GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – More than 30 bus passengers stayed at the KROC Community Center in Green Bay after their tour bus crashed Sunday afternoon on Green Bay’s east side.
The Salvation Army gave them a safe place to stay until a second bus came up from Chicago to take them home.
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“There was such a feeling of gratefulness,” said Salvation Army Greater Green Bay Area Coordinator Major Catherine Fitzgerald. “Not just that we could open our doors, but just that everybody really was ultimately safe and that there weren’t more injuries or anybody fatally injured, so just a lot of thankfulness.”
The Salvation Army created its emergency disaster team to help those in need in preparation for the NFL Draft.
This team has taken action three times in the past week, and the training they do helps them assist in times like this.
“A scenario, actually, that we train for and plan for, and I was a little surprised that we actually had to activate. But we were ready,” said Fitzgerald. “We knew exactly what to do, and our team members were ready, so we were able to make everything happen really quickly.”
Patients who were in need of medical attention were brought to hospitals around Green Bay.
Emplify by Bellin Health said that they were ready for an influx of patients due to recent training.
“They utilized live role players to play the role of injured victims so that we can practice response mechanisms,” said Emplify Health Director of Emergency Management Dave Kobielak. “And it absolutely is crucial to our ability to be able to respond to these types of events.”
Eleven patients ended up at the hospital for varying injuries. Officials say the quick work and communication of multiple agencies helped make this a smooth operation.
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“We take our role very seriously in responding to these types of events and being there for when people need us,” said Kobielak. “Our focus really is around being able to work together as a community.”
Emplify brought in extra doctors and staff to meet the needs of the bus passengers, and the Salvation Army gave passengers food and water during their stay.
