âWeâre constantly trying to move vehicles around and optimize them,â 22 of N.O. EMS 40 fleet operational EMS Ambulance shortage By Rilwan Balogun | May 13, 2021 at 6:08 PM CDT - Updated May 13 at 6:09 PM NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A New Orleans EMT works 12 hours a shift. Typically, sitting in a vehicle waiting to respond to a call. As they sit and wait, the vehicle runs. âYou can imagine during rain event or heat that vehicle needs to be running to make sure that theyâre comfortable and safe throughout that shift,â said Dr. Emily Nichols, New Orleansâ EMS Director. âSimilarly, that vehicle needs to be at a perfect temperature when someone ill needs to get inside of it.â