Five Days at Memorial

We begin tonight with Hurricane Katrina which could be among

the biggest storms ever to hit this country.

A major hurricane barreling toward the Gulf Coast.

We are watching a Category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Katrina is now a Category 5 hurricane.

Right now, we are emphasizing leaving the city.

Hurricane Katrina has upgraded itself to a Category 5 hurricane.

We cannot stress enough the danger this hurricane poses

to Gulf Coast communities.

And this is just the beginning.

The city of New Orleans …

…this time tomorrow those people who have fled

may have no homes to return to.

…much of New Orleans underwater.

Hurricane Katrina--

Hurricane Katrina--

This is the storm some have long feared.

Holy shit. Jim, we're in the chapel.

Sarah, you gotta come see this now. Second-floor walkway.

So, Dr. Baltz,

after Hurricane Katrina, there were 45 dead bodies found

at Memorial Medical Center.

Forty-five.

Yes.

There were five days after the storm. The most ungodly conditions.

But 45 people died at your hospital.

You're making it sound intentional. You're mak--

Was it intentional, Doctor?

Please. Please. You have to understand the circumstances.

Why don't you go back to the beginning for us, Doctor?

If I understand, Doctor, there were two hospitals in that building?

Yes, correct. Two hospitals.

There was Memorial Hospital, where I worked, and LifeCare,

which was a long-term care facility on the seventh floor.

It had its own staff and patients.

But just ahead of the storm,

we took in an extra 1,200 people.

Look, we have always sheltered people at our hospital during hurricanes.

That was not unusual.

So, if none of this was unusual…

how did all those patients die over five days?

Doctor, how did those 45 people die?

Wade in the water

Wade in the water, children

Wade in the water

Wade in the water, children

Wade in the water

God is gonna trouble these waters

Man went down to the river

Man went down to the river, Lord

Man went down to the river

Went down there for to pray

Wade in the water

Wade in the water, children

Wade in the water

God is gonna trouble these waters

God's gonna trouble these waters

National Guard-- They are now saying that Hurricane Katrina

has upgraded itself to a Category 5 hurricane.

Just let the folks know what they have to do

and point them in the right direction.

- I'm sure they will cooperate. - We have rules for a reason.

Rules for a reason.

Ewing, this is not the first time this hospital has sheltered people.

You know that.

This is an emergency room. This isn't a petting zoo.

Come on. These people are members of our community.

- This is what we do. - Good.

- Yeah. - We can take care of them,

and we can appropriately take care of pets in the basement…

- Well-- -…which is what the rules state.

The Gulf, where actually it's very warm now.

Between 85 and 90 degrees in some areas.

Okay? We have to take care of them.

We have to take care of these people. That's what our mission is.

- These animals, they haven't-- - Look, staff meeting in a half an hour.

Anna.

Anna.

Horace, is anybody in charge of all these people?

Everybody's fine on their own.

I've done this a dozen times.

Sheltering here is like being snowed in at the airport.

You know, you don't have to be here. We got plenty of staff.

No, I've got some post-surgery patients to look after.

Vince can take care of the house. I wanna be here.

- I'd rather be here than not. - Understood.

Susan said there's a senior staff meeting in half an hour, okay?

- Okay. Thank you. - Okay.

Good morning, everybody.

Morning.

Not staying in your office like the rest of the doctors?

In it together, right?

It's like camping.

We could use a campfire. I hate it when they crank up the AC.

What's that?

Can opener.

That's all you brought? Some crackers, tuna fish and a can opener.

Worst comes to worst, I figure we'll be here three days at the most.

First hurricane at the hospital?

Yes, it is.

Why? Is there a problem?

No, it's just--

It's good you're optimistic. That's all.

Well, how about we just hope we don't have to find out the hard way

whether it's too much or too little.

Yeah.

Sure.

I'm gonna make some rounds. I'll see you out there.

Yeah. That's good. Let's go.

Everybody, keep pushing in. Keep moving in.

- Yes, ma'am. - Got it. Yep.

Come on, everybody. In. We could use the body heat, huh?

Everybody hear me?

Yeah.

Okay. So, first off, for those of y'all who don't know me, I'm Susan Mulderick,

and I'm the incident commander for this storm.

I know that you all are dealing with a lot already,

and you're worried about your families, and you're worried about your loved ones.

I know that we all are.

But regardless of what is going on outside or inside,

this is still a functioning hospital.

And until this passes, we're gonna be operating with special protocols.

- Where are my unit liaisons? - Right here.

Y'all have walkie-talkies?

- Everybody? - Yes, ma'am.

- Yes. - Okay.

To be clear for y'all, these liaisons are in charge of the patient units,

and in case of an emergency in that unit, you take orders from them.

Any hospital-wide directives have to come from René or me.

- Or me. - Or Richard.

Sorry. Sorry.

Richard-- Richard is filling in for Ruben, who is on vacation.

- Boo! - Listen.

You ought to be ashamed talking about your own staff president like that.

Who's on vacation.

Anything from y'all?

People are asking about the air-conditioning.

Tell them that we turn the temperature way down for a reason.

If the city power goes out,

our backup generators don't operate the AC,

and it's gonna get hot as a skillet in here real quick.

So, as long as it is cold, they know everything's okay.

Anything else?

Yeah. Susan, have we talked to someone from LifeCare?

I mean, I know they're their own hospital, but we are in the same building.

Well, they should have their own emergency plan, and they're--

you know, they're top dollar, so if it comes to it,

we'll probably be going to them for favors.

Anything else? Anybody?

Okay. Well, I have been at Memorial long enough

- to know that most of these-- - Baptist.

I have been at this hospital long enough to know that most of these storms,

they just blow on over.

But it is the wasp that you're not paying attention to that stings ya.

So let's just do what we are supposed to do.

That's it. Let's go do work!

All right. Great. Thanks. Thanks.

This is a grim situation for the city of New Orleans.

Did you come over from LifeCare, Chalmette?

- Yeah. - Diane Robichaux.

- Gina Isbell. - How many patients did you bring with you?

- 19. - Jesus.

Yeah. Well, corporate, you know. They think Chalmette's gonna get hit hard.

They'd rather evacuate patients from there over to here at LifeCare, Baptist.

It's "Memorial."

You call the hospital "Baptist," you sound like an old-timer.

Well, corporations come and go.

They can call it whatever they want. To me, it's still Baptist.

Everybody get settled okay?

- Yeah. You know, brought my A-team. - Good. Good.

There is a patient I wanna keep my eye on. Emmett Everett. Paraplegic, diabetic.

Got him in a big boy bed now, but he might need some special care.

- Okay. Anything you need, let us know. - Okay. Thanks, hon.

It is now a monster. Category 5, 160-mile-an-hour winds…

Morning, Angela.

Morning, Diane.

Wilda.

Wilda.

How's your mom doing?

Ma, tell Diane how you're doing.

Pretty good.

- Yeah? You good? - I'm all right.

All right.

Her temperature's down.

That's a good sign. She's fighting off the infection.

You gonna stay here with your mom for the storm?

- Yeah. - Yeah?

Well, I think the kitchen's making food. You need something, just go get it.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

She is looking better though. Your mom is.

It's not anything like what I expected.

There are people everywhere. They have their pets with them.

Everything seems just so disorganized.

- Right. - But everybody acts like it's normal.

Well, I guess it is, right?

I guess it is normal for people who have done it before.

Yeah.

I got laughed at.

What? You got laughed at, why?

Because I only brought a six-pack of water and some tuna.