Yet another update

[Modem Butterfly]

Hi guys-

We are still searching for my friend and her boyfriend. We are physically visiting and pestering incessantly any hospitals that might have accepted medical evacuations in the hopes that perhaps she is injured and not able to give identifying info. The chaos of the evacuation really complicates this search.

We are down to "only" twenty missing employees, from 75 earlier. This number does not include five confirmed fatalities, two from a car accident while evacuating, one from a heart attack and two from illness "of unknown causes" after having been evacuated to Houston. I read that as dysentary or possibly the "little cholera" that was referred to in the media.

Our employee disaster relief fund is quickly being drained. We sent out an appeal after Katrina and got an amazing response from our people. It's really something when someone who makes $9 an hour voluntarily gives up $5 from his weekly paycheck. That seems to have been one of the few bright spots for me over the last couple of weeks.

I started to write something else here, but I have to say, guys, that I think I am really freaking depressed right now.

[shrike]

1. Don't give up hope yet

It's going to take a long time for this mess to get cleared up. Who knows, she may be in Utah. I'd try not to think bad thoughts until you know for sure what happened.

Isn't it amazing that the most humble among us give the most? On the other side of the coin, you have Jeb Bush, proudly throwing a twenty "in the bucket" during a ball game.

[beam me up scottie]

2. Oh, MB.

I have been thinking about you a lot and if I can do anything, let me know.

We only have healthy evacuees in KY. No medivacs, or at least, none that I was able to find.

If anything, I think they would have sent your friend to Vanderbilt.
Here is their website:
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/

Can her parents get her credit card company to tell them what her last transaction was or what hotel she stayed at? (assuming she used a credit card)

How about your phone records? Can they give you the number she called from in NOLA?

Hang in there and again, let me know if I can do anything.

I can't make any phone calls but I can sort through lists and send out identifying information to shelters and hospitals.

How is her kitty?

[Modem Butterfly]

6. Her folks, and her boyfriend's folks, are working on that part

Her kitty wasn't eating at first, but has come back quite a bit and has grown rather attached to his new catdom. His temporary landlord is growing attached to him too.

[trotsky]

3. I'm sorry to hear things aren't going as well.

Waiting and more waiting is about all you can do, and it's frustrating as hell. We're here for ya, MB. :hug:

[salvorhardin]

4. I'm really sad to hear this.

I have nothing I can say that could possibly comfort you, but please let us know if there is anything we can do. We all may be close strangers here but we are here for you.

If you'd like I can throw up a web page with a photo, identifying and information and anything else you might want. Maybe someone somewhere will see it and know something. At the very least you can use it as a reference. Just let me know.

[Modem Butterfly]

7. That's very kind of you

I have passed your offer along to her folks. Thank-you very much!

[salvorhardin]

8. No problem

Just let me know if they want to do this. PM me and we can exchange contact information.

[onager]

5. There's still hope.

Citizens of New Orleans are scattered all over the place right now.

Sounds like BMUS had some good ideas.

Best of luck, and we're all hoping with you for a happy ending.

[Beetwasher]

9. Thanks for the Update

Keep hanging in there...Sorry, I know it's gotta be rough...

[trotsky]

10. I wonder how those folks are doing. n/t