Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans, Louisiana USA

[Tom]

I, like millions of others in the U.S. and abroad, have watched with horror what has taken place in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast over the past week.  Response and blame aside, it has really affected me seeing what these people have gone through, day after day after day.

I'm tired of watching and hearing news reports about this God-awful mess, and have decided to get off my ass and do what little I can to help in terms of volunteering medical aid.  I contacted the American Red Cross and am scheduled for disaster training this coming week.  The ARC told me they're in desperate need of all types of medical personnel, including Medical Technologists (of which I am.)

By next week, I should have some idea of what, if anything, I'll be doing.  But from what I understand at the moment, I'll probably be heading south (from Wisconsin) to Louisiana or Texas to help out in one of the temporary shelters.  I don't know for how long.  It depends on how my employer reacts -- they may sponsor me and pay my expensis...but I'm not counting on it.  We have two busloads of evacuee's coming up to our area on Monday, who apparently, have family in this area to stay with.

In any event, I'll keep you posted of what becomes of me...  

[HondaSiR]

I admire your courage and determination to help the needy, Tom. Do take care on you medical mission, I hope you get back home when everything has gone back to normal (hopefully in good time). We'll all be here when you get back.   :smt023

[Alistair]

Jesus Christ, you're a brave man, Lewandowski! Would that I had the resources to get over there myself and do something.

I suspect most of us have hashed it out with debates at other forums or amongst family/friends, on the subject of Katrina, so I won't go into it. But really. Wow. I'm impressed, Tom. I mean, in awe, like.

Just good to see someone actually wanting to help their fellow man.

On a personal note, how you going to pay the bills and eat and survive? Will the ARC provide some safety net to make sure you, well, eat?

Yes, please keep us informed. I for one definitely want to know what you end up doing! It must be like MASH for the medicos, out there. Very scary.

- Alistair

[smarteze]

Awesome!  Great job.  Definitely let us knows how it goes.  Good luck!

[Marten]

You have my support and respect, Tom.  Keep safe and know that we will be waiting for your return here.

[Alistair]

Just by the way, is the ARC the leading aid giver over there? I know our Government donated 10 million dollars, and all of that went to the ARC, which I thought was unusual (Australian aid seems not to go to charities).

- Alistair

[Marten]

If by ARC you mean the American Red Cross, then I believe your assessment is correct.

[Fancia]

That's very brave of you, Tom, not to mention incredibly generous... I hope everything goes well!

[Tom]

UPDATE:

Thanks everyone, for your support.  I don't feel I'm doing anything that I would necessarily consider, "brave"; just something that I feel is needed at the moment that I want to do.

I'm currently in 'disaster training' at the American Red Cross.  They'll be flying me to Louisiana at their expense.  "Deployment" (as they refer to it) is for three week periods and I won't be going for a couple of weeks, yet.  I'm looking at leaving Saturday, September 24...for three weeks.  I'll most likely be going to a shelter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...about 50 miles north of the New Orleans area, where thousands of evacuees are currently placed.  I'll be attached to a Medical Team of some sort.

I'm waiting until the 24th because we have a scheduled government laboratory inspection at our hospital on the September 23.  I head up the lab's 'Point Of Care' testing (a fancy way of saying, bedside laboratory testing) and really need to be there for the inspection.  

I'll have more details on Saturday, when I complete the disaster training.

In regards to finances...

I have a couple of weeks of vacation time I'll be using.  We're negotiating additional support from my employer, Door County Memorial Hospital.  The hospital is part of a large association here in the northwest, called "Ministry Health Care".  'Ministry' is also looking at putting together a medical group, but they're moving slowly.  My supervisor advised me to stick with the Red Cross if I wanted to do this as soon as possible...and the hospital should supplement my earnings while I'm gone.

Actually, because of the high cost of gasoline in the U.S. at the moment, not driving to work for three weeks will save me a LOT of money.    (But I sure wish I could take my bicycle down to Louisiana with me.  I'll miss my daily rides.)

[Ari]

Very admirable, Tom!

It's a funny coincidence, but I will also be away for 3 weeks or so starting Sep. 19th. I'm going on military reserve duty - following the "Disengagement" from the Palistinians.

I watched with some amusement President Bush's speeches in the last week, and I must say, they remind me a lot of PM Sharon's speeches to the settlers. Some of the interviews with the citizens of New Orleans, who stayed behind and refused to evacuate even when the US military arrived to lend them a helping hand, really reminded me of the settler's responses.
I couldn't help but compare the two, even though the background is totally different.

I don't know if any of you heard, but a particularly stupid rabbi here in Israel theorised that the Hurricane that flooded New Orleans was the result of God's wrath over the American support of the Disengagement.
Why on earth do they think they understand God's ways is beyond me...  :roll:

[Tom]

As of today, my proposed trip to the Gulf Coast is pretty much cancelled.

I've donated two-weeks pay towards the trip to the Gulf Coast, but because the Red Cross requires a three-week commitment, I was hoping my employer, Ministry Health Care, would suppliment the remaining week's pay.  They won't.  In fact, they're not getting involved with any of the Gulf Coast relief efforts...other than offering prayer.  (I translate this as a cheap cop-out.)

I simply can't afford donating three weeks pay; two, I could do -- but not three.  So, here I'll stay.

It's funny how when things go sour...like with this hurricane...God gets dragged into it as either being at fault, or the one who'll protect against it.  Is it any wonder I don't believe?   :evil:

[Tom]

I'm starting to feel like a yo-yo...

Now, it's back on!  The ARC agreed to send me for two-weeks instead of the normal three week period.  But I won't be leaving until the end of the month.

[Alistair]

Wow, you'd think they'd make it easier to sign up, wouldn't you?

I wonder if there's many volunteers. Hopefully so!

Please let us know about it Tom, I'd love to see (or at least; hear about) what the ARC are doing.

Lots of weird political fallout from the disaster as well, although the human cost is of course more important..

- Alistair

[jbltecnicspro]

Wow, you guys rock.  Helping the Katrina victims.  Ironically, when this happened (I know, old post), my family and I were moving from Biloxi, MS.  If you don't know where Biloxi is, it is one of the few Gulf Coast cities that got devastated by the hurricane.  I moved exactly one week before the hurricane formed...talk about irony!!  Anyways, I'm gladly living in Missouri now, though I'm in the boon-docks with a Satellite internet connection (Wildblue, it rocks ).  I'd like to say that you guys are awesome, especially Tom, by going to get trained by the ARC to help the victims out.  Unfortunately, I'm still technically a kid, and I can't go down there.  Oh, how I want to help!!    Oh well, my focus is going to be college now...  Anyways, I just wanted to add that little comment.  

jbl