help make a difference in the lives of those affected.

Captain James Tennyson,

DDS U.S. Public Health Service

 I reported to Waveland, Mississippi on Saturday September 17, 2005 as the USPHS Leader. I had been through Waveland and Bay Saint Louis many times before on my way to Biloxi and Gulfport while stationed in Louisiana—and I had been to Biloxi days after Camille hit Biloxi back in 1969—but nothing I had seen before could have prepared me for the total devastation wrought by Katrina.

 Houses were reduced to piles of rubble and businesses fared no better. One patient said that his temporary crown had come off after the storm was over and he’d gone to his dentist’s office, only to find that there was “...nothing there but a concrete pad with some pipes sticking out of it... .”

The first five days that I worked in Waveland we had a small mobile dental clinic run out of a Winnebago—and a tent set up outside. By the following Wednesday...the TDOT arrived in Waveland...it was supposed to be in Philadelphia at the ADA convention.

We were able to set up our two portable chairs for extractions inside the spacious mobile clinic...and used the two top-of-the-line dental units that were from the part of the clinic used for restorative work. The excellent digital X-ray equipment cut our waiting time significantly by allowing us to view our radiographs immediately after exposure. Use of TDOT allowed us to significantly ease the suffering of many more patients during the time I was in Waveland.

Dr. Tennyson reading an X-ray

Dr. Terry Dingbaum

Morris, Illinois

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I felt compelled to offer assistance to those unfortunate enough to have been affected by the devastating event. Shortly after the storm, I contacted the American Dental Association, where I offered my services. One week later, I received a call from he ADA Foundation stating that dentists were needed at a temporary site that had been set up in Waveland, Mississippi. Dr. Nicholas Mosca, the Dental Director for the Mississippi Department of Health, was in the process of coordinating the setup and staffing of a temporary clinic at the heart of the devastation.

 I flew to Jackson, Mississippi, where I was met by Dr. Mosca. We then drove 3 hours south to Waveland, Mississippi.  during each day, we would bring patients into the mobile clinic and perform the necessary procedures on them. TDOT arrived. TDOT, Sullivan- Schein’s mobile dental unit, enabled us to better serve the needs of the community through its enhanced capabilities. We were able to perform much more efficiently with the instruments, equipment, supplies, and additional manpower that kept the unit and clinic operational.

The staff was extremely helpful. We successfully accomplished direct patient care in a difficult environment. On many occasions during each day, we would bring patients into the mobile clinic and perform the necessary procedures on them. Often, they would reveal their “story” and emotionally express profound appreciation for the help we had given them. During treatment, one elderly man stated, “You guys are like angels that came down from heaven.”

My family was very supportive of my decision to help in the disaster area. Many people worked long days and nights to provide services in a chaotic environment. It was a week in my life that I will never forget.

Kevin Bryant, DDS

 Savannah, Georgia

I loved working with all the doctors at TDOT...and the Sullivan- Schein guys. They were totally helpful...and in roles beyond their actual training. The patients were all appreciative of our efforts...they had been through a lot.

The first mobile unit I had worked for had to use one of its operatories...for taking PA radiographs. With TDOT...we had more of the needed instruments...its digital pan is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. It was extremely cool to...have so much information available immediately.

We could run through an amazing number of patients for preliminary evaluation in a short period of time...incredibly efficient. We...set up sort of a secondary waiting area inside once the pans were done. TDOT’s extra space allowed us to do screening and extractions inside...out of the heat.

I was so impressed with Sullivan-Schein’s generosity during the recovery efforts...that I am now a “Privileges” customer!