A word about the thousands stuck outside a huge shelter in Fort Myers

[Maraya1969]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-irma-thousands-stuck-in-lines-outside-crowded-florida-shelters/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab4

I am writing this on my phone so forgive the mistakes. I hope I was able to post the entire url too the CBS.article about how the Germaine Arena shelter made thousands stand outside for hours in the heat waiting to get into the shelter that they could have opened but didn't, When they finally opened they only opened a couple doors up until it started pouring and then, all of a sudden it was possible to let these exhausted, hot people in

I was there this morning. My mom and I got there about. 8pm. She insisted on going too find the end of the line and I followed with the 2 dogs and pillows, suitcase and blankets. I lost her and my back, which has some serious problems caused me to sit and wait until she came up in the line at which point I would join her.

But instead, my mom, who is 85 tripped and fell, I'm sure with a lot of help from the heat and the fact that she had been standing on line for nearly 3 'hours.

So I am now sitting next to her in her ICU bed. Her anti blood clot medicine caused a big bleed between her skull and brain and also a small one in her brain.

The nurse told me that they woke her up and my mom wouldn't follow her finger. The doctor said the surgery was a success but he didn't realize how much more blood was there and that there is now " pressure"

I am besides myself with grief, worry, guilt and anger. I do know one thing. There was no reason too make all those thousands of people stand outside for hours when that stadium was empty. My mother was not the only elderly person there. I am kicking myself for things I could have done or things I wished I hadn't done but let me just finish with a big Fuck You too the planners and their lack of sensitivity to a while lot of desperate people

[applegrove]

1. Sending vibes to your mum.

[SharonClark]

2. I'm so sorry this happened to you and your Mom.

[DonaldsRump]

3. I wish all goes well for you and your mom. I really do. n/t

[mahina]

4. Please give yourself a break on the could have dones.

You've got enough to handle.

Breathe, good luck, so sorry and angry too, for you and your Mom. Aloha no.

[Scarsdale]

49. I second that.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda all pass through our thoughts at times like this. You did what you thought was the right thing. Stay strong for your mom, and yourself. We are all in your corner.

[likesmountains 52]

5. Oh no, so sorry.

[MLAA]

6. Sending healing, loving energy your way.

I am so sorry you two are having to go through this. And I am with you on the fuck you to making folks wait outside in the heat until it started raining, and magically more doors could be opened.

[Chemisse]

7. That is absolutely inexcusable.

I'm so sorry about your mom. I hope she recovers

[50 Shades Of Blue]

8. What a nightmare! So very sorry you and your mom are going through this.

Please don't blame yourself! It's not your fault!

[yuiyoshida]

9. You reminded me of a friend I know in Fort Meyers...

I sent her a tweet hoping she is doing okay.

[redwitch]

10. How awful!

I hope your mom will be ok and I hope that the hospital is safe shelter from the storm.

[kimbutgar]

11. Be strong but take care of yourself Maraya,

These events in your Mom's condition are out of your control. You can only hope for the best. Take care.

[hlthe2b]

12. I am so very sorry for what you are going though and I hope above all hope that all works out for

you and your mother. You will surely be in my thoughts and prayers.

[cwydro]

13. They should have had people working outside to identify the elderly.

They should have been brought in first.

I know they had that special needs number out there a couple days ago, but I understand no one could get through on it. Terrible.

[CountAllVotes]

15. Lets hope they are helping those w/disabilities too

The Disabled: The Forgotten Americans

all too often.

STAY SAFE everyone!

Strange times we are living in at best.

[Ilsa]

17. Oh Maraya. What cwydro said. They should have treated this like loading an airplane.

Get the elderly and very young inside first, along with anyone in wheelchairs, on crutches, or any obvious disability.

I'm so sorry about your mom, Maraya. I'll pray for her recovery and for peace for you. Please don't second guess yourself. Just know you are being thought of, and redirect your energy to being there for her and yourself.

[Hortensis]

39. Yes, they should. I was reading about shelters, and they have to screen up front

for safety, which of course pretty much explains this, plus all the questions, explanations to people who must at least temporarily be denied entrance, etc. Evidently this one accepted pets, which meant requiring they be in cages, with food, checking papers for rabies vaccinations as required by law, etc.

I don't know what it takes to become an accepted volunteer, but there should have been qualified people in those lines who could have switched roles. And absolutely as you say, they should have triaged people with medical conditions and/or who are frail due to age, including both babies and the very old.

[roomtomove]

14. I was actually watching one of the news channels, msnbc or cnn....

and saw the HUGE line outside the building and was wondering WTF was going on.....I am so sorry for you and that this tragedy could have been prevented....

[lsewpershad]

16. Sad

My heart bleeds for you, your mom and all the others.
Blaming youself is not the answer. You have done what you thought best. Peace.

[pnwmom]

18. I am so very sorry, Maraya1969! What they did to you, your mother, and thousands of others

is inexcusable.

Holding you in my thoughts and prayers.

[Sunlei]

19. you're right, doors should have been open. let people wait/sit inside. I hope your Mom will be ok.

[cate94]

20. That is horrifying.

I am so sorry for both you and your mom. Don't kick yourself, you did the best you could under circumstances which you had no control. Sending hugs, prayers and good thoughts to you and your mom.

[montana_hazeleyes]

21. I'm so sorry this happened. You are not at fault at all!

You were trying to deal as best you could with a terrible situation. They should have opened those doors right up.

[CentralMass]

22. That is terrible. CNN was showing that line during the day..

I will will say one for mother and you.

[barbtries]

23. oh, i am so sorry.

i hope you are well out of the danger zone so you and your mother do not have to be traumatized further.

[More_Cowbell]

24. FGCU closed its student residences

And made students either go home or go to the shelter. I'm glad my relative chose to leave and find a place to stay with extended family.

[BigmanPigman]

25. Why didn't they open it earlier? That sucks!!!!

FL has so many elderly you would think that this would've been a priority. Shame on them! My grandmother lived there too until she passed away 3 years ago at the age of 104. I would have been furious too! I certainly hope that things get better and not worse for both of you. Now I am really, really pissed off!

[SaveOurDemocracy]

26. I agree they should have taken the elderly, disabled, and those with medical...

...conditions in out of the heat. Hoping your mother has a full and speedy recovery.

Did someone take the dogs to safety?

Keep us posted on your mom's and your situation.

[Maraya1969]

31. I took the dogs back to the house before I drove up to the hospital

We are not in a flood zone so I put out a bunch of food water and pee pads. I also have a dog for they go out most of the time. I came to realize that they will be fine

[kerry-is-my-prez]

27. They were giving them background checks and making hem register - THATS why it took so long.

I posted in another thread that people are being turned away from shelters and there isn't enough shelters in Naples Ft. Myers but people seemed to think I was being overly cranky and that everyone should have just flown out of town and evacuated way back when. The hurricane in SW Florida has been really mismanaged. No gas, etc. no adequate preparations.

I'm am so sorry. I am feeling your anger right along with you.

[mountain grammy]

28. I'm so sorry.

[Lifelong Protester]

29. I am so sorry.

This shouldn't of happened. Lord only knows, myself and MSNBC keep talking about them caring for the most vulnerable first.

[RestoreAmerica2020]

30. ...im so sorry about your mother.

Please dont be so hard on yourself, you're there with her and she knows she is not alone. That will give her comfort. Take care ..paz.

[Hekate]

32. Oh, Maraya, I am so sorry -- please do not blame yourself for these horrible events...

Stay in touch with us as best you can, and God bless you both.

[calimary]

33. Aww, dear Maraya, I am so sorry to hear this. I can't figure out why the shelter wasn't opened

in a more timely manner! SURELY they had enough lead time, especially as we've all had awhile watching the magnitude and severity and approach of this monster storm?!?!?!? Sheesh - seems like another of those times in which one finds oneself asking - "um, doesn't 2 + 2 = 4?"

I just don't get it. I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she recovers! I hope YOU get through this, too. Please keep us posted! Cuz we're gonna worry.

[flamingdem]

34. So sorry this happened

Hoping for your moms recoverym

[Lyricalinklines]

35. I'm sorry. Prayers for healing touch, positive vibes you & your mother's way. Eom

[raven mad]

36. Sending every ounce of good karma from me and family.

I wish there was more we could do.

[colorado_ufo]

37. Prayers!

So sorry

[renate]

38. How awful for her and for you

To have this worry on top of everything else, and with all your exhaustion too... I am so sorry.

All the best wishes in the world to both of you.

[diva77]

40. I am so very sorry, Maraya

You are doing the best you can, so please go easy on yourself regarding the guilt...

I am sending good thoughts towards you & your mother...

[nocalflea]

41. "She insisted on going too find the end of the line ..."

You're mother sounds like an extremely strong-willed person. My mom was the same. Your instinct is to protect her and her instinct is to protect you. Moms like ours do not know how to compromise when it comes to the welfare of their children, no matter their age. I know how frustrating their selflessness is. Incredibly difficult dynamic to deal with. I totally understand the guilt, but what could you do ? Physically restrain her ? Been there, not an option. My god, I feel for you.

Please recognise your mother does not want you to feel guilty. That's the last thing she wants for you. Take comfort in her love for you.

I am praying that that strong-will of hers, will pull her through. My heart goes out to you.

[Skidmore]

42. What a terrible experience for you and yur mother.

I hope you both come through this storm well. Sending healing thoughts your way.

[Ken Burch]

43. Jesus! I'm sorry to hear that happened to your mom.

Sending you both strength.

[Granny M]

44. This is just inexcusable.

How heartless.

Sending healing thoughts to your mom. Take care, Maraya.

[Pacifist Patriot]

45. I am so sorry to hear this.

Please try not to second guess your decisions. You couldn't have foreseen this. You and your mom are in my thoughts.

[yardwork]

46. I'm sorry that this happened to your mom and you. I hope she'll be all right.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

47. Best wishes. There are many ripple effects to disasters. . . . nt

[catbyte]

48. Oh, dear God. I'm so very sorry.

WTF were they thinking?!? Again, I'm so, so sorry. This is NOT your fault, Maraya1969.

[Heartstrings]

50. Good vibes sent your way......

[samnsara]

51. please let us know how your mom is doing...shes my mothers age...

[Fla Dem]

52. Sometimes dumb idiots are just that; dumb idiots who case chaos and pain.

Access to arena should have been orderly but quicly. Probably had someone from ICE checking everyone's papers, All the best to you and you Mom. I pray for a speedy recovery.

[OldHippieChick]

53. I was flipping channels a lot, but that must have been you I saw or

there was another woman who got separated from her 85-year old mother. I am so sorry. Try not to beat yourself up. We will pray for her and for you. I think the West Coast got caught a little flat-footed when Irma took that turn so they didn't have their act together as well as the East Coast. Please know we are thinking of you and your mom.

[Maraya1969]

58. That might have been me. I told (either CNN or USA Today) that I was looking for my mom

I may have been sitting next to a suitcase with some pillows and blankets and maybe my dogs, (2 little ones) were in the picture

[hlthe2b]

54. So hoping to read a "good news" update. My prayers continue for you & your Mother...

I hope someone can help you with your dogs as well.

[Cadfael]

55. Sending the strongest positive thoughts to you and your mom

[iluvtennis]

56. You and your mom are in my prayers.

[malaise]

57. Good grief

[Tanuki]

59. Maraya, please check in when you get a chance. I hope your mother is improving.

Both of you are in my prayers.