Joel Johnson Has Him a Blog

I'm standing in a morning meeting with a group of volunteers who are working to set up the medical clinic. The big topic of the morning is the story of an LPN named Bobby (who isn't here) who was apprehended by the Red Cross while providing medical relief. The Red Cross (working with armed troops from FEMA [we think]), seized Bobby's medical supplies from his truck because someone from the Red Cross decided that he was stealing the necessities—specifically, the pharmaceuticals.

Problem is, Bobby's supplies weren't from the Red Cross, but instead from private donations. Many of the pharmaceuticals were for residents in New Orleans who have a prescription, and one of the other medical volunteers is licensed to dispense prescription medicines.

Not only did the Red Cross seize the pharmaceuticals at gunpoint (while detaining Bobby somewhere until after the curfew), but they also took the remainder of Bobby's supplies, including bandages and the like.

That is the story as told by four of the local non-Red Cross medical volunteers.

Here is Jacob's take on the information.
Here is GNN's take on the same story.

Update: Anthony Lappe from Air America just recieved a call from the Red Cross media relations folks who said they were unsure why Red Cross employees would have been at a military checkpoint. They offered the possibility that the people who detained and de-supplied Bobby may have been military medical personal and not the Red Cross. More to come soon from Anthony at GNN as soon as he posts, but I just wanted to qualify the story as much as I can as it happens. Managing the rumor mill, etc.

Update 2: According to Bobby Lee Huss (the person detained), the supplies were both from the Red Cross and seized at their request.