Saranya Srinivasan, M.D.
Program Director, Program Director, EMS for Children State Partnership, Texas
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Attending, Texas Children's Hospital
"On Saturday August 26th, the city of Houston was hit by the worst flooding in the history of the city. In a period of 48 hours, the George R. Brown convention center went from being empty to housing nearly 10,000 evacuees, many of whom were children, as young as 1 week of age. I had the privilege of caring for the youngest of these evacuees through my work with the Houston Fire Department and Texas Children’s Hospital. My involvement in the Texas EMSC State Partnership program allowed me to emphasize the unique needs of children as we provided care in the shelter. The lessons learned through this experience can be used to help others improve the outcomes of disaster responses. In those first two days, the evacuees and providers faced many challenges. Essentials such as diapers, formula, and clothing were now considered luxuries. Medical necessities such as specialized formula, home medications, ventilators, and feeding pumps were left at home. By collaborating with the Houston Fire Department, the Houston Health Department, local hospitals such as Texas Children’s Hospital, and countless donors and relief organizations, we were able to meet both the social and medical needs of the youngest and most vulnerable patients of the George R. Brown Convention Center."