Attention DC/MD/VA Skilled Drivers: Help the Doctors!

As you all know, we have some snow coming our way starting tomorrow. A lot of every day things will not happen due to the snow, but what absolutely has to keep going uninterrupted, is medical care. during storms like this, Hospitals and other medical centers have to keep doctors and nurses working, to care for existing patients, as well as bring in new patients, be their reason for admission snow related or not. with 2 feet of snow on the ground, a lot of the medical staff will not be able to get to work on their own, forcing those already at work to stay, and work extremely long and hard shifts while being short staffed.

The good news, is that we can help.

Back in 2010, when the DC area got hit with two large storms back to back, a small group of tacomas on here made an effort to help doctors and nurses get to work with great success. WTOP put out a call for help, listing local medical centers and their contact information, stating that if you have a 4wd and are able to safely get around, that you can call in and volunteer your time and vehicle. when medical centers have staff members that cannot get to work, they will call you, with a home address to pick up and a medical center to drop off at. getting these doctors and nurses to work is a huge help for the countless people they affect.

I am not sure if they have made a public call for help yet, but this is the list of medical centers and their contact numbers that we used in 2010. you can call their main numbers as well if any of these have been taken out of service. all you have to do is tell them you'd like to be put on the list of available drivers, and wait for a phone call.

I'll be heading from southern MD where I live, to Northern VA to hang out with my family come Saturday morning, and plan to call into the few centers closest to me, if we truly do get 2+ feet of snow.

•Baltimore Washington Medical Center, call 410-787-4800.
•Holy Cross Hospital, call 301-754-7000.
•Providence Hospital, call 202-269-7148.
•National Rehabilitation Hospital, call 202-877-1000.
•Virginia Hospital Center, call 703-558-6868.
•Washington Nursing Home, call 202-279-0799.
•Sunrise at Mount Vernon Assisted Living, call 703-780-9800.
•Davita Dialysis, call 202-543-9105
•HCR Manor Care, call 703-765-6107.
•Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton, call 301-877-4883.
•Sentara Potomac Hospital, call 703-670-1638.
•Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley, call 202-574-5700.

Stay safe out there this weekend!

 

This is bitchin. Wish I could help.

 

I have done this in the late 70's and into the 80's for Fairfax Hospital, I was part of a 4 wheel drive club. I had a Jeep Cherokee (one of the big ones) and later a diesel Suburban. A few words of advise, volunteer for the late shift, like after 10 PM, that way all the crazies are off the road, and taking nurses home has it rewards. Got a few dates after each service. Have fun and be careful.

 

I'll do what I can out here in the FroRo/Sperryville/Culpepper area. Good looking out Colin.

 

Did this last year in Richmond where most can't get around with 4"+.

 

With less than a foot, I'm still running my crews out in the field, but with what's coming I'll at least have the weekend off to help out.

 

I wish we operated like that. I'll be struggling to make even 8hrs tomorrow.

 

Don't get me wrong, we've got a bunch of babies, but at least the bad stuff will hold off for a good part of the day.

 

FYI

 

Fantastic! Thank you, Chris

 

Bump because if you can help, please help.

I did this when I lived in Delaware during the storm of '03. 26" of snow in under 2 days, and in DE that crippled that state for over a week. They definitely aren't set up to handle that amount of snow.

 

My wife and I saw the news this morning how DC was crippled with the 1 inch of snow they got down there last night. It was pathetic! She looked to me and said that she thought I should go down there and give driving lessons to those people on how to drive in that stuff.

 

Oh BTW @colinb17 , great idea and fantastic thing your doing there!

 

Just something else health and safety related to think about if you're out and about in this weekend's storm.
posted on a couple of news sites:

"Be on the lookout for homeless people, who could get hypothermia during this cold spell. If you see someone in the D.C. area who needs shelter or warmer clothing, call the following numbers:

• D.C. -- 1-800-535-7252 or 311
• Arlington County, Virginia -- 703-527-4077
• Prince George's County, Maryland -- 888-731-0999
• Maryland Crisis Hotline -- 301-662-2255
• Montgomery County, Maryland -- 240-777-4000
• Fairfax County, Virginia -- 703-691-2131 (non-emergency police number)"

 

Nice!!!! Offroaders doing what we love to do, while helping others... Congratulations for this amazing idea!

 

Never see anything like this up in my neck of the woods...

 

I'm scheduled to drive some nurses to work tomorrow morning and afternoon, try to help with what I can. Great thread.

 

I've volunteered driving for Carroll Hospital Center for the past two winters. Feels great helping others, while having fun at the same time. Thanks for sharing with everyone and be safe out there!

 

Just called the Anne Arundel emergency management office. They are not taking more volunteers for now .