Richard Pavick, a firefighter from Texarkana, Ark., has returned home after assisting in the federal medical response to Hurricane Maria.
Pavick helped the National Defense Medical System's efforts as a part of an NDMS Disaster Medical Assistance Team.
Through resources provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the program has worked with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to provide medical care and mortuary assistance to more than 8,500 people affected by the storm.
"Hurricane Maria caused devastation across much of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and NDMS members from throughout our nation are helping respond to the residents' medical needs," NDMS' Acting Director Ron Miller said.
Personnel deployed to the U.S. Virgins Islands and Puerto Rico are providing life-saving care, helping stabilize health care systems and restoring services to meet residents' needs, focusing on those with chronic health conditions.