[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 141 (Friday, September 2, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITY OF ODESSA AND MIDLAND, TEXAS AND ITS MEDICAL 
 LEADERSHIP ON THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUGUST 31, 2019 MASS SHOOTING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. AUGUST PFLUGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 2, 2022

  Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims of the 
August 31, 2019 mass shooting event in Odessa and Midland, Texas, 
recognize the citizens of these communities, and thank the EMS and 
other first responders, hospitals, emergency rooms and trauma centers, 
as well as city leadership. I commend the preparedness of those who 
were flooded with casualties, and wish to emphasize the importance of 
medical leadership and preparedness throughout the United States.
  Medical and law enforcement throughout the area were propelled into 
action during this shooting event, including city EMS medical director 
Dr. Sudip Bose, Incident Commander Chief Rodd Huber; Odessa Fire Rescue 
Chief John Alvarez; Medical Center Hospital CEO Russell Tippin; the men 
and women of the Odessa Police Department and the city's SWAT team; 
Texas Highway Patrol officers; Midland Police; trauma teams, first 
responders, nurses, administrators, citizens, and so many unnamed 
others throughout the area who provided aid where and when they could.
  The seven victims include 15-year-old Leilah Hernandez, 40-year-old 
Joseph Griffith, 29-year-old Mary Granados, 25-year-old Edwin 
Peregrino, 57-year-old Rodolfo Julio Arco, 30-year-old Kameron Karltess 
Brown, 35-year-old Raul Garcia. 25 others were injured, including three 
police officers.
  Every city needs to formulate a preparedness and response plan for a 
mass casualty event.
  Medical leadership is paramount.
  A multiagency team, created years in advance, was the driving force 
behind getting a plan in place before the Odessa-Midland area shooting 
took place. This team was medically led by Dr. Sudip Bose, an emergency 
physician double board certified in emergency medicine and EMS 
(disaster medicine). After the horrific event, he used his expertise as 
a former front-line Army medical officer who treated casualties in the 
battle of Fallujah, Iraq to address world leaders at the United Nations 
General Assembly on how to keep cities safe before and after medical 
disasters.
  Given the risks to all involved, it is imperative that communities 
and first responders make rational risk/reward decisions about when and 
how to handle an active shooter and provide medical care to victims 
during and after an event. This kind of action does not happen without 
prior preparation and practice.
  I am proud to know the preparedness for this kind of event is a 
priority in the Odessa-Midland area, and I am proud to represent the 
citizens, police and medical respondents who handled those innocently 
caught in the field of fire of the perpetrator. We must continue to 
champion preparedness training and ensure our medical leaders are 
equipped with the tools they need to address any situation that comes 
through their door.

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