UCSD sending disaster team to Southeast for hurricane

A 35-member disaster team from UC San Diego Medical Center left Saturday, Sept. 5, for the Southeast where they will prepare to respond to Hurricane Ike, university officials said.

The local Disaster Medical Assistance Team will meet up with four similar groups in Atlanta to assistant with evacuations and other needs on the Southeast coast.

“Our team will support medical needs related to Hurricane Ike evacuations, acute medical issues after the storm passes, and for whatever is necessary, when and where the storm hits,’’ said Dr. Irving Jake’’ Jacoby, who leads the team of local medical volunteers.

The team has responded to a number of disasters in recent years the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Ike is a Category 3 storm in the Atlantic Ocean with sustained winds near 120 miles per hour. The storm could strike the Bahamas on Sunday.