Adopt a Shelter?????

For the last several days, Denny (my ERV driver buddy) and I have been taking meals to local Red Cross supported shelters and hotels. Jackson, MS, where we are currently based is, as you will know, 100 odd miles from the south coast where most of the devastation is located. Consequently the people who the Red Cross is supporting here are those who have been displaced by Katrina and now Rita destruction. They have been or are being processed by the system: sounds horrible, but means that they have received counciling, have received financial aid and housing, and are getting meal support, or they have been deemed not eligible.

Many of these people (the Red Cross calls them clients) are housed in local hotels, and we take bulk food to them which is then served by volunteers from within the client community. We are currently taking lunch and dinner to these people.

We are also taking food to the shelters. A shelter is an establishment that is operated entirely by the Red Cross, some other similar organization, or in many cases by and within local churches.

One such shelter is housed in a tiny Baptist Church in the semi rural outskirts of Jackson. It has a total congregation of about 150 of which about 70 are regular church goers. It is the contributions of these church goers who are financially making this shelter possible. The Red Cross is providing management for the shelter and daily lunches and dinner.

Currently this shelter is housing and home for about 50 displaced persons, many of whom are children. This number is likely to grow, as other shelters are closed down as their residents retake their lives and go onto their next chapters. It is likely that this Baptist Church shelter will take up any slack as it is committed to provide shelter for as long as necessary, even beyond the time when the Red Cross ceases food and management support.

To digress for a moment. I heard recently of a brilliant new idea. The mayor of Burlington Vermont has recently twinned the city of Burlington with a similar sized city in Louisiana. (sorry don't recall which city). This twinning is being heralded as a model that other cities, towns and villages might want to consider, and the Burlington model is providing an interface for support, help, financial contribution, intra city visits, pen pals, school to school interaction and I'm sure a host of other ideas too.

It has occurred to me that this idea might be extended to churches too. The Baptist Shelter that I have described above is desperate for help and support, particularly financial, and it may be that there may be a church out there, of whatever denomination, that might like to twin itself with this church, adopt it and help support those who are making this haven available for those most in need.

This Shelter is such a magical place, the shelter itself is within the church hall, it is tight and impersonal - dormitory like, but very clean and well organized. The clients are motivated, interested, trying to get their lives back together, and they also help run the shelter too. It has occured to me that their need is so small compared to the support that a big church in some major city might be able to provide that there might be some congregation somewhere that might answer this call.

If anyone knows of any church that might like to look further into this please do let me know.

Please think hard.
Peter

On tears!

Some people say that I am becoming a sentimental old fart!

I must say that the older I get the more emotional I am becoming - old fart , well maybe.

Little things choke me up and tear my eyes, and it's always about people!

It is the people that I am now meeting who are the victims of these hurricanes: the little 70 year old lady from New Orleans who has lost everything, doesn't know where her daughter is, doesn't have transportation, is living in a hotel room and who is having trouble in negotiating the labyrinth of lines, forms and people associated with relief and help. She was so frail and defenseless, yet so strong and proud.

I told her what I knew, which wasn't much help I'm sure, but in the end all I could do was hug her, and wish her well and that I would try to get her some assistance. Tears are in my eyes as I write this - I feel so useless.

The emotions come too when you see all the unpaid volunteers doing their bit to help. The formation and moving off of our convoy from Montgomery to Natchez on Saturday was powerful stuff.

22 volunteers, 11 vehicles, untold supplies heading into the disaster area - this is humanity at its best. Every one of the has a unique story to tell, and has reasons for being there, I am proud to be associated with them, and it is a privilege to know them. The sight of our convoy heading round and up the on ramp to the highway is lump in throat stuff too.

Jackson!

Jackson, MS, Sunday 9/25/05 - weather is aftermath of Rita - squally, torrential rain and wind gusts - 85 degrees and very humid.

We are now seconded to the Red Cross Jackson Center, where we will commence ERV duties (see earlier entries). Our convoy will be split and the trucks will eventually go on to Natchez.

As we are identifiable as Red Cross (our vehicles and the Red Cross T shirts and identification we wear) we are constantly approached by displaced victims of these storms who are asking how to get help and support. They are suffering the most incredible hardships, losses and uncertainty as to their future. It is heart breaking not to be able to help them more. All we can do is give support, understanding, some phone numbers, and if possible a hug.

On the road to Natchez!

Saturday, 9/24/05, Montgomery, AL, partly sunny, Rita+1

It wasn't going to be Natchez.

0800 - the people who deploy the ERV's get in at 0800. At 0805 they told us to go to Centerville, Mississippi as soon as possible.

0810 - Wait - the weather has turned worse and there are tornado warnings.

0850 - go - weather anticipated to clear.

0915 - called back to HQ - everything changes - don't go to Centerville, go to Natches, MS (on the left bank of the Mississippi, and on the border with Louisiana).

1000 - we were to travel with another ERV - at 1000 the other ERV is redeployed.

1100 - new instructions - ERV 2136 from Topeka, Kansas driven jointly by a Brit from New Hampshire and an American from Webster City, Iowa is to lead a convoy of 11 vehicles (our ERV and 10 trucks to Natchez).

On this day, the morning after Rita, the Red Cross HQ in Montgomery, AL is a buzz of activity. The situation is changing constantly as news, needs and weather are evaluated. The mass of the Red Cross resource is deployed, then redeployed to meet these changing conditions.

1330 - the convoy leaves Montgomery and heads west on State Route 80.

200 miles out we are passing through weather bands of Rita. Squalls and torrential rain, then sun and dry roads.

We stop for gas and diesel fuel. HQ calls to say we are not to go on to Natchez tonight we must go no further than Jackson, MS and stay the night. The weather and conditions ahead are bad, torrential rain, floods, wind squalls and tornadoes.

Amazingly we find accommodation in Jackson.

Stop Press

Just to let you know we are on the move, but have not had the time, or internet connection to post.

I've got lots to say, so please keep watching
Peter

Now what?

Saturday, Montgomery, AL, 6:30am

Well Rita is on land, and closer to New Orleans and potentially putting 25 inches of rain on the ground. It seems to be stalling and perhaps floating over Louisiana.

The weather here in Montgomery seems benign and it is hard to believe what is going on just west of here.

We wonder if the Red Cross will deploy us today and to where, or whether they will keep us here a while longer.

We are keen to get out there and frustrated that we cannot move, although we understand why of course.

Peter

Rita cometh!

Here we go again ,and the Gulf States wait to see the final track of hurricane "Rita"

There is a high state of anticipation here in Montgomery, more and more people are here, but the Red Cross is not deploying now till after the storm.

There are rows and rows of trucks - hundreds, many preloaded and the warehouse areas bulging with stuff ready to be loaded, there are 53 foot Red Cross "Kitchen" semis and state of the art communications trucks all ready to go.

The ERV's are ready too (emergency response vehicles). Now that we have been assigned to own ERV we spent the most of the day yesterday cleaning it and getting it ready to go. Our ERV comes from from the Red Cross Chapter in Topeka Kansas - we'll try to keep good care of it for them.

Some buddies of ours who were deployed to the Pascagoula (sp )area right at the coast, have been pulled back from the Baptist Church where they were based, to higher ground away from the coast.

There is a degree of frustration here because many of us want to get out
and do something, but we have to wait till this new storm goes through.

I've been fortunate enough to be housed in a hotel - there are many on cots in the staff shelter, and there are no spare hotel rooms in Montgomery. Last night we had 60 army vehicles and their crews here at the hotel enroute to somewhere. They just left in convoy - a great sight, and impressive.

Must go
Peter

Wedding anniversary!

Montgomery, AL, Wednesday 21st, sunny, 95 degrees - always humid

Today is Jean's and my Wedding anniversary, and I'm far, far away. We should have been going to see "Elton John" in New York City, but I guess - another day.

Yesterday was interesting - did some errands around town for several people, but then at about 11:30, Denny (my ERV driver buddy (everyone gets buddies up here if you are out in the field)) drove to Laurel, Mississippi to collect an ERV from the repair shop and brought it back to Montgomery. That was a 9 hour trip, and we finally got to see increasing hurricane damage as we got south and west of here.

On the major roads, at least the state has done a major clean up on the roads, and there are large numbers of heavy trucks going to and fro. Lots of signs of the National Guard too.

Today may well be an interesting day - with hurricane "Rita" getting closer to Texas, the speculation is to whether we might be sent to Texas?

All for now.

Peter

Stories and People!

Montgomery, AL - 8:00pm, clear, 78 degrees

A Mexican restaurant somewhere in Montgomery. 6 people, one American guy, 2 American women, a woman from Vancouver, BC, a guy from Toronto, ON, and me a Brit from New Hampshire. I'm the only newcomer, the 5 have known each other for some numbers of days, they have become a group. One - the Canadian guy runs all the logistics for this center here in Montgomery. The two of them have been on bulk delivery of food and supplies all over the Gulf area, and the two girls have been driving an ERV all over Louisiana. As you know an ERV delivers hot meals and drinks to the people and communities, and is really front line stuff.

I don't have time to relate these stories right now s we have to go, but you should know that the CNN, good as it is, doesn't tell half the story. The real stories are with the ERV drivers and other delivery people, the Police, the National Guard and the vital "Line Men" and contractors.

Must close, bus is here, - sorry for this not being well written.
Peter

We arrive!

Montgomery, AL - 3:00pm, sunny 100 degrees, humid

This place is amazing. This is the center for Red Cross operations for parts of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas. It is vast - an old K Mart store, must be at least 100 thousand square feet, and its crammed with stuff; supplies, computers a small shelter, and people, people, people. The parking lot is full of vehicles, , not many Red Cross ERVs, because they are out on the road, but a constantly changing fleet of rental trucks, mainly Budget it seems. Budget runs a 24 hour maintenance facility on site for them

We go through various levels of checking in, most get assigned to their functions, I was going to be going to a shelter, but at the last minute volunteered to become an ERV driver. An ERV for the non Red Crossers reading this is an Emergency Relief Vehicle - the ones with the Red Cross on the side that you see on the TV. I wanted to do this because it might give me the opportunity of seeing the front lines so to speak. They are used to transport food, drinks and relief supplies to the communities effected, and one of their missions is to literally seek out people who need help and who may not have been contacted yet.

It is getting difficult to get computer access for me to post to this blog. It may be that there may be gaps when I can't post, but please keep checking. The stories here and the people are truly amazing. You're much closer to it here, talking to the people who make it happen. You get the sense of the enormity of it all, the tradgedies that have befallen so many people, and the work that still has to be done. It is already so much more real than you can experience it on CNN, and their coverage has been excellent. Of course I haven't even been out yet.

Back at the Red Cross center groups of volunteers come in from the airports, groups of volunteers leave on their various assignments and postings. When a new group of volunteers leaves on their first deployment the whole population of the center rises and applauds them. its so touching.

On the road at Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL,  6:30am,  70 degrees - partly cloudy, humid

 

Well I arived here safely last night, via Detroit, a good nights sleep on a legendry Holiday Inn bed and now I'm meeting up with the folks who will car pool down to Montgomery leaving at 7:00am.

 

Lots of Red Cross people in the hotel en route - rumour has it that there are masses of us arriving in Montgomery today.

 

90+ miles to go, and I'll let you know what happens.

We're nearly off!

No seats on planes to Montgomery through Monday, so I’m off tomorrow from Burlington, via Detroit to Birmingham, Alabama. A stay over in Birmingham and then an early morning start down the 90 miles to Montgomery.

Apparently there is so much Katrina traffic going into Montgomery that all planes are full. I suspect much of it is Red Cross.

American Red Cross - Katrina Facts at a Glance

As at September 16th 2005
Source: American Red Cross Web Site

Sheltering Operations - Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the Red Cross has provided nearly 2.16 million overnight stays in 899 shelters across 20 states and the District of Columbia. On Thursday night, the Red Cross housed more than 50,000 Hurricane Katrina survivors in 268 shelters.

Relief Workers - More than 122,000 Red Cross workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to Katrina. During this effort, the Red Cross has trained an additional 74,000 people in specialized disaster relief skills.

Feeding Operations - The Red Cross, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention, has served nearly 9.2 million hot meals and more than 7.5 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina. On Thursday, Sept. 15, the Red Cross served more than 331,000 hot meals.

Financial Assistance - The American Red Cross is expanding the variety of its efforts to provide financial assistance to upwards of three quarters of a million Hurricane Katrina victims who are dispersed across the nation. Assistance is provided in a variety of ways, including client assistance cards, vouchers, checks and cash. This program has reached more than 255,000 families to date.
Survivors can register for emergency financial assistance, 24 hours a day, by calling toll-free 1-800-975-7585. Due to the large number of survivors, phone lines may be overwhelmed.

Reuniting Families - Persons looking for loved ones can call 1-877-LOVED 1S (1-877-568-3317),
or go to www.redcross.org and click on "Family Links Registry"

Family Links Registrants - More than 201,000 have been registered online.

Disaster Mental Health - To date, more than 205,000 people have received Red Cross Disaster Mental Health services.

Funds Received - As of Sept. 15, 2005, it has received $688.9 million in gifts and pledges for the hurricane relief effort, of which an estimate $329 million has been received online.

The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. At least 91 cents of every dollar donated to the American Red Cross goes directly to assist disaster victims.

Montgomery, Alabama

So it’s Montgomery Alabama! At least that’s where I have to get to first, and then I will be assigned, probably to a smaller shelter or whatever.

I understand that conditions in Alabama are still rugged, and are exactly as described earlier in this blog. My sense is that there is still a lot of relief needed and I'll let you all know as I can.
I'm a little concerned now that I have started this blog, that when I finally do get into the field that I may not be able to get access to a computer or the internet to keep posting reports - we'll just have to see.

Finally, to give credit where credit is due, the idea for this blog came from the Northern Vermont Chapter of the Red Cross. They have been posting a blog from some of their volunteers down in Louisiana, and I have found their daily experiences a real help in understanding volunteer life, and the conditions down there.

Thank you "Eastern Mountain Sports"

Just wanted to say a big thank you to Eastern Mountain Sports, especially the West Lebanon, NH branch.

The staff there have been extremely helpful in making sure that I had the right gear, and have been totally supportive of these Red Cross efforts. I know that they have helped many others too.

The phone call!

Finally at about 1:00pm Friday the 16th the phone call came in..... Be at the local Red Cross office between 3:00 and 4:30 for instructions, my Red Cross ID and other information

I still don't know where they will send me!!

Later?

Still waiting!!!

Still waiting for "the call" at mid morning!

Now the Red Cross is anticipating the arrival of Hurricane Ophelia on the coast of North Carolina

Hurry up and wait!

About 6 days ago, I decided, following days days of horrendous images and stories on CNN about the “Katrina” disaster; to volunteer with the Red Cross. I did this in the hope that perhaps I could do, even a little bit to help those so much more unfortunate than we. It was a strange compulsion – something I had to do – I suspect the same compulsion that Americans felt after Pearl Harbor.

So I called the Red Cross local Chapter in Rutland, VT and just made it to a three day training session to be help on September 9/10/11. A crash course in CPR, First Aid, Shelter Set Up, mass feeding etc etc. 125 of us turned up, learned and got certified in these skills.

We were told that in all probability we would be being sent to the Red Cross (RC) main shelter in Mississippi and maybe to Biloxi. The RC categorizes its shelters with CODES. The codes represent the conditions at a specific camp, and the degree of severity of the conditions there. The Biloxi shelter, at the time of writing had every, “most severe” code in the RC’s manual except for “severe cold”.

Temperatures are in the nineties in the shelter, it has 90+ percent humidity, there is still no electricity, no air conditioning, no running water, no potable water, no showers etc etc. A hell hole, but currently the only home that hundreds of displaced Mississippians have. Shelter, a bed, three meals a day, water, help and support, counseling, medical assistance. How can the RC provide such support in such short time in such condition?

Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the Red Cross has housed more than 207,000 survivors providing nearly 1.94 million overnight stays in 709 shelters across 24 states and the District of Columbia. The Red Cross, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention, has served more than 7.6 million hot meals and more than 6.6 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

I am totally impressed with the RC people I have met, their dedications and their passion. I am proud to now be a part of the RC, even if only a green junior member. It is a privilege to be associated with such people.

The Gear list – in order to be able to put ourselves up for deployment we have to be ready to be posted anywhere in the RC’s theater. Floods and Hurricane emergencies in the Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana areas, shelters in far flung States now housing the Katrina refugees, forest fires in Arizona, still shelters and relief in Florida following Katrina's first pass over the USA and now pre deployment in preparation for landfall of Hurricane Ophelia, probably in North Carolina by the end of this week.

Our gear must allow us to be posted anywhere – you will not know where you are being posted until you get “the phone call” and even then you may head south, only to be diverted west whilst en-route.
Gear so you can sleep on the floor, gear to protect yourself from disease, two days supply of water, Hepatitis “A” and Tetanus shots, a health check, the list goes on.

The RC is, I suspect, quite like the military – a form for everything. The final piece of information needed is “the date you are available” You have to be able to go wherever you are sent within 24 hours of a phone call you might get at anytime following the date you give them. So everything is ready, my pack is part loaded, all my other projects are on hold for two weeks, I’m psyched. Today was the day I gave them, it’s 7:30pm in the evening and the phone didn’t ring!!!!!!!

Suspended animation................

September 12, 2000

Sheltering Operations - Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the Red Cross has housed more than 207,000 survivors providing nearly 1.94 million overnight stays in 709 shelters across 24 states and the District of Columbia.
On Sunday, Sept. 11, the Red Cross housed nearly 75,000 survivors in 445 shelters across 19 states and the District of Columbia.
Relief Workers - Nearly 74,000 Red Cross workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to Katrina. During this effort, the Red Cross has trained an additional 63,000 people in specialized disaster relief skills.
Feeding Operations - The Red Cross, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention, has served more than 7.6 million hot meals and more than 6.6 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
Financial Assistance - The Red Cross is expanding its efforts to provide financial assistance to upwards of three quarters of a million survivors dispersed across the nation. Assistance is provided in a variety of ways, including client assistance cards, vouchers, checks and cash.
Survivors can register for emergency financial assistance, 24 hours a day, by calling toll-free 1-800-975-7585. Due to the large number of survivors, phone lines may be overwhelmed in the first few days.
Reuniting Families - Persons looking for loved ones can call 1-877-LOVED 1S (1-877-568-3317), or go to www.redcross.org and click on "Family Links Registry" to:
Family Links - More than 182,600 have been registered online and more than 110,000 have called the hotline.
Disaster Mental Health - To date, more than 91,000 people have received Red Cross Disaster Mental Health services.
Funds Received - As of Sept. 11, 2005, it has received $584 million in gifts and pledges for the hurricane relief effort, of which an estimate $308.1 million has been received online.
The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. At least 91 cents of every dollar donated to the American Red Cross goes directly to assist disaster victims.

FACTS AT A GLANCE: American Red Cross Response to Hurricane Katrina

Fast Facts(As of 7:00 a.m., Sept 6)
Red Cross Mass Care:
Evacuees – More than 142,000 evacuees are being sheltered by the American Red Cross.
Shelters – More than 485 Red Cross shelters have been opened in 18 states – including Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Md., Mo., Miss., N.C., Okla., SC., Texas, Tenn, Utah, Va. and W.Va. – with many more on standby.
Emergency Vehicles – More than 270 Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) are now in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, with additional ERVs en route to the affected area. The Red Cross is working to engage additional vehicles for food distribution to survivors.
Relief Workers – Thousands of Red Cross staff and volunteers across the country and from every part of the organization are working around the clock to serve the public need. More than 5,640 Red Crossers have left their families to serve in affected areas already, and the Red Cross is moving hundreds more into affected areas every day.
Food - More than 3.3 hot million meals and more than 3.9 million snacks have been served to survivors of Hurricane Katrina to-date; more than 618,000 and 466,000, respectively, in the last 24 hours.
Health & Preventative Care – The Red Cross is working with government and health services partners to develop health strategies and preventative measures to help the public and relief workers cope with the serious public health emergency. For additional information, visit http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_172_4554,00.htm or http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp.
Funds Received to Date – The Red Cross estimates that, as of Sept. 5, 2005, it has received 409.2 million in gifts and pledges for the hurricane relief effort, with approximately $209 million made online to date.

Reuniting Families:
The Red Cross, with support of the worldwide Red Cross Movement, has launched a Web site and hotline to help reunite loved ones.
Online – Persons looking for loved ones can go to http://www.redcross.org/ and click on “Family Links Registry” to register yourself, a missing relative or view the existing list of registrants. Hundreds of donated computers are being delivered to the Houston Astrodome and shelters across the country to enable those evacuees to register and reconnect with worried loved ones.
Hotline – Those who do not have Internet access should call toll-free1-877-LOVED-1S (1-877-568-3317).
Registered – To date, more than 105,000 people have registered on the "Family Links" Web site.