Posted on: Wednesday, July 17, 2002

Tripler helps victims of Micronesia typhoon

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

A surgical team from the Tripler Army Medical Center has treated more than 10 patients on the Micronesian island state of Chuuk who were injured in Typhoon Chata'an.

The seven members of the Pacific Regional Medical Command's Special Medical Augmentation Response Team arrived on the island Monday to assist the Chuuk people, said Tripler spokeswoman Margaret Tippy.

One team member went to Chuuk's neighboring islands to assist with patients who were unable to get to Chuuk Hospital, Tippy said. Officials said more patients are awaiting treatment.

Guam was declared a federal disaster area on July 6, and Chuuk, one of the four major states that make up the Federated States of Micronesia, was named a federal disaster area on July 11. Major mudslides on Chuuk destroyed an estimated 1,000 homes and killed 47 people.

As of yesterday, pallets filled with more than $42,000 worth of medical supplies and equipment put together by Tripler staff and paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been flown to Chuuk.

In addition, four of the most seriously injured Chuukese patients were flown to Tripler to be treated. All four are in stable condition.

In the meantime, the Corps of Engineers' Pacific Ocean Division sent 11 emergency workers to Chuuk to help with power and water supplies and also to advise and assist with debris removal as well as to gauge the risk of more landslides in the area.