Medical Experts Fear Charley's Aftermath

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040818/ap_on_re_us/hurricane_charley&cid=519&ncid=716


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The 68-year-old retiree needed treatment Tuesday at a medical center set up in four tents outside a hospital closed for repairs. Until the electricity hums again and the debris is cleared, health officials are worried that there could be more deaths and injuries in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley than during the storm itself.


"We're seeing lacerations, injuries post-hurricane," said Karen Mulvaney, a critical care nurse. "A lot of people are coming here now because people are now returning to their homes."


In addition to injuries sustained during repairs, residents are being sickened by eating rotting food and contaminated water. They are skipping their prescription drugs and, with no air conditioning and with window screens blown away, exposing themselves to mosquitoes carrying diseases such as West Nile virus (news - web sites).


"It really gets back to getting electricity as soon as possible because that's going to solve a lot of problems," said Tommy Thompson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (news - web sites). "Right now there are a lot of heart attacks in people who are going out and cleaning out their property."

[Boomer]

1. "It really gets back to getting electricity as soon as possible..."

Gosh, ya think maybe the Iraqi people could use some too?

[oscar111]

2. 18 billion allocated, one spent so far

electric only 12 hrs / day on average, ... our military commander said "my guys are getting shot because city services are so poor, they hate us for that". {paraphrase from memory, as accurate as i can recall}

So, why hasnt bush spent that remaining 17 billion on portable city-sized or city-subarea-sized generators? 130 degree heat, i read. Incompetence is getting our troops shot dead. 130 degrees makes people irratable, irrational, sick in many ways. August in Iraq. Small wonder fighting is flaring up just now.
The heat there will still be bad till nov. 2, i would think. Comfort? maybe around late november... anyone know?

[anarchy1999]

3. Welcome to Iraq, American style, Florida, don't ya know.

This is only going to get worse and the media will not report it. All we will hear about is Jackson, Kobe, Peterson and Hacking, oh and how is "Team USA" doing in Athens?