Bermudian tells of NY hospital evacuation in storm

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31: A Bermudian had to be evacuated from one hospital to another as Hurricane Irene bore down on New York City.

Dennika Warren, 25, was hospitalized in July after a bone in her foot was infected.

Ms Warren, of St David’s, said: “I was here during the experience of the earthquake and I have been here during the experience of being evacuated during the hurricane.

“As of Friday, I was moved to Beth-Israel because NYU was being evacuated.

“My mom was in Brooklyn so she couldn’t be with me because they stopped all the trains from travelling back and forth.”

Ms Warren, a bartender at Tucker’s Point and a fitness instructor, said many patients were moved to different hospitals before the storm.

“They were even transferred to New Jersey,” she said.

“I was transported via ambulance at 10:30pm and got to Beth-Israel by 10:45pm. It was an experience.

‘They also had to send all my records — not just mine but for all the patients, all our medical records.

“It wasn’t easy because Beth-Israel isn’t affiliated with NYU.

“They messed up some of my medication but I did survive.”

Ms Warner said she had hoped to be back on the island today, but now hopes to fly back on Friday.

The delay is due to exercises needed for her foot.

Ms Warren said that four years ago she was hit by a car while on the back of a motorcycle.

As a result of the accident one of her heels was shattered.

She has since had six operations in New York and three in Bermuda.

Ms Warren praised the medical professionals who organized her evacuation.

“I had a good team,” she said.

“The ambulance staff had been together for five years so they took good care of me.

“I just thank everyone for their prayers and calls to check up on me and my family to make sure that we were safe.”