In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence sits down with Kevin Hazzard to explore No One’s Coming, a gripping account of the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the extraordinary effort to rescue infected American aid workers from West Africa.
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What begins as a seemingly impossible mission evolved into a high-stakes, time-critical operation led by Phoenix Air — a team known for taking on the missions no one else will.
Hazzard traces the origins of this unconventional organization, from transporting explosives and nuclear materials, to pioneering aeromedical evacuation of the world’s most dangerous infectious patients.
The conversation moves beyond storytelling into operational reality. With no established protocols, limited knowledge of Ebola and widespread public fear, crews were forced to improvise, adapt and execute under intense pressure.
The episode examines the intersection of EMS readiness, public health hesitation and leadership under uncertainty. At its core, this is a study in preparation, risk tolerance and professional duty — illustrating how a small group of individuals stepped forward when systems hesitated, reinforcing the enduring EMS principle: when the call comes, you answer.
Key quotes from Kevin Hazzard
- “This is as scary as it gets.”
- “It is the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak in human history.”
- “We’ve got to figure out how to transport highly contagious patients — nobody does that.”
- “They risked their lives. They risked their families’ lives for strangers.”
- “Preparation is the most important thing.”
- “We are notoriously short-minded … we’re not long-range thinkers.”
- “There are people out there who are willing to step into the breach when needed.”
Episode timeline
- 00:00 – Opening context: Ebola outbreak severity and mission stakes
- 01:00 – Introducing Kevin Hazzard, author background
- 03:30 – Origins and evolution of Phoenix Air
- 08:00 – High-risk missions (including Libya nuclear extraction)
- 14:30 – Transition to EMS and infectious disease transport
- 16:00 – Development of the biocontainment system
- 20:00 – Ebola mission planning and execution challenges
- 27:00 – U.S. reception, EMS transport and public reaction
- 31:00 – Leadership lessons and EMS preparedness gaps
- 35:00 – Reflections on readiness, resilience and future threats
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