I cannot say Thank You enough to all of you who have posted comments or emailed me.  My mom got back yesterday from working a shelter that was basically an ER/triage area in Baton Rouge.  She saw all kinds of things and the saddest part is, she found people being turned away from the shelter.  Let me explain, if someone had an injury/illness that the people in charge deemed worthy of care, they were put on a bus to this facility.  When they were checked out, if they had a medical need, they could stay in the shelter part.  If not, they were discharged with no one to take them anywhere for shelter. 

One family was with a 12 year old who had a nosebleed.  She tried to tell the people in charge that it was nothing so that her family could go to a “normal” shelter, but they put them on the bus to the medical ER/triage place (don’t I have such eloquent writing…lol).  When she got there, the nosebleed was determined to be stress (just like she told them) and they were told to leave.  My mom finally wrangled them a few cots and they were allowed to stay, but this is the kind of stuff that these people are facing. 

Also, lots of talk is coming out about how the governor and the mayor of N.O. refused, even with the information they were presented with Friday and Saturday, to declare a state of emergency and evacuate.   Apparently, New Orleans had procedures for this type of thing, which entailed using school buses and public transportation to get people out.  They chose not to do this.  I saw pictures of rows and rows of school buses that are now mostly under water.  It was the weekend, no school….why were they not used? 

I still think that it’s premature to start the “blame game” until these people are helped.  But as soon as it settles down, I think we as the citizens of Louisiana should demand an investigation into how this crisis was handled. 

Another issue that has come to light is the hazardous water these people are wading in.  Any skin contact can be detrimental to health and safety of these people.  Also, they are saying that people in helicopters doing rescues are at risk.  They are starting to see people die from illness sustained in the water.  To me, that is really scary.  These bacteria are running rampant and now, mosquitoes are starting to infest the area and the reality is that mosquitoes will bite on cadavers and then bite someone else.  So, even if you are in the area, but not near the water, you could be at risk.  As information pours in from the CDC, it should be interesting for medical geeks such as myself. 

Also, an update on the woman who lost her 3 children.  The radio program I heard the story on is syndicated across the country.  Her children were found and they were reunited.  I think they said the kids were either in Oregon or Ohio (can’t remember which).  The mother was in Texas.  This is why some families are unable to re-unite, they are hundreds of miles apart.  But, at least that story had a happy ending. 

And, now something “normal”.  LittleMan got a Halloween costume.  He is going to be the cutest dragon you’ve ever seen!!  Last night he tried on the costume for my mom and refused to take it off until an hour later (probably only then because it was hot).  He puts it on and goes…GGRRRRR.  LOL!  He also has learned to grab my shoulder if I’m sitting down and say “Come on” to make me get up to do whatever it is that he wants.  Usually it’s to point and tell me “cookie” in a “Fetch, mom” type attitude. 

Hope you are all having a great week.  Check in on Cat at amomintheswamp.com and try to send her some encouraging words (and other stuff if you are able).  She lost everything to Katrina.

Melissa