Katrina aftermath - A doctor's story

An interesting eyewitness account from New Orleans.

Greg Henderson is a pathologist from New Orleans.

After Hurricane Katrina struck he stayed in the city and has set up a makeshift hospital at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, along with fellow doctors who were attending a medical conference.

We have set up a makeshift hospital in the French Quarter Bar in the hotel. There is a team of about seven doctors and pharmacists. We anticipate that this will be the major medical facility in the central business district and French Quarter.

Our biggest adventure today was raiding the Walgreens on Canal Street under police escort. The pharmacy was dark and full of water. We basically scooped entire drug sets into garbage bags and removed them.

We are anticipating dealing with multiple medical problems and acute injuries. Infection and perhaps even cholera are anticipated major problems.

The biggest question to all of us is: Where is the National Guard?

They finally arrived today of course, four days later than needed. Why it took so long to mobilize them is a question that must be answered. This is America for God's sake. How can the world's greatest superpower fail for so long to render relief to its citizens?

Many attribute it, almost hopefully, to racism - certainly far more comforting than that other thought nagging at the back of everyone's mind. If this is an example of our emergency preparedness for an unexpected terrorist attack, we're in deep doodoo.