and what about Wilma devistation of FloridaMy husband and I went down to SW LA in October and helped with the recovery. It was bad down there.
and what about Wilma devistation of FloridaIt's all about New Orleans....the city that thought it was immune to hurricanes (other than the drink).
But Katrina was a Chocolate storm. Rita was more shrimp gumbo. That's why.
Simple question to answer.
SW Louisianna and SE Texas are red areas on the map.
I can relate factually how Rita victims have been overlooked from the federal to the state even to groups that are supposed to be helping the victims of hurricanes.
My Mother-in-Law was in ICU in Beaumont Texas when Rita was coming on shore. FEMA evacuated her out via the Air National Guard. It took almost a week before we found her. FEMA, the hospital, the Guard, Red Cross etc did not have a record of where she, and thousands of others, was taken. Once we found her, in Georgia, we had her moved to our home as soon as she was medically stable. This is where the REAL problems began.
My MIL is 100% disabled, wheelchair bound with end-stage renal disease, CHF, uncontrollable diabetes, parkinsons, and almost total neuropathy of her lower extremities. I flew to GA to meet her, flew her back to Miami where we had an ambulance waiting for her to take her to our local hospital for observation and release. We had made prior arrangements with a local doctor to direct admit her.
During FEMA’s move, all of my MIL’s hospital records, identification, clothing, Medicare/Medicaid cards were lost. None of the medical facilities where she had been knew where they were. What should have been a simple admit into the hospital turned into a 4 hour ordeal with the hospital refusing to direct admit her since she did not have ID or her insurance cards. HOWEVER if she had been a Katrina evacuee policies where in place for those missing ID etc. Finally, out of frustration we took her to the Emergency room where they could not refuse to treat her. It’s a good thing we did. Upon acceptance into the ER we learned she had pneumonia and was in the beginning stages of another heart attack. A simple observation turned into a 14 days hospital stay.
While she was in hospital we tried to get copies of her ID and Medicaid/Medicare cards. Not even the State of Texas had provisions at the time to handle those affected by Rita. To get copies of her state cards, we were required to have a notarized copy of a Power of Attorney faxed to the state. Not a problem if we could have found a notary that would make a trip to the hospital AND sign a POA without her ID. Finally my FIL, still in E. Texas was able to get us a duplicate of her driver’s license using the POA he had. With this ID we were able to get her Medicaid/Medicare ID’s. Problem solved right? Not on your life.
Once she was discharged she was placed on 21 medications not including insulin. I could not find a single pharmacy that would fill them for her. After spending an entire day and most of an evening calling various pharmacies throughout S. Florida; even as far as the Orlando area, I still could not find one that was willing to bill Texas for her scripts. CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, etc etc all had provisions to bill for Katrina victims, NONE for Rita. We paid out of pocket for her first month of drugs. $1474 later she had her medications. We were told by a Social Worker at our local hospital to get her on Florida Medicaid. However, Florida has up to 45 days to accept an out-of-state Med/Medicare patient. If she had been Katrina, the switch was automatic.
After a lot of screaming, calling of Gov’s offices, local reps and even my towns Mayor, she received Florida Medicare 32 days later. I guess that is better than 45.
As of this Sunday my MIL is stable enough to finally travel back to Texas. I’ve made reservations to fly both of us and I will return late Sun night. American Airlines has a discount for Katrina victims to fly home. This doesn’t apply to Rita. Her original flight to S. Florida was slightly over $800; this flight is almost $600. Money we’ve paid out of our pocket with no way to get reimbursed from anyone that we are aware of. Of course we are paying everything without much complaint, after all she is family and you have to do for your own. I just can’t describe how frustrating it is to learn your family member isn’t eligible for assistance because the particular hurricane she was a “victim” of wasn’t as news worthy.
I apologize for the length of this post and even with it’s size I could go on and on with other problems we encountered getting her needed medical equipment, finding doctors to accept her as a patient, trying to get any assistance from the Red Cross (they would not do a single thing to help her) etc but I’ve bored you enough. Are Rita victims forgotten? You’re damn right they are and my MIL is living proof.
I don't know: tell me, does Lake Charles have a race-baiting, loud-mouthed black mayor?
I didn't think so...
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I have not heard or read one article about the gulf coast ports.
HURRICANE RITA-- archive of links
various FR links & stories | 09-21-05 | the heavy equipment guy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1488785/posts
