Disaster aftermath: a first-person perspective as a responder and caregiver

The patient reception team remains in existence, although its services have not been called upon since Hurricane Katrina. Drills are held, largely for ancillary personnel, with providers brought in on an as-needed basis. The team stands ready for the next challenge, knowing that the most important lesson is to expect the unexpected. Responders, who understand this and take it to heart, from the onset of the mitigation phase through to the final recovery phase, should find themselves better able to surmount the challenges they will surely face.