DR. JIM AIKEN: Charity director. Wondered if they'd already pressed their luck.

DR. GRANVILLE MORSE: Emergency medicine resident at Charity. Disheartened as sick people were turned away.

MEL LAGARDE: Division head for the Hospital Corporation of America. Had differences with Dr. Ben.

CMRD. DAN BITTON: Police pilot. Made a bold night landing at Tulane to join the rescue team.

SUSAN SANBORN: Charity's student nurse. Had three patients on ventilators -- and no power.

DR. BEN DEBOISBLANC (de-BWA-blanh): Director of Charity Hospital's medical ICU. Feared patients would die in parking garage. | • Audio

JOHN HOLLAND: Georgia pilot in charge of helipad. Enforced calm on the rooftop.

JIM MONTGOMERY: President of Tulane Hospital. Alarmed by number of Charity patients.

HUNTER REEVES, 23: Unconscious and on life support. One of Charity's most critical patients when the hospital lost its backup power.

PRESTON JOHNSON, 25: In and out of consciousness, on a respirator.

CAROLYN LEWIS: Deeply religious, she prayed for the survival of her son Preston. | • Audio

SHERRY HEBERT(pronounced A-bear): Her son's condition had improved since he arrived at Charity, but now Hunter's life depended on getting out. | • Audio

DAWN PEVEY: Charity nurse kept mothers up on sons' conditions.

CELESTE WADDELL: Respiratory therapist at Charity Hospital. Cared for Hunter Reeves as if he were his son.

DR. NORM McSWAIN: Ties to Charity, Tulane hospitals. Reported dire conditions at Charity to media.

DON SMITHBURG: CEO of Louisiana's public hospitals. Felt powerless to get his people out.

JACK BOVENDER: CEO, Hospital Corporation of America. Led evacuation planning.

SAM HAZEN: HCA executive. Posed a critical question: Was time running out?

SHARIF OMAR: Others fled the city; the Tulane Hospital administrator sped back.

ED JONES: An HCA executive. He lined up helicopters for an unprecedented evacuation.