Does anybody know anything about when we are supposed to report back to Chabert? I hear windows were knocked out of the hospital and they are aux power. I know students went east and west and traveling back could be a problem. I hear some power has been restored but no phone systems are operating. Most of us left because a cat 5 was headed toward Houma until the hurricane took a north east turn and you know the rest of the story.
Share your stories and thoughts. When do you all plan to return.

I am glad to hear students doing clinicals there got out. Good luck with picking up the pieces.

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Saba Forum Moderator
Saba University School of Medicine, MSIV
Interests: Pediatrics, Psychiatry

It is so nice to hear that we have not lost any student in this terrible monster. Good luck everybody!!! and may God help everyone who is involved in this catastrophy.

the place is a disaster. we have been triaging alot of sick and homeless for the past 2 days. new orleans is a disaster.

Sounds horrible when I see the news. I think we will see an influx of residents and patients come to Chabert. I am heading back today and will post when I find out more info in the Houma area. Right now, my only contact is www.houmatoday.com newspaper online and the NOLA newspaper online. I do know they are using the Civic Center as a refugee place and bringing in several bus loads. The residents at Oschner have apartment there provided by the hospital. Some attendings live in Kenner and New Orleans and drive in. I hear there are gas lines and no phone access right now. I cannot call anyone and they cannot call out. If I get computer access I will update everyone. I am dissapointed in the Houma news because they have not addressed any hospital related issues.

I feel bad for the medical students FMG and US in New Orleans. I fear that some will lose their rotations and those in US schools have no school to go to. Who knows? Post your thoughts, questions and knowledge.

Anyone who wants to help Katrina victims call 1800-help-now, any medical student, who needs information call 1800-get-info. May God help anyone who helps this poor people.

Life we know is full of ups and downs. There is nothing those in rotation in Huoma area can do about this catastrophy than to accept it with very open heart. Others schools can tell better what natural disaster and political crisis can cause in people's life. If those from St.George can bear this twice (83 and 2004), I would appeal to those MUA students affected by KATRINA'S unslought to be patient and considerate. It will be alright with time because as long as there is life, there is hope. Be of good courage and see if you can be of help in the evacuation process down in Louisiana. Please keep us posted soon as the communication system improves.

Good luck to all of you and God bless you.

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Keep the faith no matter what the turbulence may seem like. Tough times do not last but tough people do and have every reason to laugh at last.

Stories on the news of the aftermath are very sad. It's good you guys got out of there safely and are back to help. I think I read sometime ago..... someone from New Orleans posted here that he would be coming to MUA this fall sem. I hope he is okay and would be able to make it. The best of us come out during dire times..........

It is very gratifying to help those who are in dire need and cannot repay you. Because only then are you assured that you've really helped.

With most of the area still flooded there would be a great risk for a disease outbreak.

You guys take care and God Bless.

Anybody who knows the student who is comming from New Orlean, should inform the admission office, and I pray to God, he/she survives this monster. Even if the student is fine I don't know if they will make it for orientation and posibly the first week. It is imperative that we take care of this poor student.

I got back from Texas yesterday and just gained access to the net. This is what I know.

Most people are without power. We are lucky here at this apartment complex because we are very close to the power station. I just got my cable back to monitor the ongoing news.

The hospital: The hospital as of last night was running on aux power with no A/C and all sterile instruments are not usable at this time because of power. The must be keep cool after sterilization. We have a shelter which took around 1400 people. One of the OB residents was kind enough to stop and ask if they needed help. She ended up working 24 hours with eventually only one other kind soul from the community that is a family physician which brought his personal supplies from his office and all samples on hand. All these people had been evacuated from the Super Dome (which is a fraction). I am doing my OB/GYN rotations now and I have to work in excess of 30 hours once a week. This woman deserves a metal... she puts in a lot of time. The OB people are working in the hot hospital with no AC. Some windows were blown out the the structure is sound and we had NO FLOODING here.

Gas is at a premium due to the increase need of generators and the lack of electricity to pump gas at most stations. People are coming in from the smaller towns to get gas. In addition to all that, gas delivery is a problem because there are only 2 roads or so into Terrebonne parish...

Housing: Housing will be a problem for any new student seeking rotations here in Houma. All those from NO, Metarie, Kenner and surrounding areas that received flood and wind damage are forced to re-locate. My apt complex was 60 percent full on Friday and now 100 percent full with hundreds of calls a day for apartments. This is one of the most expensive in the area and the other two new ones are full as well. The other older complexes are full as well not to mention the more economical housing such as trailors etc...... Nobody lost their home here except for one person that sustained a fire (not a student) and a overturned trailor (not a student).

Rotations: For what I have been told all clinical rotations will be suspended until Tue of next week. We have been very fortunate here in Houma. The only bad thing that has happened to me is that my car blew up on me this morning and had to get it to a dealership and could not get a tow-truck. We have much to be thankful for here in Houma. I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a home, a car in the shop...haa... but I have a back up. I have a hospital to go back to do my clinical rotations.

Land lines..... some are working and some are not. Cell phones may or may not work. Mine will work for outgoing calls and I am on Roaming status. I cannot receive a call. Some phones are working but the phone system is overloaded and the call will not go through.

Lines and more lines at the grocery store. Hard to get bread and milk. I did see the postal service running today.

I only hope that all those that fled the storm have a safe return. All those that stayed in Houma are fine.

Feel free to email me on PM if you have any questions I did not address and forgive any spelling or gramatical error for I have written this at top speed.