Huntington Resident, American Red Cross Volunteer Helps In Vegas

Tom Hlenski, a Huntington resident and American Red Cross volunteer, has responded to many mass-casualty incidents using his 35 years of clinical and research experience to help those affected by tragedy.

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

A Huntington resident and volunteer with the American Red Cross has been deployed to Las Vegas to assist recovery efforts in the wake of the shooting Sunday night that killed 59 people, including the gunman, and injured more than 500 others.

Tom Hlenski, DSW, said he awoke Monday morning to the shocking news out of the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a three-day music festival turned bloodbath, when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on the crowd from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan police.

The news, Hlenski said, was reminiscent of the Orlando nightclub shooting that killed 49 people last year.

“I was very saddened and disgusted,” said Hlenski, 66, who was also deployed to Orlando in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting. “It felt just like that morning … with that feeling of so much pain and suffering out there. So many people are hurt by this.”

A volunteer with the American Red Cross since 2005, Hlenski left for Vegas the next day to assist using his 35 years of clinical and research experience to help those affected by the tragedy.

“There’s so much pain and suffering going on right now,” he said. “If my presence makes a difference for some people – that they feel a little bit better as a result of anything I may do for them… it would be great.”

Hlenski said his stay will last a minimum of 10 days. He’s stationed at the Family Assistance Center on the Las Vegas strip and will lead the Disaster Mental Health services by connecting families of the wounded or deceased with various agencies or services within the community.

Back at home, Hlenski is an independent private practitioner in Huntington and Great Neck and has responded to many mass-casualty incidents, also including the 2009 plane crash in Buffalo that killed 50 people.

In the wake of the news Monday morning, local officials released statements of support for victims and their families.

Suffolk Police Commissioner Timothy Sini and Chief of Department Stuart Cameron released a joint statement Monday morning.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families, as well as Las Vegas law enforcement and other first responders dealing with this horrendous attack,” the statement read. “Video from the attack is reminiscent of combat footage and we laud the rapid and courageous response by Nevada law enforcement to end this extreme violence.”

Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone similarly offered condolences “to all of the victims, their families, and loved ones that must endure yet another unspeakable tragedy. ... As a society, we must do better. Now is the time to come together to condemn these cowardly acts and back it up with bold action that will bring about meaningful solutions to prevent this from ever happening again.”

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) noted that the attack was the deadliest mass shooting in American history and said “we cannot allow ourselves to become numb to this kind of violence, which has taken so many lives over the years. ... My heartfelt prayers are with the victims in Las Vegas, their families and friends, and my thanks go out to the first responders who acted heroically in the face of imminent danger. May God bless them all.”