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Su Casa es Mi Casa
Sep. 5th, 2005 01:32 amIf you think it couldn't get worse, Dr. Phil showed up at the Astrodome today. given that i think he's dangerous in the first place, I'm also sad to see that he's one of the first people to be using the evacuees for his own gain. His appearance was taped for a future episode of his show. These people have enough trouble to deal with without being propped up on TV.
There's been talk about the attitude of the evacuees in some of the Houston shelters, that they have been rude and ungrateful. I'm sure that this is a small percentage of people as I expect that those shown on TV looting and shooting are a small part of the whole. Still, these people are frustrated, uprooted, and often not told what will happen to them or what has become of their city. I can hardly imagine being so close to the edge in such desperation. I would know that there would be times that I would be on edge and might seem less than grateful when others might feel that they have gone out of their way. Volunteers should take some time to think of what they are going into, and feel good about the work they are doing, no matter what the reaction.
You may have heard that people are being turned away from the Astrodome today, both evacuees and volunteers. This is true. Right now Evacuees have filled up about every welcoming spot in Texas. As I was driving up to my parents place tonight the roadway signs were flashing a number for evacuee information plus telling busses that they needed to keep driving to somewhere in Arkansas. Other evacuees are being taken to places as far away as Michigan and Idaho.
Volunteers have been plentiful over the Labor Day weekend (I'm sure no one is watching Jerry Lewis this year, poor MDA). While the Astrodome, and our two convention centers are getting plenty of help, there are several smaller sites that I'm sure could use help. I wonder if there's a clearing house - some website that will tell you where the need is. I haven't gone to volunteer yet. One reason is because I have had a horrible cold that has kept me down for most of the weekend. The other reason is I think I could be of better use in a few weeks when other people have forgotten all about this effort. These people are going to be around for months and New Orleans tries to get back on its feet. The news story will be dead by the end of the month, if not sooner. Since my job is offering everyone a personal day to go and volunteer, I'll pick a day in a week or two to take off work and help with the effort.
Besides, they don't need someone giving all of those people a cold. That could really cause a problem.
Still, I have done something. As I did my left over laundry from my suitcase I also went through my clothing and tried to find things that were still good, but I didn't wear anymore. These can definitely be donated and will be just one more way to help. I also need to look at the list for Kate and Randy's "wedding" from Target and pick out a gift for the family that they are sponsoring. I think this effort ought to be repeated with other families, and maybe should get some attention from both Target and the media for Kate (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
katesmash) and Randy's (lostncove) ingenuity.
At dinner my mother (who made it OK through her cancer surgery, but faces some chemo now) mentioned that her church is sponsoring some families in their gymnasium. She said that her choir will be performing a concert for them. I'm wondering if there will be concerts in the Astrodome for those who are staying there, or at least some entertainment? Mom said that the church was trying to help people get set up for jobs in the area, but I wonder just what jobs they would get, especially if they would be considered temporary workers. It's going to be interesting to see if these people will be able to make it, or if they will stay limited to what aid they can get from the community and the government for the length of their stay.
There's talk about returning some to Louisiana and Mississippi to tent cities that could be established, but this doesn't sound like a great option where they at least have air conditioning and bathrooms in the Astrodome.
Gas will be a problem in returning some of these people, those that have cars, as they may find it hard to pay three bucks a gallon. I know that I got a bargain when I found gas for $2.92 at Kroger today. My Uncle Brian, who was able to find a little gas in Hattiesburg (a relative of his wife had some in reserve that he sold to him) made it to Lafayette and is now looking to get an apartment there until things get better. He's hopeful that he can get into his flooded home next week to try to sort through the stuff and find what can be salvaged. Something that many people, without transportation, won't be able to do for some time.
In other celebrity news, it does seem that singer Macy Gray is the first to come in to volunteer with no other motive but to help, so good on her. Of course there was the TV concert the other night, and I'm sure that did good, but here's Ms. Gray actually getting out here and doing something positive. Much better than Dr. Phil yapping for a while and then telling Larry King how good he was.
Of course Hurricane Oprah arrives here on Tuesday.
There's been talk about the attitude of the evacuees in some of the Houston shelters, that they have been rude and ungrateful. I'm sure that this is a small percentage of people as I expect that those shown on TV looting and shooting are a small part of the whole. Still, these people are frustrated, uprooted, and often not told what will happen to them or what has become of their city. I can hardly imagine being so close to the edge in such desperation. I would know that there would be times that I would be on edge and might seem less than grateful when others might feel that they have gone out of their way. Volunteers should take some time to think of what they are going into, and feel good about the work they are doing, no matter what the reaction.
You may have heard that people are being turned away from the Astrodome today, both evacuees and volunteers. This is true. Right now Evacuees have filled up about every welcoming spot in Texas. As I was driving up to my parents place tonight the roadway signs were flashing a number for evacuee information plus telling busses that they needed to keep driving to somewhere in Arkansas. Other evacuees are being taken to places as far away as Michigan and Idaho.
Volunteers have been plentiful over the Labor Day weekend (I'm sure no one is watching Jerry Lewis this year, poor MDA). While the Astrodome, and our two convention centers are getting plenty of help, there are several smaller sites that I'm sure could use help. I wonder if there's a clearing house - some website that will tell you where the need is. I haven't gone to volunteer yet. One reason is because I have had a horrible cold that has kept me down for most of the weekend. The other reason is I think I could be of better use in a few weeks when other people have forgotten all about this effort. These people are going to be around for months and New Orleans tries to get back on its feet. The news story will be dead by the end of the month, if not sooner. Since my job is offering everyone a personal day to go and volunteer, I'll pick a day in a week or two to take off work and help with the effort.
Besides, they don't need someone giving all of those people a cold. That could really cause a problem.
Still, I have done something. As I did my left over laundry from my suitcase I also went through my clothing and tried to find things that were still good, but I didn't wear anymore. These can definitely be donated and will be just one more way to help. I also need to look at the list for Kate and Randy's "wedding" from Target and pick out a gift for the family that they are sponsoring. I think this effort ought to be repeated with other families, and maybe should get some attention from both Target and the media for Kate (
katesmash) and Randy's (lostncove) ingenuity. At dinner my mother (who made it OK through her cancer surgery, but faces some chemo now) mentioned that her church is sponsoring some families in their gymnasium. She said that her choir will be performing a concert for them. I'm wondering if there will be concerts in the Astrodome for those who are staying there, or at least some entertainment? Mom said that the church was trying to help people get set up for jobs in the area, but I wonder just what jobs they would get, especially if they would be considered temporary workers. It's going to be interesting to see if these people will be able to make it, or if they will stay limited to what aid they can get from the community and the government for the length of their stay.
There's talk about returning some to Louisiana and Mississippi to tent cities that could be established, but this doesn't sound like a great option where they at least have air conditioning and bathrooms in the Astrodome.
Gas will be a problem in returning some of these people, those that have cars, as they may find it hard to pay three bucks a gallon. I know that I got a bargain when I found gas for $2.92 at Kroger today. My Uncle Brian, who was able to find a little gas in Hattiesburg (a relative of his wife had some in reserve that he sold to him) made it to Lafayette and is now looking to get an apartment there until things get better. He's hopeful that he can get into his flooded home next week to try to sort through the stuff and find what can be salvaged. Something that many people, without transportation, won't be able to do for some time.
In other celebrity news, it does seem that singer Macy Gray is the first to come in to volunteer with no other motive but to help, so good on her. Of course there was the TV concert the other night, and I'm sure that did good, but here's Ms. Gray actually getting out here and doing something positive. Much better than Dr. Phil yapping for a while and then telling Larry King how good he was.
Of course Hurricane Oprah arrives here on Tuesday.
