Hurricane Ike Update #30

Friday, October 3, 2008, 9:14pm

They have put most of the students up in the University of Texas dorms, and most of the residents, if they have no other options, are in a private dorm. These are some pictures of my dorm room/crappy hotel room that will be my home for the next 8+ weeks. Atleast I have my own bathroom, and I have an extra bed for visitors! They give me one meal per day at the dorm, and then I get two meals per day at the hospital, plus money for when I'm on call. Not a bad deal.

I also finally got my address and mailbox, so I have forwarded my mail. This also means that anyone who wants to provide some resources for the surgery residents in my program, please feel free to send things to this address, and I can distribute them as needed:

Casey Boyd, UTMB
2021 Guadalupe Street
Dobie Center, room 2503C
Austin, Texas, 78705

I personally don't need anything, but there are many, many other residents in my program that were no so lucky (see previous posts). Anything that can be given will be appreciated--I think giftcards would be best (Target, Home Depot, Walmart, Kroger (all on the island), Bed, Bath, and Beyond, etc).

Please let me know if there are any questions. :) Thanks to everyone who keeps reading these posts!!!!!! Your support means the world to us "refugees!"

Hurricane Ike Update #29

Friday, October 3, 2008, 8:53pm

Ok, so I am finally getting around to posting these pictures from Galveston from last week. I had to go back briefly to get some stuff for working and living in Austin, so of course I tried to capture the feel of the island at this point in time. And of course, once again, I messed up the order of the pictures, so I'm just going to go through each one and explain.

1. There are Papa John's and Verizon wireless trailers everywhere! The Verizon trailers were offering one free phone call per person and free cell phone chargers. I think I saw more Verizon trailers than Red Cross trailers. Interesting.

2. Everyone has just thrown out the nasty trash and belongings from their homes. This is a picture looking out from under the covered parking area of my apartment. There was just a bunch of trash, furniture, and toys lying on the ground.

3. Even though Wendy's had some damage, they were still open for business! I was really excited that I was able to get some 99 cent chicken nuggets and a can of Dr. Pepper (no ice available).

4. Despite having no power or water in a good portion of the island, activity was starting to pick up. I saw a bunch of signs like this one, including one that I didn't get a picture of that said "BOIs are survivors--kiss our ass, Ike!" (Sidenote: taking pictures while driving is tricky and highly dangerous). Oh yeah, and a "BOI" is a person that was "born on the island."

5. I'm anticipating Home Depot getting a lot of business in the next couple months!

6. I think this was the saddest part, and I cannot express how devastating it felt to drive through the streets of Galveston. Everyone has placed the entire contents of their homes in big piles on the street, waiting to be picked up by the trash trucks. The people are then sitting on their porches. In addition, because everything is rotting--furniture, carpet, cattle--the entire island smells.

7. This is one of the Murdock's piers.

8. This is the other one of the Murdock's piers.

9. You will be happy to know that The Spot survived the hurricane, and there were plenty of people enjoying the outside bar and eating area that The Spot has to offer.

10. This was also really sad--someone had placed this muddy stuffed bunny on a ledge outside my apartment. I tried to capture the stark contrast between what used to provide comfort, and now is being tossed out on the streets in light of the hurricane. Hurricane Ike has changed everything about people's lives.

11. I was also very excited that Casey's Seafood Cafe came through relatively unscathed. Not that I love seafood that much, but how sad would that be if my namesake was destroyed! Symbolic? Perhaps.

12. This is the Flagship Hotel, which I'm sure everyone has seen on the news. If you go back and look at my photos and video, you can see the Flagship at the very beginning of the storm.

13. This is actually the church that I attended while in Galveston. It was nice to see it up and running despite the hurricane.

14. There is traffic everywhere on the island, mostly because there are few functioning stoplights, and a lot of debris. They are diverting everyone onto the sidestreets, and the National Guard is directing traffic, which, of course, is very helpful (sarcasm).

I really felt a strange contrast as I was driving around the island. The business part of the island is starting to pick up--some traffic lights, some restaraunts, some grocery stores are working. But then as I headed to the residential areas of the island, that's where the devastation sets in. How do you go about picking up your life after this? And,

How is this going to affect the tourism on the island (6 million tourists per year)?
How is this going to affect the economy of the island?
What about the residency programs--are any medical students going to interview here after the hospital has flooded and the island has been ravaged by a hurricane?
Are any changes going to be made in the evacuation protocol?

A few things to ponder.

Hurricane Ike Update #28

Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 10:31pm EST

So, I have received some requests for updates, but I really don't have much to say right now.

I'm still in Ohio, and I'm continuing to hear terrible, horrible, no good, very bad stories from my fellow residents about their homes.

I also found out that I'm going to be doing an 8 week rotation at Dell Children's Hospital in Austin, starting this Monday. I'm planning on flying back this weekend and driving over to Galveston to get some stuff. They are finally letting people back on the island, but with many warnings--mosquitos, snakes, and rotting cattle carcasses are everywhere. Electricity, sewage systems, and running water are nowhere. I'm planning on taking some more pictures this weekend when I head back to G-town.

In addition, I recently found out that I'm going to be moving into the University of Texas dorms while I'm in Austin (think tv movie: "Dr. Casey Does College." They have promised me a private room, air conditioning, tv with cable, coin laundry, bus pass, recreation center pass, and $8 per diem to eat dorm food (plus two meals a day at the hospital). My dad wants me to meet Colt McCoy, but I'd rather meet Aaron Piersol. :)

Sounds like a guaranteed adventure...

Hurricane Ike Update #27

Friday, September 19, 2008, 11:58am

A few more pictures of the causeway from Galveston Island to the mainland. It's crazy--you're driving down the street, and there's a yacht, in the middle of the road! Actually, dozens of yachts. Everything got pushed/thrown up onto the causeway with the flooding and the swells. Not sure how they're going to get all those off there...

As for me, I'm still in Ohio, with tentative plans to start in Austin next Monday. They are still working on housing for us, and I still have to book a flight back to Texas, and I still have to get my work stuff from Galveston. Phew! They are only letting E1 and E2 personnel onto the island, so it's a good thing I kept my E1 ID badge.

Another personal story from one of my fellow residents...

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I hate to be the bearer of bad news...but the description your friend gave is accurate. I had the opportunity to see my own house today and it is far worse than I could have imagined!!! I definitely lost just about everything I own...especially because the only thing that I took with me was about 5 days worth of clothes. I don't even know where to begin. I hope you all are doing OK.

Hurricane Ike Update #26

Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 2:24pm

They are slowly letting people onto the island, (although I think it is only if you beg and show your UTMB ID) and people are finally getting to see their homes, or what is left of them. But I wanted to share a few personal stories that I have received (names removed) from my fellow surgery residents. I hope reading these makes the destruction a little more personal...

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My Galveston visit:
I drove to the island today. The destruction is heart breaking.

I found my condo completely destroyed. I got almost 4 feet of water inside my house (up to kitchen counter). Furniture floated during the raised waters. Everything was disarranged beyond imagination. The dirty water smell and heavy air hit my face when I walked in. I've never been in so much shock.

I was not ready for so much damage (and I know no one is). While having a look I though I can only save the most important things and those that are not so important but meaningful. At least I was able to recovered most of my surgery text books and some clothing. My place will need complete reconstruction.

At least I am safe, healthy, have a place to stay, and a residency to continue with life.

MY advise for those who live in Galveston: GO NOW and assess your property or valuables. IF something can be safe from the mud, water and moisture, now is the time. The roads are clean to drive. Be safe, we got hit by another car on Broadway (even before I got to my place!). The check point to get into the island will ask for drivers license, you can also show UTMB ID. Remember the curfew - 6am to 6pm.

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I just got a call from a friend that was able to get on the island yesterday and he went by our house in Fish Village. He wasn't able to get inside but he said the water line was above his head. We had just bought this house and completely redid it ourselves. My husband had just refinished all the wood floors and repainted all the rooms and ceilings. He had just completed the total gutting of the bathroom and rebuilding of it. He had just built a wood fence and gate that is completely demolished. With the water line being where it is means that everything we own was under water and destroyed. Our friend said it smelled like filth and death. No amount of insurance can replace what we have lost. We are just trying to stay positive and remember what we do have. All of you are in my prayers.

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Another resident told me yesterday that his home had 30 inches of standing water in it.

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Another resident told me their entire garage was flooded and their home had about a foot of water in it. Many items were damaged, including their hardwood floors, furniture, and kitchen appliances.

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I am still in Ohio (where many people's homes had damage and many are still out of power). More to come.

Hurricane Ike Update #25

Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 11:38pm

HI everyone,

I still have a few more pictures to upload, so I will do that soon.

In addition, I have continued to hear from other residents regarding their homes, condos, and apartments on the island, and the tales they have about the destruction are just heart-wrenching. Many have several feet of standing water in their homes, with complete destruction of their furniture and other belongings. They are trying to salvage their valuables and head out, and then are waiting for their places to get fixed by their landlord, or destroyed.

As far as our residency, we received news today that we are being placed at other hospitals until atleast November. About 12 of the general surgery residents will be at St. Joseph's Hospital in Houston, while the other 8 will be at Seton Hospital in Austin (I'm in the latter group). The program directors and coordinators are working on finding housing for us in those cities. Apparently it's going to be more than 2-4 weeks before UTMB is up and running and fully functioning.

***Many of you have expressed interest in sending things to us down in Galveston, and I have decided that I'm going to start some "resident relief efforts" to help the residents whose places got damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ike (and by residents, I mean the surgery residents in my program). I have already contacted all the residents, and they are going to send me any specific needs that they may have. I will then put up an address for people to send things to, once we get established (it may be either Houston or Austin, since no one will be in Galveston for a while), and I will also email it out to everyone I know. We're not expecting anyone to send furniture or anything major, but it seems like most people are going to need simple things like kitchen gadgets, maybe even some gift cards, or food. I know we're doctors, but the idea of starting your life over from scratch is a scary prospect...

So I hope everyone keeps reading this blog and can help us out in whatever way possible! More info when I have it. Thanks a million!!!!!! :)

Hurricane Ike Update #24

Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 12:50am EST

Hi everyone! I made it safe and sound back to Ohio, and man am I glad to be out of that dark, hot, stinky hospital! I was able to get some pictures of some of the island today, but, since we were on foot, we were unable to venture too far down the seawall.

It's pretty impressive how trashed the island is. The west end definitely got the worst of it, as it is without the 18 foot seawall to protect it. Of course the seawall itself got a huge blast, with Hooters, Murdocks, and the Balinese Room completely destroyed (these are the pics that are usually featured on the news).

The biggest thing that impressed me is just how much debris there is. I mean, literally, there are trees and trash and brush everywhere. I'm not sure how they're going to clean it all up, nor do I know where they are going to put it all. It's hard to maneuver through the streets because of all of it.

On a positive note, I'm going to try to put together some relief effort for the UTMB residents that had homes and apartments destroyed by the hurricane. A lot of you have asked where to send things and what to send. So I'm going to poll the residents to see what/if people need things, and then we'll start up the relief. Until then, hold off sending anything because I don't know what we need, nor do I think the USPS will be up and running in Galveston anytime soon!

We're still waiting on more information regarding our residency training, but for now, those of us that were held hostage/essential personnel at UTMB are off the hook, and I'm planning on enjoying a real shower and a real bed and some air conditioning! :)

Hurricane Ike Update #23

Monday, Septemer 15, 2008, 7:27am

Good morning! Just wanted to post a few pictures before trying to escape.

DMAT has officially taken over and are triaging the patients. Even the ER faculty have stepped back. There still aren't that many patients in the ER anyway.

Last night we all crammed into Dr. Mileski's air conditioning suite and watched Moby Dick. I don't know if anyone was paying attention to the movie, but it was a nice relaxing, air conditioned end to a crazy 84.5 hours. Notice how everyone is so happy!

More pictures later after we leave the hospital and drive around town...

Hurricane Ike Update #22

No new news as of right now. However, I have potentially ruined my phone, which could be annoying during travel tomorrow. I was "showering" this evening (and by that I mean I dumped a gallon of distilled water over my head and used some bathgel to suds up my hair), and as I was leaning over the shower stall, my phone fell out of my pocket. Well, I didn't notice and I continued to dump water for a while. I'm trying to dry it out as much as possible, but it is having progressively less function each time I try to turn it on. The other residents have told me to stop bothering it, so I'll try again in the morning.

I guess if all I lose in this disaster is a phone, that's not too bad.

Hurricane Ike Update #21

Ok, so here's what I know about the area (sorry, no pictures, just what the residents have told me):

49th and Q--Several feet of water, so houses or apartments on the ground floor have been flooded. Houses on stilts or up some steps are ok.

Villa Marina (Ferry Road)--about 3+ feet of standing water was in the apartments on the first floor, with all furniture and belongings destroyed. The resident who lives here described it as looking like "everything just got swirled around." She has already applied for FEMA aid.

19th and Post-office--about 7 feet of standing water was also in these condos and apartments. The water was soaking into the walls and making a creepy gurgling noise! The strand area was still flooded as of yesterday afternoon, and there was also a huge house fire within the flooded area, which was unable to be extinguished for several hours.

Port Au Prince--second floor apartments were fine. Can't comment on the first floor apartments.

Sealy and 7th--no flooding on the first floor, but severe wind damage, with a broken window (and therefore lots of rain damage), screen door torn off, porch destroyed, debris covering the driveway).

12th and Market (me)--the water level was about 4-5 feet, so I can only imagine what happened for first floor apartments. The second floor, as we saw earlier, was ok.

That is honestly all I know about housing on the island. I will get more pictures of the island before I leave tomorrow, so stay tuned! :)