Mortos
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:25 PM
Original message |
My brother in the path of Rita-still helping victims of Katrina speaks out |
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Edited on Wed Sep-21-05 09:28 PM by Mortos
Just got off the phone with my brother who is a medical supervisor at a hospital in the southern coastal area of Louisiana. He sounded tired and told me he has been getting an average of 2 -3 hours of sleep since August 28 (the day Katrina hit).
He just evacuated his entire hospital in preparation for Rita and is standing by awaiting final evacuation orders to shut down the only hospital in a 50 mile radius of where he lives.
This is literally the first time I have spoken to him since Katrina. He told me several stories about what has happened and is happening there now.
A little background on my brother. He was part of a task force that worked with the state OEP (Office of Emergency Preparedness) to develop emergency plans for terrorist attacks and natural disasters. He adamantly stands by the plans that were made saying what that team developed was a good system to handle these types of disasters.
I asked him where they system failed. He said that from the city level on up to the federal level was supposed to rely on each other to help but as soon as the actual disaster hit, there was an every man or organization for itself mentality that immediately took over.
FEMA took over the relief operations on day 3 and he was relieved when it happened. He thought that help would be forthcoming. His hospital received 43 evacuees from New Orleans and immediately began tending to their needs. The evacuees, were predominantly elderly but not all poor. He said there were many professionals in the group.
He asked one elderly lady why she didn't leave and she told him she had been using public transportation for 50 years, she had never owned a car, and the television news said busses would be available to transport people who needed it, out of New Orleans. She packed and waited but no bus ever came.
As they used their medicinal supplies to treat these additional patients, representatives of FEMA came to his hospital and went through the procedures to provide them with more supplies and equipment. As they left they assured him, help was on the way. Nothing came. A few days later the scene was repeated with different reps from FEMA and again he was told help was coming. Nothing came. He said they have been visited ten times by FEMA officials and as of today, 20 days later, not one piece of equipment, medical supply, food item or money has filtered down to their hospital.
He got a call today from a yet another FEMA official and told him they would be sending supplies. He told them to send them to another hospital because he had evacuated the patients out of the path of Rita.
Red Cross visited his hospital 3 times and assured him they where on the case. Red Cross performed better than FEMA, they sent 43 $20 vouchers for clothes at a Goodwill store, I kid you not, in New Orleans. Only good at that location, only valid for three weeks. My brother is saving one of those as a memento.
He told me of the call for aluminum flat hull boats immediately after the levees in New Orleans broke and 500 civilians responding to the call only to be turned away by FEMA, A group of doctors and nurses showing up in his city with a tractor trailer full of medical supplies and food ready to relieve the overworked professionals treating the evacuees were unceremoniously turned away by the Red Cross and told they did not accept any contributions except money and authorized corporate donations. They were not needed said the Red Cross as my brother and his staff worked up to 50 hours straight until they nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
There are many more stories to tell, he said and when he had more time he would "write a book".
Do you have faith the government will be able to handle a major terrorist attack or another natural disaster I asked him. He paused a moment and simply said, "No".
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cally
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:29 PM
Response to Original message |
1. When you get a chance, please tell him |
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I honor and appreciate his service. He is a hero.
Thanks for telling us his experience.
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Lindsay
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:30 PM
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2. Thanks for posting this. |
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It's so important to hear from people who are or have been there, to know what's really going on. Your brother is one of the heroes.
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Mortos
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:33 PM
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3. He is my younger brother |
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and I never really think of him as this intelligent, professional that he is. When I speak to him I am awed by his knowledge and character and by his humility. He is truly a good guy.
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EFerrari
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Wed Sep-21-05 10:05 PM
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15. Hey, I have a younger brother, too. |
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And I never give him the context or credit he deserves. We're very lucky, aren't we?
My bro is the premier sax in this city. But somewhere in my mind, he's just late for dinner.
:)
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lizziegrace
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:36 PM
Response to Original message |
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When you have a disaster of unprecedented proportions, logic says you accept any and all help. My sister and I have been having and ongoing "discussion" about Katrina. I told her I don't care about the damn parked school buses, placing blame and procedure and protocol. In the hours after the storm, none of that should have mattered.
Your brother is one of the many heroes who did what had to be done under extraordinary circumstances, only to be let down over and over and over by the very agency charged with helping and protecting us as citizens.
My daughter asked me if there were a terrorist attack or a natural disaster that directly affected us, would we be okay. I honestly can't answer that question because not only do I not know, I no longer believe.
You're brother's my hero.
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phusion
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:36 PM
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wellstone dem
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:42 PM
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6. other's have already said it |
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but it's true, he's a hero.
(It is wierd to think of the younger siblings as adults, isn't it?"
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Mortos
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Wed Sep-21-05 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
16. It's hard not to think of him |
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as the kid I teased and got in fights with (until he punched my so hard my arm was paralyzed for 30 minutes).
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SeattleGirl
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:43 PM
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7. Many thanks to your brother and the others at the hospital |
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for their super-human efforts, and thank you for posting this. These stories need to be told again and again and again so that it sinks in that we are NOT better or safer than we were 4 years ago.
And a pox upon the houses of every person, every agency, every ANYBODY who prevented help from reaching these people in the most urgent of times.
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Sydnie
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:45 PM
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8. We need to come up with our own medal of honor for people like him! |
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I hope he remembers every minute of it and does write that book. I would be there to buy a copy for sure.
Thank him for all of us out here. He is an inspiration.
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karlrschneider
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:46 PM
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9. Next time you talk, tell him -this- Okie is damn proud of him. |
Ilsa
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:46 PM
Response to Original message |
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"Red Cross visited his hospital 3 times and assured him they where on the case. Red Cross performed better than FEMA, they sent 43 $20 vouchers for clothes at a Goodwill store, I kid you not, in New Orleans. Only good at that location, only valid for three weeks. My brother is saving one of those as a memento." :rofl:
Your brother is a saint!
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Bozita
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:55 PM
Response to Reply #10 |
12. wondering what those Red Cross vouchers would bring on Ebay |
lyonn
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:50 PM
Response to Original message |
11. These sad stories just keep showing up |
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FEMA is worthless and apparently so is the Red Cross. All the help that was turned away is shocking.
Then you have ordinary people that truly care, such as your brother, and you get madder that they are treated with no respect by this crowd. Will we ever throw these bastards out?!
Thanks for info.
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EFerrari
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:55 PM
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13. Everything you say is consistent with what I've been hearing. |
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I'm sending your brother a virtual and heartfelt "thank you". God bless him.
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txindy
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Wed Sep-21-05 09:56 PM
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14. That's an amazing brother you have. |
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And he has more patience than I ever will to be able to deal with the bureaucracy that keeps failing him and his charges. He's been visited by FEMA ten times and the Red Cross three times, all with empty promises and nothing delivered? I'd be in prison for throttling one of them by now.
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nickyt
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Wed Sep-21-05 10:39 PM
Response to Reply #14 |
20. Thank you so much for this post |
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Please give lil bro our heartiest thanks and admiration. I'm going to send your post to all my people...they, too, will be deeply moved and grateful. fema must be peopled exclusively by androids and ghouls. "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results", and I guess I keep waiting to read of fema doing something "good". but it's not going to happen is it, and I feel I'm going slowly insane...the fema atrocities are continuously adding to the already freakish horror of the current Gulf catastrophes, and when I think of fema I think of *, and that motherfucker's goin' DOWN. He can never make amends for the lives he has destroyed. Sorry to rant, and I love your brother (and YOU, I bet you taught him everything he knows!)
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bloom
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Wed Sep-21-05 10:23 PM
Response to Original message |
17. this is what gets me... |
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"They were not needed said the Red Cross as my brother and his staff worked up to 50 hours straight until they nearly collapsed from exhaustion."
How frustrating for the ones wanting to donate - being turned away - and the ones like your brother who could use the help - but were not given any relief. It's insane.
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Javaman
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:35 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
25. Your bro is a shining example of the can-do humanitarian... |
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Sadly the prez*, is a can't-do won't-do.
Props to your bro!!!
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Pooka Fey
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Wed Sep-21-05 10:28 PM
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18. Many thanks to your brother; great post. Nominated. |
knitter4democracy
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Wed Sep-21-05 10:37 PM
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19. Blessings to him and all who stayed and worked. |
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I know how my hubby is when he's on-call three times in one week or for five days straight. I can't imagine how he'd be in this situation. I do know he'd be raving at any idiot who came in and promised help.
Your brother and those he's worked with are heroes. God bless them mightily.
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nadinbrzezinski
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Wed Sep-21-05 11:14 PM
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21. thanks we need oral histories of this |
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and faith in the government what faith? and I suspect this was on purpose by the way
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fooj
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Wed Sep-21-05 11:27 PM
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22. Sounds like your brother is a very special person! I bet you are proud! |
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He's a real patriot. Next time you have a chance to speak with him please let him know how much I respect and admire his service.
Peace.:patriot:
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Tsiyu
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Wed Sep-21-05 11:37 PM
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23. your brother is one to cherish |
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What galls me is imagining these red cross assholes clamoring for MORE MORE MORE $$$$$$ when what the humans suffering REALLY needed was turned away.
The Red Cross is a sham and a disgrace.
And FEMA? I'm hoping there's a special section in hell for all the greedy, murdering, heartless scumbags in that crank outfit.
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PurgedVoter
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Thu Sep-22-05 08:35 AM
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24. Can we get a scan of that voucher? |
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It's one more part of the evidence we need.
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spuddonna
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:51 PM
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26. Mortos, if you can get your brother's permission... |
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...send this story to some news agencies. There are so many places that still haven't received help in LA and MS. Maybe hearing his story will be a kick in the pants to people in high places and to the public.
You can send to Keith Olbermann at countdown@msnbc.com or Brian Williams at Nightly@NBC.com
Tell your brother he's a damn fine patriot. He's helping his fellow citizens... God bless him!
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