Hurricane Katrina: The Race Against Time Inside Tulane Medical | Pradeep Thoppil | Episode #139

Having just finished his studies at Xavier in New Orleans, Pradeep Thoppil started working at Tulane Medical Center shortly before Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. As a first-year pharmacist, he was eager to help the team and volunteered to join the pre-hurricane team. He had no idea that when he entered the hospital that day, he would not leave until six and a half days later.

Pradeep, a self-proclaimed weather nerd, shares when he realized that Katrina had made a turn and headed straight for New Orleans.  What happened next is a wild tale of triumphs, trials, and the heroic efforts of the team inside the medical center.  

Pradeep’s recounting of the race against time includes flooding, the quick decision to move medications to higher floors, praying for people outside the hospital windows after the doors had to be locked for safety, the loss of power, water, and their food supply, creating and protecting a makeshift pharmacy, relocating patients into hallways as the storm’s pressure made the walls breath and windows break, and eventually moving patients up many flights of stairs and out to the parking garage for rooftop evacuation.

At one point, Pradeep considered leaving the hospital to meet his parents, which led to an honest conversation with God in which Pradeep realized he was being called to stay for the long haul. Despite the trials that ensued, Pradeep knew he had made the right decision.  

Sharing this story with The BeatiDudes was not easy for Pradeep, as it brings back many deep and difficult emotions. Please join us in praying for Pradeep and all of those affected by natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina