Frisco and Sherman MAB Buses Respond to Power Loss at Health Care Facility

Friday, August 3, 2012, a MVA resulted in damage to three utility poles in the 1800 block of E. Highway 243 In Kaufman Texas. The event resulted in loss of 911 service and loss of power to the Sunflower Park Health Care facility. At the time of the event, the facility had a census of 83 patients.

MPV2-01 (Frisco MAB Bus) was requested and immediately responded. An additional request for MPV2-02 (Sherman MAB Bus) was made and the unit was dispatched.

On arrival of MPV2-01, all patients were triaged and a decision was made to shelter the patients in place. This was in part due to Oncor’s estimate that power would be restored to the facility by 2100. Facility Disaster Plans were to move patients to a Civic Center across Highway 243 but the facility doors would not accept stretchers or patient beds. The plan included contingency to move 5 critical patients to a facility in Kemp Texas (15 miles) and 78 non-critical patients to Mount Pleasant Texas.
(106 miles) Most of the patients were non-ambulatory.

Generators from both MPVs and portable A/C units were brought in and patients were moved to areas kept cooler by the emergency generator and facility window units.

At 21:00, Oncor advised repairs would not be completed until approximately 0300. Patients were re-triaged and staff agreed that keeping patients in the facility was wiser than a 2 hour transport to Mt. Pleasant. Additional generators and A/C units were obtained from local vendors and installed in the facility.

As of 2345, patients have been moved back to their rooms and resting comfortable. Temperature inside the facility was 78.

MPV2-01 and MPV2-02 crews are rotating in bus billeting. Kaufman Fire maintains Fire Watch and Safety duties. ETMC EMS is on site accountability and transport ready.

Power was restored to the facility at approximately 0245.