Houston? You Have A Problem!

[Rerun]

Praying for all of you in Texas who are facing the flooding and contentious rain.  I know you probably can't check in, but please write as soon as you can.  Be on your emergency diet.  I pray you get some treatment soon. 

    

[MooseMom]

I was born and raised in Houston, and both homes I grew up in were along Buffalo Bayou, so they are probably underwater.  I still have long-time friends in Houston, and one of them was telling me that she has a friend who has a friend who was having trouble getting to dialysis.   I was dismayed by the fact that none of these people seemed to understand just how dangerous missing treatments over a sustained period of time can be and didn't know enough to be able to answer my questions.

A few years ago, another hurricane was threatening Houston, and my mother, who was on dialysis at the time, was set to be evacuated to Dallas which is a four hour drive away.  Fortunately, the storm didn't do the damage that Harvey has done, so she was able to stay in Houston and keep getting her treatments.

The psychological toll of this must be high.   

[kickingandscreaming]

I'm pulling for you guys. Can't imagine what you're going through.

[Simon Dog]

I'll bet dialysis staff from hundreds of miles around are doing whatever is necessary to avoid having their customer base die off.

It is encouraging to see that the dogs (and cats) are being rescued.   I remember a horrible story from Katrina where a kid boarding an evac bus had his dog ripped from him by a cop and turned loose.

[Bill Peckham]

AUG 29, 6:00 PM CDT.  72 dialysis clinics in the Houston Metro area (52%) are reported as either closed or diverting patients. Another 17 clinics in south Texas are also closed or diverting.

There are 138 dialysis centers and approximately 10,000 dialysis patients in the Houston metropolitan area. As of 2016, there were an estimated 6.7 million people in the Houston Metro area. Twitter #Houston, #HurricaneHarvey



And the rain keeps coming.

[Rerun]

I called the American Kidney Foundation in Louisiana and they did not know the phone number to donate to Houston dialysis victims.

Anyone know a number for donation.  They must need money to fly these people to dialysis centers.  Our dialysis center has a few empty chairs.  But then most people don't know their prescription.....  blood pump speed, potassium bath, etc...   

This is heartbreaking.

My staff would NOT come in to help us dialyze.  They both have families with little kids.  You can't blame them.  It must come down to their own lives.

[kristina]

It is just horrible to see the news and see what people go through in the Houston area and the aerial photos are just devastating and depressing.
I can't imagine the desperation for anyone in need of dialysis there right now and my heart goes out to everyone in Houston.

[MooseMom]

Info in this article may be helpful, not to mention interesting.

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/08/30/547004371/this-is-surreal-houston-dialysis-center-struggles-to-treat-patients

[MooseMom]

Oops, sorry...Bill Peckham already posted this link, but I guess it bears repeating, especially as it gives an emergency phone number.

[Charlie B53]

3 1/2 years on PD at home.  * months on Hemo in clinic.  I'm still too new to this that I never had a thought about flooded Houston Clinics.  This is a MAJOR problem.

This points out the need for additional planning for future occurrences, everywhere.

I've no doubt that just like me, the general public doesn't have a clue how important regular dialysis treatments are.  Most government employees, at all levels, City, County, State, and Federal, are just as clueless.  Each of us needs to contact some of these advisory boards, make them aware of this problem so they can begin to plan for it.

[kristina]

3 1/2 years on PD at home.  * months on Hemo in clinic.  I'm still too new to this that I never had a thought about flooded Houston Clinics.  This is a MAJOR problem.

This points out the need for additional planning for future occurrences, everywhere.

I've no doubt that just like me, the general public doesn't have a clue how important regular dialysis treatments are.  Most government employees, at all levels, City, County, State, and Federal, are just as clueless.  Each of us needs to contact some of these advisory boards, make them aware of this problem so they can begin to plan for it.

Many thanks Charlie, that is a very good point you are making. I have been reading that many dialysis-patients in and around Houston have had no dialysis-treatment for days and the problem they obviously find themselves in sounds unimaginably horrific. I do hope urgent help is provided for them as soon as possible and I also hope that some additional planning for future occurrences everywhere is being provided.

[smartcookie]

I know Fresenius and DaVita are trying to keep what clinics they can open.  Here is what the Fresenius clinics in Louisiana did during Katrina:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPRhZFGjCrM  I hear that this is the model they are following for Harvey.  When we had Hurricane Matthew come through my area last year, we closed all the clinics but one for one day.  The one clinic that remained open just took their own patients.  One of the patients drowned trying to get there.  The next day, water trucks came and the clinics all ran on generators.  We ran short treatments that day for all our patients and then started business as usual the rest of the week.  It was hard getting patients here because of flooding and down trees, power lines, etc.   Many roads were impassible.  Thankfully, none of my patients lost their homes, but many had damage.  Everyone but one patient lost power and about half lost water.  I did emergency water runs for patients and gave out a lot of water.  And Matthew was not as bad as Harvey was.  Prayers for the staff and patients.  Prayers the higher ups trying to organize everything.  Prayers for all of Houston.   

[Rerun]

I moved the topic from "off Topic" to Dialysis General Discussion because we started to use the "D" word..  Rules is Rules

I found a link that you can donate to if you want to help Dialysis People in Huston.
    NOTE:  I donated yesterday to a Bank that had an account set up for the Red Cross.  I have not tried this link so PM me if it does not work for you.  Rerun


It was a pleasure speaking with you over the phone both yesterday and today. Thank you for wanting to donate to the dialysis patients who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Here is the direct link for donating to the American Kidney Fund:
https://secure2.convio.net/akf/site/Donation2?df_id=4663&mfc_pref=T&4663.donation=form1&&utm_campaign=harvey&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=Paid2
 
100% of the donations will go to American Kidney Fund’s Disaster Relief Program which will be used to assist dialysis patients affected by Hurricane Harvey. Feel free to share this link on your website so others can donate if they would like.
 
Please feel free to contact me if there is anything more I can do for you. My contact information can be found in the signature line below.
 
Sincerely,
 
Cecilia Estep
Event/Program Coordinator and Communications Specialist
National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana
8200 Hampson Street Suite 425
New Orleans, LA 70118
Phone: 504-861-4500  Fax: 504-861-1976
Cecilia@kidneyla.org
www.kidneyla.org
 
A member of Community Health Charities of Louisiana and Mississippi
A United Way Partner Agency
NKFL Boiler

[PrimeTimer]

I feel for Houston and the victims of Hurricane Harvey. I mourn their loss. I feel for those who are having their treatments shortened to accommodate evacuees but I also feel for those who are not getting any dialysis at all because they haven't reached safety yet. It is sad. I also feel a "little something" (but you don't want to know what that is) about those who are hoarding gasoline now in Texas. The animal mentality begins.   

[Charlie B53]

We have a 3 acre yard.  It is normal for me to fill anywhere from 3 to 6 of the 5 gallon jugs of gas and keep it in the barn.  It adds up when I am also filling my truck.

NOT uncommon in our neighborhood, we are ALL on large lots.

Most all of us always have a few jugs of fuel stashed.  Some also keep diesel and/or kerosene.

We are Blessed to be on 'High Ground'.  It would have to rain nearly 40 days and 40 nights before we would be in much trouble.  I never planned this.  I'm not that smart.

Good moves in mysterious ways, indeed.

[Simon Dog]

I also feel a "little something" (but you don't want to know what that is) about those who are hoarding gasoline now in Texas.

It is only "hoarding" when someone else stockpiles a commodity you wish you had.

When you do it, the term is "prudent inventory management".

[PrimeTimer]

I also feel a "little something" (but you don't want to know what that is) about those who are hoarding gasoline now in Texas.

It is only "hoarding" when someone else stockpiles a commodity you wish you had.

When you do it, the term is "prudent inventory management".

I sure hope dialysis and hospital staff have been prudent or have success at their local gas station.   

[Simon Dog]

"Hoarding" is generally a term used out of jealosy ("wish I had a big tank so I could protect myself from shortages like those hoarders are")

- Is it "hoarding" for a D patient to fill a bunch of gas cans to keep his generator running in an outage?
- Is it "hoarding" for a D worker to do the same to get to the clinic to run treatments?
- Is it "hoarding" if you have a invalid spouse or child at home?
- Is it "hoarding" if you are have a small child or are elderly yourself?
- Is it "hoarding" if you are an important government official 
- And finally, if you had access to a big storage tank and the opportunity to fill up in a crisis, would you do so or say "I'll take what I need for today, and fight the gas lines tomorrow?"

[iolaire]

"Hoarding" is generally a term used out of jealosy ("wish I had a big tank so I could protect myself from shortages like those hoarders are

I think of hoarding as more accumulation to a point well beyond need, a compulsive need to keep things beyond a health level. For example someone who hoards cats is not someone you look at with jealousy, nor is hoarding to a point where entire rooms of homes are unusable.   Stockpiles of supplies in case of emergency is generally being prepared not hoarding.

[PrimeTimer]

There should be more media coverage showing trucks refueling the gas stations so people will stop hoarding and panicking and drying up the gas pumps. 

[PrimeTimer]

I love stories about people giving of themselves in time of need. Hugs, everyone needs one every once in awhile. 


Mom Showers Houston With Hugs
http://www.kens5.com/news/local/mom-showers-houston-with-healing-hugs/470641826

[OlManRivah]

Thanks for the Link. . . . .I just gave.

[Michael Murphy]

In New Jersey I have a propane fueled generator Connected to the gas Lino in my house.  Fuel is not a issue there. In my house in the Adirondacks I have a propane generator that I fuel with propane.  The propane advantage is a propane tank if ito kept dry will last for years.  So up at the lake I have a 100 pound tank and a 20 pound tank for use when I get the big tank filled.

[Simon Dog]

Stockpiles of supplies in case of emergency is generally being prepared not hoarding.

It is if you are out of the supply and your neighbor has the stockpile 

[PrimeTimer]

Perhaps I should have used the word "panicking" instead of hoarding. Both are unpleasant tho. Sorry to have bunched up anyone's knickers.