In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, many stepped up to help those who felt the devastation of the storm, including Zachary Rounds, an advanced EMT from Brattleboro. Rounds is also in the class of 2025 at St. Michael’s College majoring in biology and pre-med.After Hurricane Ian hit Florida, he knew he had to help and self-deployed.”I’ve been in shock all week,” Rounds said.Rounds said he has wanted to be an emergency room doctor since he was a kid and has spent over eight years in emergency medical services.But after Hurricane Ian hit, Rounds decided to put his studies on hold, knowing his skills could be used to help those impacted by the storm.”I just knew that if I showed up, someone would put me to work,” Rounds said.Since arriving in Florida on Monday, he’s been working with CORE, a nonprofit aiding with disaster relief in the greater Fort Myers area. “Every community that we enter, the devastation is so dramatic,” Rounds said. “Just today, we found an RV that was completely overturned.”Rounds has been helping communities that largely consist of trailer parks and mobile homes, offering his medical knowledge as much as he can.”Knocking on doors, checking welfare, making sure that the people inside have water, food,” Rounds said. “If they need medical treatment, I am able to provide medical treatment to them.”For more serious medical issues, Rounds can call in help with local doctors.But volunteers like Rounds are not alone.”I have never seen communities come together to the extent that I have witnessed in southwest Florida,” Rounds said.While Rounds needs to get back to class next week, he said the work is far from done. “It’s really important, I think, for people to understand that this is a significant emergency still,” Rounds said. “Despite that, we are out of the search-and-rescue phase, the recovery is going to be ongoing for a very long time.”At this time, it is not recommended that you self-deploy to help out.Instead, numerous organizations have posted information online as to how you can get involved.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, many stepped up to help those who felt the devastation of the storm, including Zachary Rounds, an advanced EMT from Brattleboro.
Rounds is also in the class of 2025 at St. Michael’s College majoring in biology and pre-med.
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After Hurricane Ian hit Florida, he knew he had to help and self-deployed.
“I’ve been in shock all week,” Rounds said.
Rounds said he has wanted to be an emergency room doctor since he was a kid and has spent over eight years in emergency medical services.
But after Hurricane Ian hit, Rounds decided to put his studies on hold, knowing his skills could be used to help those impacted by the storm.
“I just knew that if I showed up, someone would put me to work,” Rounds said.
Since arriving in Florida on Monday, he’s been working with CORE, a nonprofit aiding with disaster relief in the greater Fort Myers area.
“Every community that we enter, the devastation is so dramatic,” Rounds said. “Just today, we found an RV that was completely overturned.”
Rounds has been helping communities that largely consist of trailer parks and mobile homes, offering his medical knowledge as much as he can.
“Knocking on doors, checking welfare, making sure that the people inside have water, food,” Rounds said. “If they need medical treatment, I am able to provide medical treatment to them.”
For more serious medical issues, Rounds can call in help with local doctors.
But volunteers like Rounds are not alone.
“I have never seen communities come together to the extent that I have witnessed in southwest Florida,” Rounds said.
While Rounds needs to get back to class next week, he said the work is far from done.
“It’s really important, I think, for people to understand that this is a significant emergency still,” Rounds said. “Despite that, we are out of the search-and-rescue phase, the recovery is going to be ongoing for a very long time.”
At this time, it is not recommended that you self-deploy to help out.
Instead, numerous organizations have posted information online as to how you can get involved.
