By Greg Friese
LAFAYETTE, La. — Acadian ambulance coordinated the evacuation of approximately 700 patients prior to Hurricane Ida’s landfall on Sunday, according to an Acadian Ambulance press release and Facebook post.
In addition to its normal fleet of 225 ambulances in Louisiana and Mississippi, Acadian has added 32 ambulances from its other operational areas. Acadian has also used two ambulance buses and five vans to facilitate evacuation and repatriation activities.
Twelve helicopters and three fixed-wing aircraft are available for evacuations.
Acadian is currently relocating patients from Ochsner St. Anne Hospital in Raceland, Louisiana, and Ochsner Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma to other Ochsner facilities. Acadian is also coordinating the evacuation of approximately 100 patients from Terrebonne General to Ochsner facilities in New Orleans and Baton Rouge with the assistance of additional ambulances provided by FEMA and other EMS agencies.