Tuscaloosa , Alabama ( CNN ) -- Along with the city 's power and phone service , the hospital 's pager network went down when the tornado hit . But like nearly every doctor in Tuscaloosa , orthopedic surgeon Brian Claytor did n't need his beeper to tell him to head to the trauma center . Claytor said he did n't know what to expect when he arrived at DCH Regional Medical Center on Wednesday . `` The emergency room was just overflowing , '' said Claytor , 38 . `` I was just in shock when I walked in to see the sheer volume of injured people and the severity of the injuries . '' Patients filled the hallway and every available room . Injuries ranged from minor cuts , lacerations and broken ankles to severe trauma from debris that sliced patients ' heads , chests and abdomens . The wounded screamed for help . Others scrambled through the chaotic scene , searching for loved ones . Pickups screeched into the emergency room driveway with injured loved ones helpless and bleeding in the truck beds . Early on , the hospital relied on backup generator power . The fierce tornado clipped the back of the hospital . Water and air conditioning were lost through most of the night . The trauma center turned into a triage unit , much like a war zone hospital . With systems down , doctors , nurses , X-ray technicians and other staff members went into overdrive . `` In the midst of that , we 're trying to identify the worst of those injuries and try to get them dealt with as best we could , '' Claytor said . `` It 's just impossible to adequately prepare yourself for that situation . But fortunately , after that initial shock wore off , people got down to work . '' Over the next six hours , more than 650 patients were treated at the facility . `` That 's a staggering number , '' he said . Another 150 patients were treated at a sister hospital across town . At DCH , about eight orthopedic surgeons , another 50 to 75 doctors and surgeons , and dozens more staffers descended on the hospital . Many came to work on that devastatingly historic night despite losing their own homes and cars , or even hearing that cousins and other relatives were missing , he said . `` Everybody showed up and got to work . It was amazing to see . `` Unfortunately , a number of the patients who did get here were n't able to be saved , and that 's tough to deal with , '' Claytor said . `` One of the hardest things to deal with was seeing some of the parents carrying in children , babies , infants who had terrible injuries -- some of them clearly unlikely to survive . `` Just watching that unfold in front of you is something no one wants to see . '' He said he 's amazed by the dedication of staff , not only here but from doctors across the region who offered their services . Claytor , still dressed in scrubs Saturday and having worked nearly every hour since the storm , held back tears . `` It 's just an amazing , emotional roller coaster for these people , '' he said . `` Once we were able to take a break from it and think about it , it was heartbreaking . ''
Over six hours , more than 650 people treated at Tuscaloosa trauma center . Score: 6 ` After ( the ) initial shock wore off , people got down to work , '' Claytor said . Many staffers worked despite losing homes or hearing that loved ones were missing .