When a powerful winter storm buried roads in snow and brought daily life to a halt, most were urged to stay home. But for our EMS teams and health care workers, the mission never stopped: to be the best for those who need us.

"In EMS, our people don’t shy away from challenges, they thrive in them. When conditions are at their worst, that’s when we step up the most," says Owen Aldridge, communications manager.

For 48 straight hours, our EMS teams battled brutal conditions - whiteout snow, freezing temperatures, and impassable roads. Yet they kept going. They pulled vehicles out of ditches, offered stranded drivers a warm place to rest and ensured that staff made it safely to hospitals and clinics.

And it wasn’t just EMS. Across our entire health system, hundreds of employees made incredible sacrifices - staying overnight in hospital rooms, braving the storm to get to work and going above and beyond to make sure patient care never faltered. Even our leadership jumped in, using their own vehicles to help transport staff.

Our teams helped over 160 employees get to work - all while responding to a flood of emergency calls and aiding stranded motorists along the way.

Owen says the last few days have shown that when adversity strikes, our people never back down. They know that every action, every decision and every extra effort makes a difference. That’s the heart of EMS, and that’s the heart of CoxHealth.

To every paramedic, EMT, nurse, doctor, administrator, and staff member who worked tirelessly during the storm: thank you. Your dedication, bravery and compassion are what make this health system extraordinary.

“This isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. We are able to do this because our people care deeply, embrace the responsibility, and rise to the challenge every time," says Owen.

Braving the storm: Dedication in action