GA's DeKalb County kicks out Red Cross aid givers

[hoosier]

(Locally, Vernon Jones is our equivalent of the corrupt NO and LA officials)



DeKalb gets rid of Red Cross at help center
DeKalb CEO says group 'chaotic'

By CHARLES YOO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/20/05

DeKalb County is kicking out the Red Cross from its one-stop help center, creating extra red tape for those displaced by Katrina seeking emergency cash.

On Monday, the Red Cross packed up and evacuated from its location near Panola Road, the most popular destination among the three mega service desks created in the past week as tens of thousands of evacuees flocked to metro Atlanta.

Only two other sites remain for those seeking money — in Gwinnett or Cobb counties.

Of all the nonprofits, Red Cross is the only agency that is providing lump-sum cash to families. A family of five is eligible to receive up to about $1,800.

Only bitterness remains between DeKalb County and Red Cross.

In a letter sent on Sunday, DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones sharply criticized Red Cross for what he says has been a poor service.

"It was never our intention to be the uncompensated crowd control and de facto management support system to the unwieldy and chaotic operations of the Red Cross," he wrote. "Unfortunately, your presence as it is now is hindering our efforts to help the same people."

He added: "It is our mutual best interest to conduct our operations separately from now on."

Red Cross disputed Jones' allegation of poor services, saying numbers speak for themselves.

In the four days at Red Cross' operation in DeKalb — located inside the DeKalb Disaster Relief Center on Lithonia Way — it says it provided more than 2,500 families with emergency cash worth about $2.4 million.

Red Cross also is paying for hotels for more than 21,000 evacuees, most of them in the metro area.

Red Cross admitted to having glitches with the fund distribution in the past weeks.

The debit cards with limited spending that Red Cross began giving out two weeks ago were discontinued last week due to problems.

The cards had run out. In addition, a number of cards failed to work, fueling the frustration of those with little money left. There were reported fraud cases as well.

But Red Cross officials say there were bound to be glitches given the chaos they were dealing with and say Jones overreacted by kicking them out.

"It's really unfortunate they are doing that," said William Reynolds, the chief spokesman for the Red Cross. "It's taking everyone's focus from the clients. It's unfortunate that Mr. Jones chose this action."

An unpleasant letter exchange preceded the evacuation.

A note sent by Jones on Friday asked Red Cross to draft a "Memorandum of Understanding," which outlines the services it offers.

But Red Cross wrote back, saying it needs more time than 18 hours to do that. Jones shot back another note, asking them to leave by Monday evening.

Jones said he received numerous complaints from the evacuees. He said he witnessed heated moments at the DeKalb location when the evacuees did not receive the money on time even though they had been promised it the day before.

"It's a disgrace the way they treated the evacuees," said Jones on Monday. "People were at the end of the rope. They were tired of getting a runaround."

Nearly three weeks after the hurricane on Monday, people still flocked to Red Cross' service desk in DeKalb.

An average wait was four hours to see a case manager who processes the claim and gives money to them.

Claudia Frazier fled to Georgia after her home in Moss Point, Miss., was destroyed.

Six days ago, she gave birth to Ayanna, but had to bring the infant and wait in line to get money. "I thought I'd be out by now, but I'm here all day. It's crowded," she said. "I'm tired."

The Salvation Army will now take the place of Red Cross at the DeKalb service center. It will provide other services, including vouchers from Wal-Mart, but no lump-sum emergency cash.