Hurricane Katrina news from family on the front lines
My cousin, Craig Corey, is a doctor with a North Carolina Support Team (FEMA) in Gulfport, Mississippi. The following news came in today from his wife, Carol:
I spoke briefly with Craig last night. They are based at Gulfport Memorial Hospital. They set up the MASH tents adjoining the main hospital. His team is working out of the tents. The hospital is the only functioning hospital in the county or surrounding area. The main hospital continues seeing/treating patients as well as their tent hospital. They are receiving medivac patients, and ground transports from New Orleans/Biloxi, etc., and the local incoming, plus the patients that were already in the hospital when the storm hit.
The hospital is 6 blocks back from the Gulf. If you have seen the pictures from Gulfport, he said it is worse. The cell phone coverage continues to be sporadic.
They have federal guards and the Army military police protecting them. He said that some looters tried to enter the main hospital yesterday but the guards and the MP’s took care of the situation rather quickly. The team as a whole or any individual on the team does not go anywhere without a guard.
The team is sleeping and eating inside the main hospital. They work 12 hour shifts, 7:30-7:30. Craig picked the night shift mainly because it is cooler in the tents at night. They have no idea how long they will be there. He said there was some talk about extending them, but it is so hard to know at this point.
I will send more when I know. Thanks for your support, the calls and messages are appreciated.