THE LOUISIANA EMERGENCY MEDICAL UNIT (LEMU)
Conception to Reality
To contact LEMU during a disaster or for immediate assistance,
please call (337) 852-8771
Mission Statement
The mission of the Louisiana Emergency Medical Unit (LEMU), a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation, is to increase emergency surge capacity by providing high-quality basic medical care during periods of emergency and disaster as a community service to the citizens of Louisiana.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and was declared one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. The widespread devastation
of New Orleans and surrounding areas forced over 17,000 evacuees to seek shelter at the Cajundome and Convention Center in Lafayette, Louisiana. Many evacuees were in need of medical attention
but were unable to travel to a facility. In some cases, the facility no longer existed demonstrating a strong necessity for mobile emergency health access.
The medical community staffed a clinic in the Cajundome to assist those in need of care. In the first 10 days alone, 3,500 people had been evaluated and treated
relieving area hospitals that were already exceeding peak capacity.
On September 24, 2005, less than one month later, Hurricane Rita made landfall near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana forcing more evacuees to the Cajundome. Within 60 days of Katrina, the makeshift clinic
triaged 12,500 people. It also treated and evaluated more than 10,000 patients and utilized 500 medical volunteers.
From the makeshift medical clinic established in the aftermaths of Hurricane Katrina and Rita, the Louisiana Medical Unit (LEMU) evolved. The LEMU concept was developed
by Lafayette, LA physician, Dr. Anthony (Andy) Blalock and President of Wow Technologies, Inc., Designer/Engineer, Ashton Langlinais.
See Also: Our Units and LEMU In Action
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Cajundome shelters over 17000 evacuees
in the aftermaths of hurricanes
Katrina and Rita
September 24, 2005
Hurricane Rita makes final landfall
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