More on Hattieburg

Everyone else is focusing on New Orleans, I'm following Hattiesburg, MS. From The Hattiesburg American:

The failure of a generator at Forrest General Hospital early today forced the shifting of patients to other parts of the hospital.

The hospital on Wednesday began transferring some of its patients to hospitals in Jackson and Mobile, Ala., as its water and food supply dwindled.

"We are in a really critical mode," said Millie Swan, hospital spokeswoman. "I hope people realize the seriousness of this. It's times like these that you learn the lesson of how important water really is."

"On Tuesday, nearly 500 people came through the emergency room," Swan said. On a normal day, the hospital usually treats about 200 in the ER.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived at Forrest General Wednesday afternoon to help triage patients.

Mader said Wesley is treating about 200 patients in its emergency room each day.

"Those people who are non-trauma will have to wait," she said.

Both hospital officials said there has also been a lot of people stopping by the hospital, looking for a place to stay.

"We are not a shelter," Swan said. "Please only come to the hospital if you have an emergency."

"If you do not need immediate medical attention, please don't look to us as a place to sit," Mader said. "We are working diligently to treat our patients."