yooperRN

Update on my previous post regarding nurses helping in Mississippi (in the other volunteer thread). I received a call from the Director of the Mississippi Board of Nurses asking when I could get there, they need people desperately. All you need is your nursing license and ID, again it is primitive and you need to be able to sustain yourself, including bringing your own food (just in case), sleeping bag and anything else you will need for the time you are there. They are accepting RN's LPN's and even CNA's. They are also accepting support staff to help set up and maintain the shelter. There may or may not be electricity. They are asking people to try to get groups together so they can better staff there shelters, the one I will be going to is in Pascagoula (coastal town wiped out). I will be leaving either tomorrow afternoon or Tues evening (depending on if I can get someone to cover my shift). You have to arrange your own transportation. I am from the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, I could meet people in Indiana, or lower michigan, even wisc. or Illinois if I end up driving through there instead of Lower Michigan. Is anyone available to carpool through Sun.? I'm hoping to be able to stay longer but my work shifts may not be covered. Here are the numbers to call if you are interested (601) 944-4849 or (601) 944-4840, PM me if you can come with me, it is much more efficient if people can share costs of gas and possibly motel for one night. I have also registered to volunteer with other agencies, including the Department of Health and human services but it may be awhile until you are deployed and Mississippi needs help NOW. I can always go later with an organization that might pay for transportation. Anyone?

Update on my previous post regarding nurses helping in Mississippi. I received a call from the Director of the Mississippi Board of Nurses asking when I could get there, they need people desperately. All you need is your nursing license and ID, again it is primitive and you need to be able to sustain yourself, including bringing your own food (just in case), sleeping bag and anything else you will need for the time you are there. They are accepting RN's LPN's and even CNA's. They are also accepting support staff to help set up and maintain the shelter. There may or may not be electricity. They are asking people to try to get groups together so they can better staff there shelters, the one I will be going to is in Pascagoula (coastal town wiped out). I will be leaving either tomorrow afternoon or Tues evening (depending on if I can get someone to cover my shift). You have to arrange your own transportation. I am from the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, I could meet people in Indiana, or lower michigan, even wisc. or Illinois if I end up driving through there instead of Lower Michigan. Is anyone available to carpool through Sun.? I'm hoping to be able to stay longer but my work shifts may not be covered. Here are the numbers to call if you are interested (601) 944-4849 or (601) 944-4840, PM me if you can come with me, it is much more efficient if people can share costs of gas and possibly motel for one night. I have also registered to volunteer with other agencies, including the Department of Health and human services but it may be awhile until you are deployed and Mississippi needs help NOW. I can always go later with an organization that might pay for transportation. Anyone?

I pm'd nurse/realtor since I am also in Michigan. Here is some information for those that can't do a 3 week commitment with the Red Cross. I called the Mississippi Board of Nursing tonight (601) 944-4840 and they are opening a shelter on Tues in Pascagoula (sp?) and will take whatever time you can give, even a couple days. Please don't forget about Mississippi, they got hit very hard but are not getting the attention or help that Louisiana is getting. Once they know you are serious, they will give you another number to call (they may not be manning the phones until the a.m. since the person I talked to said they are all getting a little punchy from working so long. You will need to be self sufficient and bring you own sleeping bag/pillow, I'm unsure about food, will find out tomorrow, and provide your own transportation, they asked me to find at least 3 or 4 nurses or I could just go alone if that was the best I could do. They don't care about specialties, just warm bodies able to help. I am willing to carpool, I can go for sure this Mon through Sun. Let me know if anyone else wants to carpool, we could meet in other states even.