Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

Anne · 2005-08-31 10:01:10

Due to the rapidly changing nature of news and events related to Hurricane Katrina and Houston, here's an open thread post. We will be adding updates as we run across them, and we are encouraging our commenters to add to it in the forum.

We are interested in local venues, attractions and entertainment that are offering free or discounted admission to stranded refugees, and also ways to help Houston-area refugees and relief agencies.

We'll start it off with a link to this KTRK-13 story that lists many entertainment options for displaced residents from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. For example, Thursday's UH game versus Oregon will be free at Reliant Stadium for stranded hurricane victims.

Also, KPRC-2 has more information on two new shelters that have opened.

And KHOU-11 has teamed up with KTRH-740 for a Hurricane Relief Fund Drive.

KEVIN WHITED ADDS: If you own a business or know of other local businesses and/or organizations offering a helping hand to Katrina refugees who have now become members of our community, please feel free to leave that information in the forum or (if you don't want to register), drop us an email: bloggers @ bloghouston.net

We'll update the blog thread periodically, and perhaps make it sticky at some point. Let's show our hospitality and generosity, Houston.

UPDATE 12:26 p.m.: Judge Eckels and Mayor White are giving a press conference now. They said they are being inundated with people asking how to donate. Judge Eckels said the best way to help is to donate to the Red Cross or the United Way.

A Red Cross official says the Dome is being organized to accommodate the diverse needs of the people arriving. Cots have been ordered; a triage will be set up to assess the medical condition of the refugees; a nursery area will be set up and a mental health area will be set up. He says the Dome is being prepared more as a place for long-term temporary living, as opposed to a shelter.

Mayor White says the Medical Center will play a big role in helping with medical needs, and in helping with the psychological needs of the SuperDome refugees, many of whom have been traumatized.

UPDATE 2: In the forum, Laurence Simon notes an important announcement, for Houston-area residents to help prepare the Astrodome.

UPDATE 3: The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has useful information for those displaced and those who want to help here. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has additional information.

ANNE ADDS (9-1-2005): Regular readers know that I live in far North Harris County and up here Spring Tabernacle has opened its doors as a Red Cross Shelter. It is located on FM 2920, between Falvel Rd. and I-45. The fine folks there are seeking volunteers. Also, our local Wal-Mart and Chili's, both located at FM 2920 and Kuykendahl are helping with volunteers, supplies, food and donations.

Link to post: http://www.bloghouston.net/item/1770

Anne · 2005-08-31 10:36:29

KTRK has a story about Jim McIngvale helping evacuees:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/083105 … ssmac.html

Writeacher · 2005-08-31 10:45:11

KSBJ radio has a link to help with donation of gift cards to places such as Target, Walmart, etc. www.ksbj.org

Laurence Simon · 2005-08-31 12:16:51

Saw this on Livejournal:

Hurricane Katrina has left many people homeless. When they are able to return they will be looking for shelter for their families. Many of these shelters will not allow them to take their animals. There is an organization called E.A.R.S. that helps families keep their animals. They are begging for temporary homes in the Houston area. If you can take care of someone's treasured family pet until they get settled again please contact Betsy Fleming at [email protected]
Please give her a brief description of what you can handle such as cat, dog, ferret, caged rodents, etc.
Thank you in advance for helping ease some of the stress these families are going through. You don't know how much this means to them to know their fur babies are okay while they reconstruct their lives.
Our rescue group is already receiving pleas for help from persons displaced by Katrina. They evacuated to Houston with their pets but now are essentially homeless and need either temporary or permanent placement for their beloved pets as they work on rebuilding their lives.

Writeacher · 2005-08-31 12:24:50

Two other websites with links for helping with this enormous and unbelievable disaster are these:

www.thehungersite.com
and
www.theanimalrescuesite.com

Laurence Simon · 2005-08-31 12:32:18

http://www.harriscountycitizencorps.com/

Harris County Citizen Corps Members,
Today we are going to help those who have been impacted by
Hurricane Katrina
who are currently located in the Super Dome in New Orleans. Up to
25,000
citizens are going to be relocated to the Astro Dome. We need
your help.
We are requesting volunteers to assist in setting up the dome with
cots and
other basic necessities.
This needs to be completed by 1700 or 5pm CST. We need for you to
forward
to anyone how can help through your businesses, churches and
organizations.
We will also need volunteers to assist in the documentation and
check in of
all who arrive. CERT Teams will be needed to assist citizens from the
busses to the check in locations.
Logistical information with locations and staging areas will be
sent out
shortly. Please respond to this e-mail and let us know how many
people you
have that can assisit, include time frames, as this this will be a
24/7
opperation.
This task is unprecedented and can be completed with the support
of our
citizens.
Thank you for your continued support,
Harris County Judge Robert Eckels
Chairman Harris County Citizen Corps

Bill F · 2005-08-31 12:40:23

You beat me by 8 minutes with it Laurence!

Kevin · 2005-08-31 13:52:14

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has useful information for those displaced and those who want to help here.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has additional information.

Bill F · 2005-08-31 16:06:06

Here is some newer info I just received regarding the volunteer effort at the dome...

TAEP is getting an enormous response to the request for assistance from Judge Eckels' office. The phones and web sites are jammed, but we have finally spoken with someone at Judge Eckels' office. They are still getting organized and ask that every volunteer/group of volunteers sign up through the Harris County Citizens Corps web site at http://www.harriscountycitizencorps.com … r/join.asp. They say that you will be contacted and told where and when you are needed. They asked that we also tell you that it might be tomorrow or the next day.

ttyler5 · 2005-08-31 16:07:50

SciGuy at the Chron has this great informational post from HMW:

http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/ … p_the.html

Also, on the HCCC volunteer call, it appears you have to be a member already to help.

This is probably because HCCC people are required to take training classes.

I am volunteering for the foodbank.

Last edited by ttyler5 (2005-08-31 16:09:34)

rrbbooth · 2005-08-31 16:12:28

The Greater Houston Restaurant Association is helping feed Gulf Coast residents who fled Hurricane Katrina and have taken shelter in the Houston area.

See link:

Slightly Rough

Kevin · 2005-08-31 17:30:33

A reader emails this query:

With all the resources at hand, why isn't there anything in place to put
displaced families with other families. Churches and businesses alike
can and should be doing something in this regards.
In our church alone, numerous local families have volunteered to host
other families in their own homes. Security checks can and should be
conducted easily by our local police and constable offices.
Bottom line, the children are the ones that will and continue to always
be affected the worse. They need to be in a home, go to school and be
with other children and families that can provide security and
beneficial environment. The parents can access to private and safe
environment with telephones and internet access.
Let's do more than just put them in shelters. If there is anything
like this currently in place, write about it.

So far as I know, there's nothing like this in place, but I expect quite a few churches have members who are willing to help in the manner suggested if a basic security check could be done. The gentleman who emailed is a member of John Wesley United Methodist in the Champions area.

ttyler5 · 2005-08-31 17:57:54

In answer to the placement idea, I have heard that a Saint Louis blogger has already set up a netwrok for that,
you could probably search for it without a problem...

I don't expect we'll see a lot of placement with private families in our area until we get them here to the Astrodome, though, and situated, and given medical checkups and shots and a lot of other stuff we are gonna have to do.

They have been exposed to raw sewage in floodwaters, and we need to see who is sick from it first ...

Last edited by ttyler5 (2005-08-31 18:00:10)

rrbbooth · 2005-08-31 18:08:59

Homes for Katrina Victims

http://katrinahomes.billhennessy.com/

hat-tip:

http://katrinahelp.info/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

rrbbooth · 2005-08-31 18:55:18

KTRK, Houston Channel 13 (ABC), had a story on at lunch about GNOF. They are supposed to start selling those armband things (like Lance Armstrong's) soon.

I don't know anything about the organization, other than it was being pushed by the owner of Brennan's (not sure of the name, a Cajun or Creole restaurant in Houston and NO).

I think everyone's best bet is cash to the Red Cross. Also, for Houstonians, try and seek out refugees at your local motel. They're burning up their cash on their rooms, I'll bet if you bought a young family a big pack of diapers you'd help them out a lot.

ActionAmerica · 2005-08-31 23:11:45

SciGuy and FEMA both list a whole bunch of places where you can donate money, food or provide other types of help and I don't want to say that any particular one is any better than any other nor do I say that any particular one is not as good as any other. But, considering the number of organizations that are accepting donations of various types, for the relief effort, I do think that some people may want to take into consideration the fact that, after it was recently revealed that the Italian Red Cross covertly hid, transported, treated and released wanted terrorists in Iraq, behind the back of US authorities and after repeated calls, by a wide variety of military support advocates, to both the International Red Cross and the American Red Cross, neither have yet condemned the actions of their sister organization. Just a thought... Use or ignore this information, as you please.

David Benzion1 · 2005-09-01 08:25:47

American Red Cross has had nothing to do with the bad political activity of the International Red Cross... in fact, they have fought hard to counter it. So I understand the sentiment (and the confusion), but no one should hold a grudge against the American Red Cross because of the actions of this other organization.

Last edited by David Benzion1 (2005-09-02 01:01:16)

theotherchad · 2005-09-02 12:24:54

Hey folks, I'm new here to the blogHouston site, but this looks like a great place to get out information on a Hurricane Katrina Benefit that I'm helping to organize. All funds raised will got into the fund set up by KTBZ 94.5 The Buzz, which will in turn go to the American Red Cross.
Going through the Buzz's fund gets us a couple of mentions on the radio, so that we can get the maximum number of people out there. The event is at SRO Sports Bar in Northwest Mall, which is at 290 at 610 loop, conveniently located in the heart of our fair city, from 2-7 p.m. on this Sunday afternoon, September 4th.
My band, Happy Shatner will be playing, as will two other bands, Lizdexic and The Floaters, as well as numerous other musical guests.
Go to http://theotherchad.diaryland.com for further details. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me at [email protected]

DaysInn · 2005-09-09 16:05:47

Days Inn I-10 West is accepting FEMA.
FEMA is providing accommodations for 14 days for Katrina Victims at no charge. Easy walk-in process at the motel lobby. Days Inn I-10 West, 9535 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024. tele - 713.467.4411. Take the Bunker Hill Exit 758A. We have rooms available. Please pass this notice on to anyone that might need temporary housing. Thank you.

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#1 2005-08-31 10:01:10

Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#2 2005-08-31 10:36:29

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#3 2005-08-31 10:45:11

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#4 2005-08-31 12:16:51

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#5 2005-08-31 12:24:50

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#6 2005-08-31 12:32:18

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#7 2005-08-31 12:40:23

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#8 2005-08-31 13:52:14

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#9 2005-08-31 16:06:06

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#10 2005-08-31 16:07:50

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#11 2005-08-31 16:12:28

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#12 2005-08-31 17:30:33

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#13 2005-08-31 17:57:54

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#14 2005-08-31 18:08:59

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#15 2005-08-31 18:55:18

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#16 2005-08-31 23:11:45

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#17 2005-09-01 08:25:47

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#18 2005-09-02 12:24:54

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

#19 2005-09-09 16:05:47

Re: Hurricane Katrina (Consolidated Thread)

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