Reported by: Jay Warren
Photographed by: Eric Clajus
Web produced by: Neil Relyea
Hospitals along the Texas Gulf Coast are taking no chances as Hurricane Ike nears landfall.
Shriners Hospital in Galveston sent six burn patients to Cincinnati to stay until it is safe to return.
"There was probably at least 15 other airplanes and 15 helicopters doing the same thing we were," said pilot Bob Newell.
Newell is chief pilot for Kalitta Charters which is a Detroit-based company.
Newell landed at Lunken Airport Thursday night around 8:00 p.m. with one of the six children.
"The ramp is just full of airplanes, medical crew, pilots and ambulances," said Newell of Galveston's airport.
Coordinating the re-location efforts has been a challenge for Shriners.
"It's really, actually pretty challenging just logistically, because it involves staff and flight teams and getting down there," said Shriners spokeswoman Louise Hoelker, RN.
This isn't the first time Cincinnati's Shriners Hospital has taken patients from Texas.
In 2005 Hurricane Rita forced the evacuation of other patients as well.
The children range in ages from 14- months-old to 13-years-old.
Newell isn't sure if he'll be called on Friday to bring more patients out of Texas – but if he is, he'll be ready.
"It's a satisfying job to do," said Newell. "I don't enjoy doing them just because it's a burned child, but you can't say no to something like that."
