I definitely will try. The local Red Cross in my city is seeking volunteers to go down to the affected areas ASAP (apparently we are short of volunteers). If anyone REALLY wants to help, I wonder could you try volunteering through another city's chapter?

I thought some of you might find this interesting. It's an excerpt of an email we got from my aunt who lives in Metairie. It seems not everyone has the "charitable" feeling.........


We evacuated on Sunday morning. They instituted contra flow which means the traffic went both ways out of the city north towards Mississippi. We stopped for gas in Amite, LA and we were able to get a hotel room there. However, we weren’t supposed to have a pet and I had my Dachshund, Maggie, with us. We sneaked her into the room but they found out and asked us to leave. We were packing our stuff when the Amite police knocked on the door to escort us out. The police were very apologetic and said they didn’t understand why the guy running the hotel was being such an ass. He was knocking on all the doors up and down the halls to see how many people were in each room. He was definitely looking for his pound of flesh. We left Amite and headed north and of course all the rooms thru Mississippi were filled everywhere we stopped. I had been to Starkville, MS a few times on college recruiting trips at Mississippi State so headed toward Starkville since it was off the beaten path and stayed there for a couple of nights. Then it was off to Denver.

Almost everyone they have interviewed on TV from the refugee camps here in San Antonio has said they plan to stay here. They dont plan on going back. San Antonio has two shelters up and running. The old Kelly AFB and the old Levi Strauss plant. They are opening up three more at two abandoned malls here in town and at the old Freeman Collesium.


I have also read that refugees are now headded to Corpus, & Lubbock, among other cities.

It was wierd driving through town today and seeing an Air Canada plane landing at Kelly. Air Canada dosent offer service to San Antonio.

That'd be the Air Bus acting as a shuttle for evacuees and relief workers... left from Toronto this morning with 4 air crews to maximize it's flight time and minimize turn around.

Personally I just spent the afternoon packing boxes upon boxes upon boxes of relief supplies and driving it out to the airport for the next supply flight - blankets, toiletries, basic medical supplies, camp food packets, and diapers. It feels good to be finally able to start helping those hurt by Katrina.

I'm not sure if this has been discussed or not but why are the victims being referred to as "refugees"?

What? Don't tell me you are surprised that the media is throwing around words without actually understanding them do you?

They should be called Evacuees or Displaced Persons, not refugees... because a refugee is one seeking refuge in ANOTHER COUNTRY from conditions in their home country.

Animals have arrived here in Austin from the area. I am going in tomorrow to help treat/vaccinate/whatever else is needed. I feel so bad for them and the people that have lost their pets. I heard horror stories of animals being thrown off the buses-how awful:(.

I do not like the fact that they called them refugees either...and I agree with you both of you. When I think of refugee I always think of individuals fleeing from one country to another for safety.

But on the otherhand Meriam-Webster defines refugee-

Main Entry: ref·u·gee
Pronunciation: "re-fyu-'jE, 're-fyu-"
Function: noun
Etymology: French réfugié, past participle of (se) réfugier to take refuge, from Latin refugium
: one that flees; especially : a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution
- ref·u·gee·ism /-"i-z&m/ noun


If you notice it says "especially"....so they are not entirely wrong calling them refugees because they are considered fleeing from danger. Not trying to start an argument though because I do agree with everyone, but at the same time it is the proper usage of the term-- just not a tactful one!!

Its beginning already...
 

Mississippi Shelter Closed After Doctors Fear Tainted Water Gave Patients Dysentery

09-03-2005 9:52 PM

BILOXI, Miss. -- Officials closed a shelter Saturday because more than 20 people there fell ill, and doctors believe the patients may have contracted dysentery from tainted water.

Another 20 people in the area also were treated for vomiting and diarrhea.

The shelter at a Biloxi school had been without water and power since Katrina hit Monday. About 400 people had been staying there, and doctors said some may have ignored warnings to stay away from water.

http://centralkansas.cox.net/cci/new...e&id=D8CD62PG0

I don't like the term refugees either. I think that survivors or evacuees or storm victims would be better.

Perhaps because they're seeking refuge from danger.

Countries offer assistance...
 

I'm sorry...
 

I caught up with all the posts from pages 5/6 to last...

/vent

I am sorry, but I find the American Red Cross' statement to be a LAME EXCUSE for not doing the right thing... I dare the military to start shooting at them for at least providing basic services such as potable water--at least that.

And now disease is setting in!!!

And I am sorry, but the US government DID fail "those people"... Was it racist? I don't think so. But I know they did not vote for President Bush or make huge campaign contributions--so why should he help them? I have seen pictures of his response after the Airforce One fly over. He looked clueless. And it is my opinion that he only jumped to it when the ugliness was broadcasted worldwide... Just sheer insanity and humiliation of basic human rights and dignity. No one deserves to live in filth and squalor [sp?]--most especially in the Untied States.

There was a COMPLETE FAILURE of emergency services in the aftermath of Katrina and in the wake of failing levees in NOLA with the flooding.

Yes, I do think the rescue workers are doing the best they can do. And the service personnel on the ground are doing their best. And with the help from Texas as well as other surrounding states, it is slowly getting better. But powerful folks who CAN make a difference is people's lives, most especially the poor and disenfranchised, knew a category 5 hurricane was headed in their direction and it was not even a consideration that some folks will be unable to evacuate--forget their CHOOSING NOT to leave their homes--but completely DISABLED TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE THAT POOR!!!

And we did see a COMPLETE LACK OF LEADERSHIP by elected officials as well as the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT whose JOB it is for "equal protection under the law"...

Why did it take so long to meet the needs of the poor and disenfranchised in NOLA??? And I know that hindsight is always 20-20. But the fact that hurricane season has not ended and the possibility of more horrific storms ahead that might possibly hit another major US city, what FUTURE emergency preparedness organizational structures will be put in place?

I think the ENTIRE FEMA DIRECTORS MAY NEED TO RESIGN FOR THIS UTTER FAILURE!!!

I am just too angry right now... :mad:

/end vent

Re: Countries offer assistance...
 

This list is really incredible. Sri Lanka, Thailand? With all they've been through? Mexico is sending water (sorry, that struck me as ironic .. NEVER drink the water in Mexico.. Yeah, I know, it's bottled water and it's fine) and medical supplies. FIDEL CASTRO has offered to send doctors. Japan is offering aid, although they have a typhoon about to hit there. Qatar is offering 100 million. Wow! Read this article!

Re: I'm sorry...
 

There are many calling for the removal of Mike Brown (myself included).

Everyone, should take the time to contact your Congressmen to let them know how you feel about the response to a national tragedy.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/...ommand=congdir

This is why FEMA need to get this *&$% together....
 

Hurricane Maria forms over open Atlantic

Sunday, September 4, 2005; Posted: 9:14 a.m. EDT (13:14 GMT)

MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- Maria intensified and developed into the season's fifth hurricane on Sunday, growing stronger over warm water in the open Atlantic.

At 5 a.m. EDT, the storm had maximum sustained wind of 75 mph -- only 1 mph higher than the minimum threshold for hurricane status -- and was centered 645 miles southeast of Bermuda.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/0....ap/index.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Would we be able to sustain another hit from a strong Hurricane? :eek: :confused:

Maria is not expected to hit the US at all. She is moving NNW right now and they expect her to start moving more eastward, remaining over water until she reaches waters too cold for her to survive in.

However... No, we can't sustain another major hurricane hitting the US right now and we're in the peak of hurricane season. We also would be up a creek if there was a terrorist attack now.

I'm amazed that countries we're not on the best of terms with have offered their help. I do hope the US government takes some of these countries up on their offers. We could definitely use it!

For anyone interested my friend forwarded this website to me... the guy had a webcam up and running on Monday evening broadcasting from NO

http://www.livejournal.com/~interdictor/

The pictures and video are pretty incredible... and as you can see it didn't take long for the looters to go to work - kinda destroying the arguement that it was desperation.

Texas now has a quarter million refugees in the state, with more coming hourly. We're pretty much full and are now working with other states to take the newest arrivals, assess their situation, get them any medical attention needed; bathed, clothed and fed and then sent on via plane to other cities in the US that have offered to help. This will truely be a national effort. I bet there wont be any state in the continental US without NOLA residents.

NOLA.com now has a dateline on the story I mentioned above. It ran June 23-27, 2002 - three years ago. Yet the government had no idea. Maybe they just cant read?

It isn't so much as they can't read... it's the typical bureaucratic response that made a bad situation worse. 'Can't do it - it's not my jurisdiction', 'That decision is made far above my pay grade', etc., etc. and so forth.

And when the piles of fresh excrement strike the rotary oscillating air handler (what a bureaucrat would say instead of the more common 'the shit's hit the fan'), it doesn't take 'em very long to start pointing the fingers of blame to every other govermnent organization but their own. They're just too smug to admit 'they fucked it up beyond all recognition'.

I read in our paper today that groups of displaced people from the Gulf will be coming here to Wichita (KS). There are getting two unused elementary schools ready (the plan is to house one family per room).

Re: I'm sorry...
 

Monet, you are not alone.

For all of the reasons you list.

The last straw for me was Director Brown of FEMA telling Soledad O'Brien on CNN that they did not know that anyone was at the NO Convention Center until Wednesday or Thursday.

Everyone else did.

Beyond belief.

Sometimes politics can cause more damage that the hurrincance :rolleyes:

For example Castro is pretty pissed off (at least judging from the news conference) because the offer of 1600 Cuban medical personal trained in disaster relief has been pretty much ignored or rebuffed by the State Department.

Why would you turn down a genuine offer of humanitarian aid, no-strings attached, simply because of political differences.... oh right I forgot what administration is in charge...

And not to forget the rabidly vociferous and politically powerful Cuba en el Exilio community in South Florida and other large cities... They'd probably complain bitterly that those Cuban doctors are really Communist infiltrators sent to spread unrest among the poor population of New Orleans. Not to mention the 'Trading with the Enemy Act' that practically forbids the U.S. Government to have a one on one conversation with Cuban officials unless it's carefully scripted. While only Presidential authority is only required to change the status of a country from bitter enemy to 'most favored nation', it takes an act of Congress to change anything over the current official status of Cuba.

When New Orleans does rebuild, I'd imagine that the population would be half of what it was before the storm. My friend is a speech pathologist at an elementary school in Norcross, GA and was saying that they had almost 100 students from New Orleans register last week. I'll bet there's many other schools just like that around the country.

I have a concern or two after todays news events:

1) They got one of the pumps working.. that's good news, BUT.. all we've heard about is how contaminated this water is, with bodies, sewage, chemicals, disease, etc. So, they're pumping it all right into Lake Pontchartrain? What then? How do they clean the lake? Was it a fairly clean, usable lake before?

2) I heard one report that the Army now has permission to forcibly remove people who are refusing to leave. I understand that it is for their own good and I, personally, can't understand why they wouldn't leave at this point, but it seems wrong at the same time. I don't know what the answer is.. I guess sometimes, if we aren't saving ourselves, someone has to do it for us, but where will they keep those folks?

Volunteers needed in Mississippi

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/12566827.htm

Journal of a survivor
 

http://www.readthetattoo.com/

This was a paper I wrote for while in high school - the advisors managed to contact a New Orleans resident, and she's keeping a journal of the ordeal. It's some pretty powerful stuff.

Does America not have the resources, experts, and all that? The resources are there; it's the execution that failed.

I guess America should just allow everyone into the country and let them duke it out on how to help these folks. I'm sure Kofi Annan will act as head administrator immediately and make sure everything is well coordinated.

-Rudey

Hey all I'm saying is that the Cubans are/where at the Havana airport with the medical supplies and all just waiting for the go ahead.

Besides if the US government or media can critize other nations for their obstenance when it comes to humanitarian aid after a disaster, they should expect the rest of the world to feel the same way now that they are doining exactly that: being a little obstinate when it comes to aid - and primarily (i feel) for political reasons: to admit aid and people from many countries would be the same as admitting that the government failed somehow and/or that the government needs help - either one weakens confidence in the government.

Again, the US is not a third world country without resources. The US did have the resources to provide disaster-relief so I'm not sure what your point is since you keep bringing this up. In fact, it was a concern that officials didn't use the resources properly.

To bring in Cubans, Canadians, people from all over would not only be unnecessary (we had the resources) but also a logistics nightmare.

I'm not sure what you're talking about with the US criticizing other countries after disasters really, but it seems as if you are using this to elbow America.

-Rudey

I think that some people who are refusing to leave are wanting to stay and protect their homes. I have heard stories of people who left, and their homes were not damaged badly, but people had gone in and stolen everything they had. I saw a story of a man who was standing on his front porch with a shotgun trying to make sure looters did not come into his home. I can completely understand someone wanting to protect their home.

I just heard that evacuees (sp?) have gotten as far west as Lubbock. For those who don't know much about Texas, that is a pretty far trip across Texas to go and still not be able to find room. It is definately getting full down here. I am concerned about what might happen to the job market in Texas (as well as those in other states with a large number of evacuees). A lot of these people are deciding to just stay in these cities that they are in. That means that our state along could have hundreds of thousands of people looking for jobs and homes here. It could definately put a strain on the markets in these states.

EDIT: I am not trying to say anything bad in this post. I of course want Texas and its citizens to do whatever we can to help those affected. I am just saying that it could cause problems.

EDITED AGAIN because I obviously don't know the difference between east and west. LOL. :p

We just started getting refugees today. I work at a home health agency, and our big problem will be trying to obtain police clearances on anyone for employment.

Health Care Professionals and Relief Personnel Workers Needed

https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/

We are currently looking for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and relief personnel with expertise in the following areas: Administration/Finance Officers

Morticians*

Chaplain

Mortuary Assistants*

Clinical Physicians

Nursing Assistants/Nursing Support Technicians

Coroners*

Nursing Staff Directors

Dental Forensics*

Paramedics*

Dentists

Patient Transporters/Volunteers

Dieticians

Pharmacists

EMT*

Psychologists

Environmental Health

Physician's Assistants or Nurse Practitioners

Epidemiologists

Physician Chiefs of Staff

Facility Managers

Radiologic Technicians*

Housekeepers

Respiratory Therapists

IT/Communications Officers

RNs

Laboratory Technicians*

Safety Officers

LPNs

Security Officers

Medical Clerks

Social Workers

Medical Examiners*

Supply Managers

Mental Health Workers

Veterinarians

Maybe they SHOULD, and I'm sure they would be willing to..... But in all reality- MOST people are going to go to states immediately around LA and Miss. I doubt alot of people will say, "hey, lets evacuate to Oregon- I hear the job market is better there." ;) hehehe.

I know that they also as far as Amarillo. My little brother is a paramedic in Amarillo and I believe he said they were getting about 500.