Photo By Justin Moeller | Buildings, businesses, residences and Vehicles sit damaged after an EF-3 tornado blew...... read more read more
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Blanchfield Army Community Hospital leadership held a virtual town hall Dec. 11, to speak with hospital team members after a swarm of tornadoes passed through middle Tennessee Dec. 9, including two in the local community.
Fort Campbell is located on the border of Kentucky and Tennessee and a majority of the hospital’s 2,000 military and civilian workforce, and their families reside in affected Clarksville, Tennessee, and other communities off post.
During the town hall, the command team first thanked hospital staff on duty that day who quickly implemented the severe weather-tornado protocol before the storm to make sure patients, visitors and staff were safe in the event of severe weather. This includes moving patients and visitors into the corridors away from windows that could shatter.
Soon after, according to a report from the National Weather Service, an EF-3 tornado advanced through the local community, coming within two miles of BACH. The tornado’s 42-mile path expanded 600 yards wide through the center of town at wind speeds of 150 miles per hour, according to the report. The hospital’s emergency generators immediately kicked in, powering essential areas of the facility after damaged power lines in the city impacted power at BACH..
“Without skipping a beat, the team appropriately responded to severe weather, ensured our patients were safe, and prepared for casualties,” Col. Sam Preston, hospital commander, said during the town hall.
Upon receiving the all-clear, hospital leaders conducted a battle damage assessment of patients, staff, and facilities. The emergency room prepared to treat additional patients. Hospital EMS responded to 911 calls in the local community to provide additional support. Hospital administrators activated departmental alert rosters. The goal was to get 100% accountability for both military and civilian staff and their families.
“We began receiving information on the damage to our community, initially it was three houses totally destroyed, then six, then eight, and we continue to receive that information,” said Preston, adding that he feels fortunate all patients, visitors, staff, and families were safely accounted for and that hospital services for the community continued uninterrupted.
“Blanchfield Army Community Hospital remained open and ready to serve our community,” said Preston.
Current figures from the NWS report more than 60 members of the community were injured and three lives lost. The local Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency reports 243 residential sites were destroyed and 1,711 were damaged by the tornado in Clarksville.
“At this point it appears that currently 14 homes of our hospital team members have been destroyed and are completely unlivable,” said Preston, adding that number may continue to grow in the coming days. “Although some homes remain standing, they have shifted off their foundations because the winds or other structural damage.”
Preston said that hospital leaders are committed to making certain that these team members get the support they need. The command team will continue to conduct regular workforce town halls to share information and discuss concerns. Leaders are working in close coordination with U.S. Army, Defense Health Agency, local, state, and federal agencies. Each section within the hospital is in close contact with affected team members to provide support and assistance throughout the recovery process.
“What was most awe inspiring to me was the immediate community reaction. People were opening up their homes and reaching out to one another. Not family by blood but family that you work with, and it is absolutely the strength of our community,” said Preston.
“As time continues, we will continue to communicate,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Petty, BACH senior enlisted leader. “The intent is to make sure everyone knows the resources that are out there and how we may assist you in the days, weeks, and months ahead.”
In addition to unit support, a web site at https://home.army.mil/campbell/dec-9-2023-tornado has been established as an online centralized resource for the latest information on tornado response for the Fort Campbell community.
| Date Taken: | 12.14.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2023 09:45 |
| Story ID: | 459995 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, US |
| Hometown: | CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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Medical
Emergency response
Disaster relief
(WPC-14) Tornado
