A Frustrated Nurse Writes About Poor Conditions in Evacuee Shelters

It is real? That stinks, that people can be so ungrateful.

In 2005, we did get some hurricane people but they were from here or had relatives living here, and they were legitimately in need. I think my town got a couple dozen, and most of them were able to go back.

ok, just call me a gal who grew up in Wi. worked in Mn, and now live in florida,, just where in the heck has anyone said what color anyone was? I might have missed it........ the only post so far which had me appalled was the person who wrote Louisiana, like somehow that was suppose to be some sort of coverall answer.......

the media liked to throw the race card around during katrina but it was not factual
the people in in the lower 9th ward were as a matter of fact about 90% black and they were hard hit when the levees burst but in upscale st bernard parish were the ratio was like 90% white and the destrction was total...people who had worked all their lives to build up a busines and homes were wiped out in a single day...that didn't appeal to the media so it was seldom reported

ok, what is the right story? i could see both sides/ it would be awful if it was that bad and the nurse was not treated with respect that she/or he deserved / as often occurs but not always. I hope that the spirit of caring and volunteerism perseveres in all future encounters for this nurse who gave of her/his own time for a full week. and dont give up on all people who want to say thank you for those rude ones you did see- perhaps it was a reminder of remembering to note those great parents and people we do see in each day thru small random acts that we may take for granted. i know i have.
thanks .. and good luck in future.. best wishes.

My point precisely...scum comes in all colors and genders.

most of the nurses who volunteered were doing regular work like passing out supplies and helping people who needed to get on internet to find familiy members [katrina]
there were medical care shelters and some of people in regular shelters needed assessment and help with medication and renewing prescription
my dd lives in shreveport area and some of those nurses who volunteered during katrina are doing civilian volunteer because they feel like their licenses were on the line, there were still able to observe and reccomend medical care but their status was not readily available to the evacuees

I heard stories of people complaining about the conditions at the shelters during Hurricane Gustav. One complaint was that the food was not to the person's standard or that they had to use a Port-a-potty. If that is true then all I have to say is...IT'S A SHELTER TO SAVE YOUR LIFE. IT AIN'T GONNA BE THE HILTON. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT THEN LEAVE.

it always makes me really sad to read stories like this. i dont know why people believe they are so entitled....

hurricanes frances, jeanne and wilma made landfall in my hometown. i worked in a busy ER for all three of them. the hospital opened its doors to all family members and pets of the hospital's employees and mandated that the A team of the hospital ride out the storm.

during frances, my parents lost their home due to a fallen tree. i spent 2 weeks living in the hospital sleeping on the floor in the linen closet where a group of filipino nurses also bunked because they had also lost the mobile home they were staying in. we spent these two weeks without running water and with power only available to patients on iv medications, vents and oxygen. we ran out of food. the nearby hospital on the water had flooded an all patients transported to us during the storm's eye. it was a true blessing to see the community come together. we didnt have much, but we all shared. there was no hairpulling, shoving or name calling. breakfast, lunch and dinner for 2,000 people became graham crackers, ensure and jello. president bush made his way to our hospital when the roads were cleared. he commented on the comraderie of our community.

during hurricane jeanne, the special needs red cross shelter in town collapsed. we all geared up and crammed all willing staff members on ambulances to rescue these people. a male nurse and i that rode toegther tied ourselves together with rope just to get out the door. we were cleared to ride and made it to the shelter. we crammed 11 people on our ambulance. one was dying of a heart attack and another was going into labor. it was absolutely amazing. the people in the shelter had taken off their sleeping bags to make a little bed more comfortable for the woman in labor. a man had used the last of his ice supply to feed the dying man ice chips. the older children there stayed with the younger children and comforted them, apart from being scared to death of the knee high, ice cold water rushing in.

during hurricane wilma, we had it figured out by then, having had 3 category 4 hurricanes make landfall within a year.

there were a handful of jerks who looted. but most people came together. neighbors opened their doors. the community truly shined. i dont remember this kind of media circus ever making its way to hutchinson island.

i cringe with disgust after watching what people have done to each other during katrina and gustav. i wonder why they think they have the right to act that way, and if all the suffering that happened would have been present if they didnt......

just my 2 cents.

We have all born witness to those few individuals who feel that sense of entitlement. It knows no color , educational bound, nor socioeconomic status or geographical point. We see people at their best and their worst. The best we can do is be grateful for those who pull together for the betterment of all.

flightnurse, the media picked up on the worse of katrina/rita...the people who were the rank and file did come together to make life as good as possible
when the katrina people were being sent to dallas in school buses the people of this community met them with ice and diapers, feminine products and snacks that could be carried on bus
this hurricaine hit in the hottest part of the summer so ice and water were not luxurys but absolute necissity...
pudding cups, small easily open meat cans, crackers, gave the children something to eat on the long bus ride
no one who met the buses were interviewed by media