Bill Harris, Bob Smetka, Matt Stokes

Late in the afternoon of 1 August I was proceeding on Interstate 35 toward the Minneapolis Bridge along with my friend Todd and his Dad..  We had just returned from a week long father/son fishing trip in Northern Minnesota.  

Within a short time we received a call from Todd’s wife that the I-35 bridge had collapsed.  As an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) my first reaction was to go to the bridge but my friend wanted to take his father home first.  By the time we dropped Todd’s dad off at home there were announcements that the roads were blocked off and all were requested to stay away from the bridge area.

Crew person Matt Stokes tending the lines

The next morning I contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Louis and identified myself as an Auxiliarist qualified as Air Crew and an EMT.  The Ensign on duty stated that there was an Auxiliary facility on scene, a houseboat, and gave me the Coxswain's cell phone number.  I called the Coxswain, Bob Hines, and he suggested that I meet him at a site near the collapsed bridge.

When I arrived at the scene the coxswain had already received a request from the local Sheriffs Department to assist in the transfer of personnel from one location to another.  I met with the on scene EMT personnel who were assessing extrication procedures.  These procedures would be required if any of the recovery divers and or investigation personnel were injured.

I informed them that I would be on one of the Auxiliary vessels and from what they told me, I would be the only EMT on the water.  Another Auxiliary vessel, a 31' Sea Ray was standing by on the opposite shore.  A Coast Guard SAFE boat transported me to their location where I met the Coxswain, Rear Commodore Bob Smetka, Division Captain Bill Harris and crew person Matt Stokes.

I, along with Rear Commodore Smetka and his crew, stood by for transport requests from Sector or other personnel.  All the while we were watching for flotsam, and fulfilling other needs as requested.  My medical concerns, based on my training and past experiences were; 1) Injury to recovery divers; 2) Personnel falling into the water and sustaining injury; 3) Any other injuries caused by walking on debris, or slips and falls going up and down the embankments.

Matt Stokes and Bill Smetka

Everyone there felt the ICS training was invaluable.  Many people on site thanked me for helping.  I told them, “Everyone from the States comes down to the Virgin Islands to help after a Hurricane.  This was the least I can do.”

“I am proud of the Auxiliarists of Division 11,” said Rear Commodore Smetka, “and how they were able to get boats on scene as fast as they did.”  “Our crew training is ongoing and that allowed us to respond exceptionally well.  I am very proud of their action in such trying circumstances,” he said.