MINNEAPOLIS -- After a major interstate bridge collapses, authorities and thousands of others jumped into action.

Stephan Cismowski, a former military medic, said he would have been on the bridge if not for the bumper-to-bumper traffic.

He said that when he heard what happened, he rushed home, changed clothes and drove his chopper to the Hennepin County Medical Center to lend a hand.

"The coordination was amazing; it didn't seem at all like the severity of what happened actually happened. It's mind-blowing how well this has been handled," said Cismowski.

Cismowski said that he heard that about 3,000 people showed up to volunteer, and despite his medical training, he wound up handing out bottles of water because the well-trained staff had everything.

He said he would get back on his hog and try to help elsewhere in the city.

Doctors echoed Cismowski's sentiments on just how well the situation was handled.

Dr. Joe Clinton, chief of emergency medicine at HCMC, said that most of the injuries they received were blunt-force trauma -- as suffered in big falls. But despite the huge number of victims, Clinton said that the response went very well.

"Nothing ever goes according to plan, but it did play out very, very well," said Clinton, who said the hospital has several catastrophe drills throughout the year.

Penny Steele, a Hennepin County commissioner, said that all Minneapolis-area hospitals participate in interagency training for events just like the bridge collapse.

"From what I've seen, I'm pleased with the poise and communication. We had been very well rehearsed," said Steele.

Rescuers stayed at the scene well after the collapse with spotlights illuminating the scene.