\"1200 people trapped in N.O. hospital need evacuation\"\r\n8-30-2005\r\nemail from Bill Quigley\r\n\r\nDear Friends: There are about 1300 people here who\r\nneed help. I would appreciate it if you could\r\nforward this information to federal and state\r\nauthorities and press in the US and in Louisiana to\r\nmake sure these sick people are cared for. I am in\r\nMemorial Hospital in New Orleans. We have nearly\r\n200 very sick people, hundreds of staff and hundreds\r\nmore families. The hospital has some basic\r\nelectricity but many rooms have no electricity and\r\nmany stairwells have no electricity/ There is no a/c\r\nand no external windows. We cannot phone out and can\r\nreceive few incoming calls. The water is rising and\r\nthe hospital is already surrounded by water. Once the\r\nwater hits the first floor, the computers, the\r\nemail, all intercoms, and all internal communication\r\ninside the hospital will cease. Our phones do not\r\nwork so this is the only way I can reach out. This is\r\nnot official but what I have been able to find out\r\nfrom listening to many, many people here. The City\r\nof New Orleans is completely overwhelmed. No\r\nelectricity. Incredible wind damage and now a\r\nbroken levee that is flooding the city even\r\nfurther. Please make sure that someone is working to\r\n make sure these sick people and their families are\r\n helped. They need care. For hours they have been\r\nannouncing that patients are going to be medivaced\r\n(is this a word?) to other hospitals and shelters.\r\nBut little real action so far. I know there is\r\nmuch, much to do out there, but these sick people need\r\nattention asap. Please reach out in whatever way you\r\ncan to make sure these folks are cared for. Peace\r\nand love, Bill Quigley\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2005/08/3807.php\">read the update to this email</a>\r\n