News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville Regional honored the medical professionals who treated 95 tornado victims in the hours after the storm.
“As everyone knows, March 3rd 2020 changed the lives in the matter of minutes. Families were torn apart. Nineteen lives were lost,” CRMC CEO Paul Korth said. “As quickly as the storm hit and left, Cookeville Regional Medical Center personnel were called in, ready and waiting to help.”
The first victim arrived just before 3:00 a.m. the morning of the storm. Emergency Department Nursing Director Angel Troxell said the emergency room went from full just after the storm hit to empty as the victims began arriving.
“Each hospital department was essential,” Troxell said. “No one was lesser than or greater than the next. The emergency department went from over capacity at 1:48 in the morning to completely empty and ready to care for survivors in record time. This was in large part due to the amazing effort of other departments pitching in to ensure the ED had the space that we needed.”
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the community was touched by how many Cookeville Regional employees came to work without being asked. He said he has heard so many stories of how those medical professionals touched so many lives.
“There were a lot of lights that shined so brightly,” Porter said. “There’s none that I can think of any brighter than the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. You answered the call. I know a lot of you just came in. You didn’t have to be called in to come in and work, and to think of the lives that you touched on that day. Almost 100 families, and I’ve heard so many compliments of the great care that their loved ones received.”
Troxell said even though the hospital worked seamlessly as one unit, lives were still lost. Troxell said she asks the community to remember those who passed but to also admire the resiliency of Cookeville.
“May you not remember the tragedy alone, but also the strength gained from forging a bond that will never be broken,” Troxell said. “Remember that because of each of each you, all of you together, we are stronger together.”
CRMC posted flags in the North Tower Lobby that flew over the hospital on March 3, 2020.
