From Today's CNN.
"Part of the hospital's roof blew off. Power was lost. Snakes swam in the water that flooded some hallways. And the hospital's diesel fuel was commandeered by FEMA. "We lost our generator within 24 hours. We could not get fuel. We had to hand-bag ventilate patients," Dr. Albert Barracas said."
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/08/katrina.heroes/CNN is having a special tonight at 7 pm. about the situation in this hospital.
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By the way, here is a posting about the situation in Methodist Hospital as of last Friday, from the Times-Picayne Blog.
"PHILLIP, TIMES PICAYUNE BLOG - I just received a phone call from my sister, it is 1:20ish in the morning and she has just informed me that FEMA is not helping them at all. They are out of water, food, and diesel fuel for the generator. If we don't get media attention I am afraid that something horrible will happen to my parents and everyone at the hospital. There are 700 people in the 3rd floor lobby, about 50 or staff, and around 50-60 patients (a few have been evacuated but the rest of died). They did have helicopters evacuating patients, but now they are refusing. (by the way the helicopters were being paid for by the hospital parent company UHC). This is no joke, if we don't get help to my parents, the hospital and everyone in the hospital may die. I don't want to be dramatic but the reality is they are on their own.
The name of the hospital is Methodist Hospital it is in New Orleans east. FEMA and everyone else you speak with may tell you that they have been evacuated, this is not true. My sister just spoke with people at the hospital and the conditions are getting worse rapidly.
BLOGGER - My dad a surgeon and chief medical officer for the hospital. We just got called at 1:30 am this morning that things are deteriorating there.
THEY NEED HELP!!
600 People in hospital
13 patients on gurneys
Staff is dehydrating
FEMA is diverting support being sent in by UHS (owners of hospital) away from the hospital
Temperature 110 degrees with humidity
No fuel left to operate the hospital tower
No communication with National Guard to coordinate evacuation of patients
Having to feed 500+ non-patient refugees - they are very close to rioting for the balance of food water and supplies
No power, No communication
Everything is manual - no x-ray - running out of supplies
Patients are on the 2nd floor and 3rd floor - having to carry patients up the stairs and the helicopters don’t come back
Without power, the ventilator dependant patients are being manually bagged in 1 hour shifts by staff
Refusing to take gurney patients
FEMA is commandeering all supplies and all private efforts to get supplies including fuel, food, water
Governor is misrepresenting what is going on
Snakes in hospital
Rashes on staff from water
Losing nurses as a result of dehydration
Need FEMA to land on roof and prove what they are saying is correct
No security - uprising for food, water and supplies"