September 27, 2005

Medical Reserve Corps of North Idaho Deploys to Gulf Coast

COEUR d'ALENE - Fourteen members of the Medical Reserve Corps of North Idaho have been activated and deployed to the Gulf Coast region to help with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Seven registered nurses, one physician and six non-medical volunteers have been sent in deployments lasting up to three weeks to Baton Rouge, La., Montgomery, Ala., and Houston. These volunteers are from throughout North Idaho: Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Athol, Hauser Lake, Sandpoint, Priest River, St. Maries and Orofino.

The first MRC members deployed in mid-September are expected to complete their missions and return to North Idaho this week.

"We are extremely proud and gratified that we have the resources to help our fellow citizens in need," PHD Director Jeanne Bock said. "The Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are giving selflessly of their time, leaving their homes, families and jobs in order to respond to this urgent call for assistance. We are extremely proud of each and every one of them."

Medical Reserve Corps deployments are being conducted in cooperation with the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross provides transportation, logistical support and legal protections for deployed MRC members.

The Medical Reserve Corps of North Idaho is a component of the Citizen Corps and administered by Panhandle Health District. North Idaho's MRC is one of the nation's largest MRC units with more than 1,100 members. MRC volunteers include active and retired medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, and epidemiologists.  Many community members - office workers, teachers and others - can fill key support positions.

MRC units across the country are formed with volunteers who work in concert with the larger health community to strengthen the local public health infrastructure and improve local emergency preparedness, as well as respond during times of community need.

The North Idaho MRC volunteers have been activated twice in recent months. The MRC responded to a call for assistance last spring from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department to staff hotlines in the Groene case. During several days of operation, MRC members contributed 226 hours of service.  

MRC volunteers also staffed the PHD hand-washing booth at the North Idaho Fair. A total of 23 MRC volunteers contributed 69 hours of service during the fair.

More information about the MRC program can be found at www.medicalreservecorps.gov or by calling (208) 415-5180.