By Kevin Jefferies
Cozumel – Hurricane Emily may have struck land south of Texas, but not before it put some Lamar County residents through some tense moments. According to The Paris News, the eight vacationing Lamar County residents also used their emergency training to watch over nearly 300 people inside a hotel ballroom in Cozumel when Emily blew through them Monday on her way to the Mexican mainland.
The group was comprised of a State Trooper, two paramedics, a pharmacy technician, social worker, and two registered nurses. Paris EMS Paramedic Quincy Blount became the spokesman of the group after explaining to hotel officials of their emergency care qualifications. The group then worked out a plan with hotel staff and helped the people inside the hotel as 135-mph winds and torrential rains blasted the beach resort.
The group was out of touch for 24 hours, but finally contacted family mid-afternoon Monday and everyone have weathered the storm just fine.