Disastrous flooding from Hurricane Irma forced the Charleston-based Medical University of South Carolina to float surgeons across campus in johnboats. Now, as Hurricane Florence quickly approaches the southeastern coastline, MUSC has turned to the military for help, The Post and Courier reports.
After Hurricane Irma battered the Charleston area roughly one year ago, the city faced significant flooding. Bryan Wood, emergency manager for MUSC, told the publication the National Guard arrived in a military truck to help hospital staff move around the flooded campus.
Mr. Wood said he started looking into whether MUSC could acquire a similar vehicle to help the hospital remain self-sufficient in case of another storm. He applied for a vehicle through a military surplus program typically used by law enforcement agencies and was approved. The effort did not use public dollars, he said.
Once the truck was acquired, hospital officials painted it a baby-blue color to match MUSC's logo and signage.
As Hurricane Florence approaches the coast, Mr. Wood said MUSC will keep the vehicle on campus and use it to shuttle staff, not patients, if necessary. He said he hopes the hospital will never have to use the truck, but recent weather patterns indicate MUSC could end up in the hurricane's path, the report states.
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