AAcupuncturists cupuncturists WWithout ithout BBordersorders

Global Disaster ResponseGlobal Disaster Response

Field Notes 10-18-05Field Notes 10-18-05

It is painful to see the devastation - unbelievable. It is painful to see the devastation - unbelievable. Pictures don't do it justice. It will be a long, long time Pictures don't do it justice. It will be a long, long time before this area is inhabitable again. The level and before this area is inhabitable again. The level and depth of the destruction is phenomenal. Everywhere depth of the destruction is phenomenal. Everywhere you go are crumbled houses, totally destroyed you go are crumbled houses, totally destroyed buildings, electric wires dangling, streetlights not buildings, electric wires dangling, streetlights not working, toxic mud.working, toxic mud.

Returning residents look dazed. Spray paint marks Returning residents look dazed. Spray paint marks the front doors of houses with information about the the front doors of houses with information about the people and animals: “One dog under house”. people and animals: “One dog under house”. Someone described the feeling of being in the 9th Someone described the feeling of being in the 9th ward, she said: "There is an ominous silence...no ward, she said: "There is an ominous silence...no birds, no kids, no dogs barking..." birds, no kids, no dogs barking..."

List of Venues – Acupuncturists Without List of Venues – Acupuncturists Without BordersBorders

New Orleans area:New Orleans area: Common Ground Health Clinic, Common Ground Health Clinic, Common Ground Distribution Center (Algiers and 9Common Ground Distribution Center (Algiers and 9thth Ward), Algiers; Algiers Park; Washington Square Park; New Ward), Algiers; Algiers Park; Washington Square Park; New Orleans Public Library ( FEMA); Lower Ninth Ward (Red Orleans Public Library ( FEMA); Lower Ninth Ward (Red Cross); Emergency Operations Center; Covenant House Cross); Emergency Operations Center; Covenant House (teens at risk); Odyssey House (halfway house); Tent City (teens at risk); Odyssey House (halfway house); Tent City emergency responders. emergency responders. Baton Rouge and Lafayette:Baton Rouge and Lafayette: St. Anthony’s St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, U.S. Health Services and Staff of School Catholic Church, U.S. Health Services and Staff of School for Visually Handicapped; Cajun Dome (Red Cross). for Visually Handicapped; Cajun Dome (Red Cross). Other areas:Other areas: Monte de Olivos Church, Metairie; Monte de Olivos Church, Metairie; Emergency Communities, St Bernard Parish; FEMA sites - Emergency Communities, St Bernard Parish; FEMA sites - St. Bernard parish; Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, St. Bernard parish; Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, Michoud; Belle Chase National Guard base; Police; Michoud; Belle Chase National Guard base; Police; Firefighters. Firefighters.

Field NotesField Notes Men who’ve been working long hours in Men who’ve been working long hours in

toxic clean up operations for weeks on end, toxic clean up operations for weeks on end, come to our tent in the evening. They carry come to our tent in the evening. They carry a blank look in their eyes, their bodies a blank look in their eyes, their bodies slumping with fatigue.slumping with fatigue.

Women cooking for relief camps, nurses Women cooking for relief camps, nurses helping in a hundred different ways, helping in a hundred different ways, listening all day to the tragic stories, truck listening all day to the tragic stories, truck drivers, firemen, policemen, national drivers, firemen, policemen, national guardsmen, people from all walks of life - at guardsmen, people from all walks of life - at first they are often curious: “Acupuncture? first they are often curious: “Acupuncture? That can help with stress?” That can help with stress?”

AWB Field Notes 10-18-05AWB Field Notes 10-18-05 Yesterday we gave acupuncture treatments in the 9th Yesterday we gave acupuncture treatments in the 9th

ward with the Red Cross and Common Ground. It was ward with the Red Cross and Common Ground. It was a hard sell to get the Red Cross to let us do a hard sell to get the Red Cross to let us do acupuncture, but it happened, and they have invited acupuncture, but it happened, and they have invited us back. The venue was very difficult emotionally and us back. The venue was very difficult emotionally and physically. It is a very devastated area.physically. It is a very devastated area.

The flies are terrible and the smell The flies are terrible and the smell unbearable...rotting garbage, mold, and perhaps unbearable...rotting garbage, mold, and perhaps undiscovered corpses. We had to wash the sidewalk undiscovered corpses. We had to wash the sidewalk with bleach to clear the maggots before setting up the with bleach to clear the maggots before setting up the acupuncture table. Little bugs stick to the sweat on acupuncture table. Little bugs stick to the sweat on ones body, and it is very itchy. Bulldozers are busy ones body, and it is very itchy. Bulldozers are busy clearing areas and dust is everywhere. clearing areas and dust is everywhere.

Somatotopic representation on the earSomatotopic representation on the ear

Katrina FactsKatrina FactsKatrina geographical impact zone: 90,000 Katrina geographical impact zone: 90,000 mimi22 (Newsweek)(Newsweek)

People displaced: 1.5 million People displaced: 1.5 million (CNN)(CNN)

Number of people needing mental health Number of people needing mental health services in the aftermath of Katrina: services in the aftermath of Katrina: 500,000 500,000 (U.S. gov/Newsweek)(U.S. gov/Newsweek)

Recovery time for 2/3 of individuals with Recovery time for 2/3 of individuals with PTSD: 6 to 9 months PTSD: 6 to 9 months (N.Y. Academy of (N.Y. Academy of Medicine/Newsweek)Medicine/Newsweek)

Cost of one ear acupuncture treatment: Cost of one ear acupuncture treatment: ~ $1 ~ $1 (AWB)(AWB)

Acupuncturists Without Borders – Acupuncturists Without Borders – Vision StatementVision Statement

Acupuncturists Without Borders is devoted to bringing Acupuncturists Without Borders is devoted to bringing compassionate and effective relief to people affected compassionate and effective relief to people affected by natural disaster, war, and conflict in communities by natural disaster, war, and conflict in communities around the world.around the world.

Utilizing community style acupuncture and working with Utilizing community style acupuncture and working with

local organizations, our initial presence in an area is local organizations, our initial presence in an area is devoted to overcoming the immediate effects of devoted to overcoming the immediate effects of trauma. trauma.

Once these needs are met, where possible, we continue Once these needs are met, where possible, we continue to build local alliances to cooperatively plan and create to build local alliances to cooperatively plan and create a more in-depth training program for local health a more in-depth training program for local health professionals and community members.professionals and community members.

On the web: On the web: ww.AcuWithoutBorders.orgww.AcuWithoutBorders.org

Katrina Facts – Katrina Facts – Six Months laterSix Months later

Population of New Orleans pre-Katrina: Population of New Orleans pre-Katrina: 462,000462,000; a/o 2-26-06: ; a/o 2-26-06: 189,000189,000

Public School enrollment pre-Katrina:Public School enrollment pre-Katrina:

60,00060,000; a/o 2-26-06: ; a/o 2-26-06: 10,00010,000..

2006 Hurricane Season begins June 1.2006 Hurricane Season begins June 1.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsHsieh Yu Chin and Pema KarpoHsieh Yu Chin and Pema Karpo

Darryl Fuhrman/Hal Holmes CenterDarryl Fuhrman/Hal Holmes CenterAll the many volunteers of AWBAll the many volunteers of AWB

Acupuncture aficionados of EllensburgAcupuncture aficionados of EllensburgThe people of LouisianaThe people of Louisiana

www.AcuWithoutBorders.orgwww.AcuWithoutBorders.org

Note: Any views or opinions expressed in this presentation are Note: Any views or opinions expressed in this presentation are my own and not necessarily those of AWB.my own and not necessarily those of AWB.

Jordan Van Voast ©Jordan Van Voast ©