An earthquake strikes Great Falls during veterinary surgery

GREAT FALLS — When the Great Falls earthquake hit Thursday, most people stopped, took cover, or went outside to take stock of what had just happened. It was recorded as a magnitude 4.2 earthquake, occurring at 12:41 p.m., with its epicenter about 4.9 miles northeast of Great Falls.

But within the associated veterinary services, there was no option to stop.

Veterinarian Dr Emma Law and her team were midway through surgery when the shaking started, and a dog was under anesthesia on the operating table.

Madison Collier reports – watch the video:

An earthquake strikes Great Falls during veterinary surgery

“At first there was this rumble, and we weren’t sure what it was,” Law said. “Then the room started shaking. The table was shaking, the dog was shaking.”

The surgery involved amputating the dog’s tail, with the dog positioned so that her legs hung slightly off the table for easier access. As the earthquake continued, the team’s immediate concern became preventing the animal from falling.

“When a patient is under anesthesia, he cannot protect himself,” Lu said. “If they fall, they could break something or seriously injure themselves.”

Veterinarian Fiona O’Day said instinct took over.

“My first thought was, ‘The dog can’t escape,'” O’Day said. “So I put my body on her and rode her.”

Both Law and O’Day said they initially thought something had struck the building, such as a vehicle or a large piece of equipment, before realizing it was an earthquake. Earthquakes are rare in the Great Falls area, and the clinic didn’t have a formal protocol for handling one mid-procedure.

“We have plans for fires, gas leaks…things where you have to evacuate,” Lu said. “But earthquakes are not something we really prepare for here.”

Despite the noise and vibration, the team stabilized the patient and kept the field sterile. If it had been necessary to break the infertility to keep the dog safe, that decision would have been made without hesitation, Lu said.

“Safety always comes first,” she said.

After the shaking stopped, staff inspected the building for damage and monitored patients as they recovered from procedures. The clinic, which was built primarily of concrete and brick, suffered no structural damage, and nothing fell from the shelves.

Staff said the dog recovered well from surgery.

O’Day said the experience sparked conversations throughout the clinic about preparedness and what they would do if it happened again.

“It definitely made us more aware,” she said. “Hopefully we will have a better plan in the future.”

While earthquakes may be rare in north-central Montana, the team says the experience served as a reminder that some jobs can’t be paused during emergencies, especially when life is already on the table.

Great Falls man experiences earthquake

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