Miklo, you should understand that unless you literally roam the nation looking for major disasters, you are at a minimum a day or two away from anything thats not literally your hometown. When Moore was pasted, Oklahoma was literally able to maintain normal operations while locally treating all casualties. Katrina-scale disasters are a different story, but then, look at the ARC. You simply dont have the clout and administrative force needed to make a difference. Locals will look at you and shrug, because at that point, you're just another Ricky Rescue, MD or not.
When we were responding to Moore, we had a neonatal internist or some super-advanced MD show up on our triage point, asking how she could help. I politely told her to go to her job at OU, since her utility on-scene was nil, as all critical patients were already gone and trapped patients would either be minor or dead.
Your wife may be an MD, and you a Pmed, but freelancing really doesnt work.
I couldn't agree with this post more.
Cities and towns have increased their training and readiness since 2001 (9/11), 2004 (FL Hurricanes) and 2005 (Katrina). The need for "OMG, we need everyone!" just isn't realistic anymore.
Great example with Moore listed above, but even the Joplin tornado which took out a hospital was handled with a sense of preparedness and readiness. There were no administrators praying for an out-of-the-area MD to come help save them. Plans existed and were put into action.
I'm glad RM40 mentioned the Red Cross because I was going to as well. The Red Cross (ARC) has a Disaster Heath Service function where trained, certified medical providers volunteer in times of emergencies. During events like Katrina, Joplin, Alabama or even Moore, volunteers are deployed to those areas to help. And if you're listed as available, can usually be deployed as soon as the next day.
The need for medical care is not only in the immediate minutes after an event, but days to weeks after. While leading the response in two counties in Alabama in 2011, I had a handful of DHS volunteers who, at the end of the day, were reporting to me the people they had seen. People who had broken hands, lacerations, all from post storm clean up. There was no public transportation system and pretty much all of the cars in the damage path were destroyed. It was until these teams came to their neighborhood did they get the chance to 'be seen' by someone with medical knowledge and equipment.
During downtime, you can volunteer at your local Chapter, helping prepare for these types of events. This can include training, maintaining equipment, practicing, drilling, volunteer recruitment, not to mention forming partnerships and/or relationships with area agencies.
While I commend your passion about wanting to be there when the event happens, unless it's a doomsday type event, you may be better off working with an established agency or organization.
