{"id":154441,"date":"2019-09-23T10:28:55","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T14:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?post_type=school-college-post&#038;p=154441"},"modified":"2019-11-06T13:26:05","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T18:26:05","slug":"ground-hurricane-ravaged-bahamas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2019\/09\/ground-hurricane-ravaged-bahamas\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Ground in the Hurricane-ravaged Bahamas\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p>In the Media:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/view.publitas.com\/p222-6222\/wh_1119_layout\/page\/4-5\">West Hartford LIFE, November<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/uconnhealth\/sets\/wtic-1080-news-dorian-relief\">WTIC, Oct. 8<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wfsb.com\/news\/video-uconn-doctor-and-nurse-return-from-providing-help-in\/video_c25dd3dc-636b-5aca-9f2f-55130160b1c1.html\">WFSB, Sept. 23<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wnpr.org\/post\/connecticut-doctors-nurses-part-recovery-efforts-bahamas-after-hurricane-dorian\">WNPR, Sept. 17<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><em><strong>(Updated Nov. 6)<\/strong> <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Natalie Moore and nurse Amannda Ramsdell are back to work in the UConn John Dempsey Hospital Emergency Department, having recently returned from the Bahamas, where they were dealing with a different kind of emergency.<\/p>\n<p>They had deployed with the International Medical Corps (IMC) to the island of Grand Bahama, where Hurricane Dorian destroyed homes and wiped out medical clinics and supplies.<\/p>\n<p>Moore already was in position to help in Florida before Dorian struck the Bahamas. She was part of a four-person IMC team that arrived in Grand Bahama Sept. 8 to assess the outpatient clinic capacity in the eastern communities of Freeport, High Rock, Pelican Point, and McLean\u2019s Town.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThese communities lost everything, and the pictures don\u2019t do it justice.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAll of these outpatient clinics had been destroyed in the storm and no other medical providers had been out to assess these folks except for one very dedicated community physician who walked from Freeport all the way to High Rock as the roads were impassable,\u201d Moore says. \u201cWe were the first medical team to reach Pelican Point and McLean.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Soon, reinforcements arrived and started opening mobile medical units \u2013 clinics in popup tents \u2013 and canvassing neighborhoods. A centrally located semi-permanent clinic \u2013 two sturdy tents powered by a solar field donated by Tesla \u2013 would follow.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wonderplugingallery-container\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-container-294\" style=\"max-width:640px;margin:0 auto;\"><div class=\"wonderplugingallery\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-294\" data-galleryid=\"294\" data-width=\"640\" data-height=\"360\" data-skin=\"gallery\" data-random=\"false\" data-autoslide=\"false\" data-autoplayvideo=\"false\" data-schemamarkup=\"false\" data-stopallplaying=\"false\" data-reloadonvideoend=\"false\" data-enabletabindex=\"false\" data-loadnextonvideoend=\"false\" data-hidetitlewhenvideoisplaying=\"false\" data-disablehovereventontouch=\"false\" data-autoslideandplayafterfirstplayed=\"false\" data-html5player=\"true\" data-responsive=\"true\" data-fullwidth=\"false\" data-showtitle=\"true\" data-showdescription=\"true\" data-showplaybutton=\"true\" data-showfullscreenbutton=\"true\" data-showtimer=\"true\" data-showcarousel=\"true\" data-galleryshadow=\"false\" data-slideshadow=\"true\" data-thumbshowtitle=\"true\" data-thumbshadow=\"true\" data-lightboxshowtitle=\"true\" data-lightboxshowdescription=\"true\" data-specifyid=\"true\" data-donotinit=\"false\" data-addinitscript=\"false\" data-triggerresize=\"false\" data-thumbcolumnsresponsive=\"false\" data-showimgtitle=\"false\" data-titlesmallscreen=\"false\" data-initsocial=\"true\" data-showsocial=\"false\" data-showemail=\"false\" data-showfacebook=\"true\" data-showtwitter=\"true\" data-showpinterest=\"true\" data-socialrotateeffect=\"true\" data-doshortcodeontext=\"false\" data-duration=\"1500\" data-slideduration=\"1000\" data-slideshowinterval=\"6000\" data-googleanalyticsaccount=\"\" data-resizemode=\"fill\" data-imagetoolboxmode=\"mouseover\" data-effect=\"fade\" data-padding=\"12\" data-bgcolor=\"\" data-bgimage=\"\" data-thumbwidth=\"120\" data-thumbheight=\"60\" data-thumbgap=\"8\" data-thumbrowgap=\"16\" data-lightboxtextheight=\"72\" data-lightboxtitlecss=\"{color:#333333; font:bold 12px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; line-height:18px;}\" data-lightboxdescriptioncss=\"{color:#333333; font:normal 12px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; line-height:14px;}\" data-titlecss=\"{color:#ffffff; font-size:14px; font-family:Armata, sans-serif, Arial; overflow:hidden; text-align:left; padding:10px 0px 10px 10px; background:rgb(102, 102, 102) transparent; background:rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.6);}\" data-descriptioncss=\"{color:#ffffff; font-size:13px; font-family:Armata, sans-serif, Arial; overflow:hidden; text-align:left; padding:0px 0px 10px 10px; background:rgb(102, 102, 102) transparent; background:rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.6);}\" data-titleheight=\"72\" data-titlesmallscreenwidth=\"640\" data-titleheightsmallscreen=\"148\" data-socialmode=\"mouseover\" data-socialposition=\"position:absolute;top:8px;right:8px;\" data-socialpositionlightbox=\"position:absolute;top:8px;right:8px;\" data-socialdirection=\"horizontal\" data-socialbuttonsize=\"32\" data-socialbuttonfontsize=\"18\" data-triggerresizedelay=\"100\" data-thumbmediumsize=\"800\" data-thumbsmallsize=\"480\" data-thumbmediumwidth=\"64\" data-thumbmediumheight=\"64\" data-thumbsmallwidth=\"48\" data-thumbsmallheight=\"48\" data-imgtitle=\"title\" data-jsfolder=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/plugins\/wonderplugin-library\/engine\/\" style=\"display:none;\" ><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG_7616-1.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG_7616-1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_7616\" data-description=\"Dr. Natalie Moore stands among the debris from what once was a community clinic in High Rock on the Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">IMG_7616<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Dr. Natalie Moore stands among the debris from what once was a community clinic in High Rock on the Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG_7613.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG_7613-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_7613\" data-description=\"Dr. Natalie Moore prepares to board a small plane to fly from Nassau to Grand Bahama. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">IMG_7613<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Dr. Natalie Moore prepares to board a small plane to fly from Nassau to Grand Bahama. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-R-with-doc-from-Calif.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-R-with-doc-from-Calif-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Amannda (R) with doc from Calif\" data-description=\"UConn Health nurse Amannda Ramsdell with a physician from California, in the Bahamas on an International Medical Corps relief mission. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Amannda (R) with doc from Calif<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">UConn Health nurse Amannda Ramsdell with a physician from California, in the Bahamas on an International Medical Corps relief mission. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/vmatxsloak_2314952792812-1-0.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/vmatxsloak_2314952792812-1-0-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"vmatxsloak_2314952792812-1-0\" data-description=\"Dr. Natalie Moore is among the International Medical Corps personnel setting up a tent clinic on the Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">vmatxsloak_2314952792812-1-0<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Dr. Natalie Moore is among the International Medical Corps personnel setting up a tent clinic on the Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-R-with-a-pharmacist.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-R-with-a-pharmacist-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Amannda (R) with a pharmacist\" data-description=\"Nurse Amannda Ramsdell and a volunteer pharmacist with the International Medical Corps approach a truck with supplies. (Photo submitted by Amannda Ramsdell)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Amannda (R) with a pharmacist<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Nurse Amannda Ramsdell and a volunteer pharmacist with the International Medical Corps approach a truck with supplies. (Photo submitted by Amannda Ramsdell)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Natalie-semi-permanent-clinic.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Natalie-semi-permanent-clinic-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Natalie semi permanent clinic\" data-description=\"Dr. Natalie Moore helped establish semi-permanent clinics like this one on the Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Natalie semi permanent clinic<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Dr. Natalie Moore helped establish semi-permanent clinics like this one on the Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-examining-consenting-patient-at-what-was-left-of-house.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-examining-consenting-patient-at-what-was-left-of-house-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Amannda examining consenting patient at what was left of house\" data-description=\"Amannda Ramsdell examines a local fisherman at his damaged home in McLean&#39;s Town, Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Amannda examining consenting patient at what was left of house<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Amannda Ramsdell examines a local fisherman at his damaged home in McLean&#039;s Town, Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-L-and-Natalie-outside-tent-clinic.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-L-and-Natalie-outside-tent-clinic-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Amannda (L) and Natalie outside tent clinic\" data-description=\"Amannda Ramsdell (left) and Dr. Natalie Moore outside an International Medical Corps temporary clinic on Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Amannda (L) and Natalie outside tent clinic<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Amannda Ramsdell (left) and Dr. Natalie Moore outside an International Medical Corps temporary clinic on Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Natalie Moore)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Damage-in-Pelican-Point.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Damage-in-Pelican-Point-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Damage in Pelican Point\" data-description=\"What&#39;s left of a fishing village in Pelican Point, Grand Bahama (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Damage in Pelican Point<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">What&#039;s left of a fishing village in Pelican Point, Grand Bahama (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-taking-BP-of-consenting-patient.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-taking-BP-of-consenting-patient-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Amannda taking BP of consenting patient\" data-description=\"Amannda Ramsdell takes a local resident&#39;s blood pressure during a home visit with other International Medical Corps volunteer providers in MacLean&#39;s Town, Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Amannda taking BP of consenting patient<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Amannda Ramsdell takes a local resident&#039;s blood pressure during a home visit with other International Medical Corps volunteer providers in MacLean&#039;s Town, Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannada-L-and-Natalie.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannada-L-and-Natalie-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Amannada (L) and Natalie\" data-description=\"Amannda Ramsdell (left) and Dr. Natalie Moore get a first-hand look at the devastation from Hurricane Dorian on Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Amannada (L) and Natalie<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Amannda Ramsdell (left) and Dr. Natalie Moore get a first-hand look at the devastation from Hurricane Dorian on Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-checking-in-temp-clinic.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-checking-in-temp-clinic-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Amannda checking in temp clinic\" data-description=\"Amannda Ramsdell triages a patient at a temporary clinic in McLean&#39;s Town, Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Amannda checking in temp clinic<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Amannda Ramsdell triages a patient at a temporary clinic in McLean&#039;s Town, Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AmanndaL-and-Natalie.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AmanndaL-and-Natalie-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Amannda(L) and Natalie\" data-description=\"Amannda Ramsdell (left) and Dr. Natalie Moore helped staff temporary clinics on Grand Bahama Island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Amannda(L) and Natalie<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Amannda Ramsdell (left) and Dr. Natalie Moore helped staff temporary clinics on Grand Bahama Island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-L-outside-temp-clinic.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Amannda-L-outside-temp-clinic-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Amannda (L) outside temp clinic\" data-description=\"UConn Health nurse Amannda Ramsdell (left) was among a group of health care providers with the International Medical Corps who staffed a clinic in McLean&#39;s Town, Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Amannda (L) outside temp clinic<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">UConn Health nurse Amannda Ramsdell (left) was among a group of health care providers with the International Medical Corps who staffed a clinic in McLean&#039;s Town, Grand Bahama island. (Photo provided by Amannda Ramsdell)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>\u201cTo reach those individuals to let them know that the clinic was back opening and functioning, and to go out to those who didn\u2019t have the ability to get to those clinics, we would take a nurse and then a doctor from public health in the Bahamas with us, to go door-to-door,\u201d says Ramsdell, who arrived Sept. 11.<\/p>\n<p>The more common problems were missing medications, minor wounds and injuries, and respiratory problems.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were doing a lot of tetanus shots, blood pressure checks, medication refills, and really screening for the tropical diseases that can spread rampant through a community at a time like this,\u201d Ramsdell says. \u201cA lot of people were wading in very unsanitary water. A lot of bacteria can grow and a lot of diseases can come about. We were giving out prophylactic antibiotics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramsdell, who was part of a relief mission responding to Hurricane Harvey last year, served as the lead for the mobile units. Moore, whose previous missions included Hurricanes Florence, Irene, and Juan and a refugee camp in Jordan, was the clinical team lead for the Dorian mission.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe encountered a lot of people who had loved ones who were missing,\u201d Moore says. \u201cOne man had lost his daughter, wife, grandson and mother-in-law in the storm. As we walked down the main street in High Rock, people noted that 17 people from that street alone were missing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They also encountered a man who, when his house was destroyed, sought refuge for a day and a half in a mango tree.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese communities lost everything, and the pictures don\u2019t do it justice,\u201d Ramsdell says. \u201cThe degree of the devastation was huge. But what\u2019s interesting is, the Bahamian people are very resilient, as if to say, \u2018This is my town, this is my community, we are going to rebuild, and we\u2019re doing to stay here and figure it out.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramsdell and Moore both joined an impromptu Sunday church service that took place in front of semi-permanent clinic Sept. 15, the day it opened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere were four different churches present, all different denominations,\u201d Moore says. \u201cThey spoke about the loss but also how this community would stand together to face this and overcome it. The community bond and resilience was the most incredible thing I will remember.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>IMC plans to stay a total of three months to help rebuild the health care infrastructure, then turn the clinics and supplies over to the local providers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s overwhelming to come home and to look back on it, just to know that they\u2019re going to be suffering for a long time,\u201d Ramsdell says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. Natalie Moore and nurse Amannda Ramsdell from the UConn Health Emergency Department were part of a relief mission to the Bahamas with the International Medical Corps. (Updated Sept. 23)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":154409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1868],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[2010],"class_list":["post-154441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meds"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-08 07:14:01","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/111"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=154441"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":154540,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154441\/revisions\/154540"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/154409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=154441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=154441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=154441"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=154441"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=154441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}