A Day in the Life of a Hurricane Rescue Team From LSU

“There are hundreds of little interest stories that have or will come out of this thing” said Ky Mortensen, Director of Advancement for the Equine Program at Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Some will be remembered for

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“There are hundreds of little interest stories that have or will come out of this thing” said Ky Mortensen, Director of Advancement for the Equine Program at Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Some will be remembered for a long time, written down, and shared nationwide. Others will only live in the memories of those immediately involved. We got a call on Tuesday night from some of the guys from the Arkansas Horse Rescue team, letting us know that they had rounded up five mules and two horses and had cornered them near the railroad tracks downtown near the Aquarium and needed us to come and get them. That’s what the LSU role has been–you call us, tell us where the horses are, what you need, and how to get there, and we get the trucks and trailers out there with veterinarians, technicians, and volunteers on board to handle the situation once they arrive.


“When the call for the mules came in, Dr. Dan Burba left immediately with our own LSU truck and trailer and headed into downtown New Orleans to try and find the mules. We were on the radio back and forth. He was driving right through downtown New Orleans, military everywhere, roads blocked, flood waters all around, shots being fired…it was crazy. Luckily we never lost contact, because we were at headquarters in front of a wall of maps, guiding him through the street maze to get him in the area where the mules were supposed to be, and he was just driving for all he was worth down there trying to do the best he could.


“I remember he said, ‘Okay, I’m on the street (Elysian Fields Avenue), tell me where to turn and how far down they are…this is crazy down here, we need to find these mules as quick as we can and get out of here. Okay, I see them. Man they’re all over the place! I thought they were supposed to be in a barn! This is going to be tricky…hold on, I’ll get back to you.’


“That was the last thing we heard for awhile until he was able to get back with us about 20 minutes later,” said Mortensen. “He and a technician had them all loaded and were leaving New Orleans. Amazing really, when you consider what they were up against

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