Dallas launches Katrina housing fund
By CHRIS HEINBAUGH / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - With New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin looking on, Dallas Mayor Laura Miller on Friday announced a campaign to raise private dollars to move Hurricane Katrina evacuees into apartments around Dallas.
Miller said the city aims to raise $3 million in private donations to cover the first two months' rent for as many as 800 Katrina households. She said the campaign already has received $250,000 in donations, and the 7-11 convenience stores around Dallas have agreed to sell Mardi Gras beads for $1 each to benefit the fund.
About 17,000 Hurricane Katrina survivors from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were still housed at Reunion Arena and the Dallas Convention Center as of Thursday afternoon. Miller said most evacuees who were receiving public assistance in New Orleans have already been placed. Those that remain are those that had jobs, and they are the ones the fund is intended to help.
"They were in apartments, in rental homes," Miller said. "They were working the Friday before the hurricane, and they have lost everything."
Nagin was in Dallas to see family members who had evacuated here as Katrina neared New Orleans, but also because he wanted to check on the 1,500 evacuees who are still at Reunion Arena and the Dallas Convention Center. He said he was amazed at the effort's organization.
"You know you have a slogan, it says 'Don't Mess with Texas,'" he said. "It's so appropriate, because you are an incredible people."
Nagin had nothing but positive words about how Dallas has provided housing, food and other aid for evacuees.
"I saw sick people being taken care of in ways that we couldn't take care of them in New Orleans," Nagin said. "I can't say thank you enough."
Nagin and Miller both expressed frustration with FEMA's involvement in helping the hurricane victims who are now in North Texas; the Dallas mayor said the city is not waiting for federal and state help to move Hurricane Katrina victims out of the city's shelters.
"There is some chaos going on, and dysfunction with the federal government," Miller said. "Dallas can no longer wait."
Dallas megachurch The Potter's House will run the program. They are looking for churches, groups and organizations to adopt families, and help them find beds, cribs, dishes and other basics to help them get back on their feet.
It's a lot to ask after so much has already been given, but Potter's House spiritual leader Bishop T.D. Jakes is convinced that North Texans have even more in their hearts to give.
"If there is any positive thing to come from the hurricane, it's that it has blown God's people together in an unprecedented way," Jakes said.
If you want to donate items or adopt a family, call The Potter's House at 214-632-4081.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
For Texans and Everyone-Oppurtunities to help
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TexasStooge
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Cabinet member tours Dallas shelter
By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt toured the Dallas Convention Center Saturday so that he could take his own first-hand look at the shelters.
Phone banks for evacuees to check voicemail lined the front entryway, while tables staffed by employees of federal and state social service agencies encircled the room. Evacuees came and went.
Mr. Leavitt’s late morning visit is part of a two-day trip to meet with evacuees in shelters in Georgia, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee to explain the benefits available to those displaced by the hurricane. He credited Dallas for its quick action and said that money will be forthcoming to repay the city and county governments.
“Communities all over the country realize this is not something we can or should wait for somebody from Washington to solve,” he said.
“People are helping people. This country is stepping forward. In every community, there is goodness being shown.”
By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt toured the Dallas Convention Center Saturday so that he could take his own first-hand look at the shelters.
Phone banks for evacuees to check voicemail lined the front entryway, while tables staffed by employees of federal and state social service agencies encircled the room. Evacuees came and went.
Mr. Leavitt’s late morning visit is part of a two-day trip to meet with evacuees in shelters in Georgia, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee to explain the benefits available to those displaced by the hurricane. He credited Dallas for its quick action and said that money will be forthcoming to repay the city and county governments.
“Communities all over the country realize this is not something we can or should wait for somebody from Washington to solve,” he said.
“People are helping people. This country is stepping forward. In every community, there is goodness being shown.”
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HUD tags homes for evacuees
5,000 foreclosed houses off market in Texas, 10 other states
By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Your new neighbor could be a hurricane evacuee.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is setting aside about 5,000 foreclosed homes on the market in Texas and 10 other states – including many in the Dallas-Fort Worth area – for Katrina survivors.
HUD officials can't say exactly how many of the houses are in North Texas, but the four-county area has led the nation in home foreclosures in the last couple of years.
The agency normally sells the homes to consumers and investors. Spokesman Brian Sullivan said Friday that the houses will be "held off the market indefinitely until we can get past this business."
Earlier this week, HUD began notifying real estate agents and potential buyers that the properties were being pulled off the market.
"If the house was under contract, we are going to honor the sale contract," Mr. Sullivan said. "If someone had a hankering to buy a HUD home that's good to go, I can't tell you when that home will be available."
Foreclosed homes that are in poor condition and can't be easily repaired won't be included in the plan. But HUD plans to spend up to $10,000 on repairs on each house.
Some real estate agents are concerned about the move.
"I know there are a lot of agents who have been doing nothing but HUD homes recently, mostly for owner/occupant bidders, so I am sure they are not happy," said Dave Melvin, an agent with the Michael Group, who said he has several investors in the market for HUD homes to renovate.
"I'm having a lot of agents calling wanting to know what's going on," said Connie Zetterlund, who specializes in foreclosed-home sales for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
"Some of these houses need so much work I don't know how they will do it," she said. "I'm sure the inventory of foreclosed homes on the market will go down."
The HUD relief program also includes about 5,600 public housing units within 500 miles of storm-damaged areas.
Also Friday, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, who previously headed the city's public housing program, recognized the Dallas Housing Authority for quickly finding temporary housing for 120 families who fled the storm-hit area.
The Dallas Housing Authority coordinated with public housing officials in Plano, Mesquite, Garland, Lancaster, Arlington, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Tarrant County and Dallas County to find rental homes for 1,000 people.
5,000 foreclosed houses off market in Texas, 10 other states
By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Your new neighbor could be a hurricane evacuee.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is setting aside about 5,000 foreclosed homes on the market in Texas and 10 other states – including many in the Dallas-Fort Worth area – for Katrina survivors.
HUD officials can't say exactly how many of the houses are in North Texas, but the four-county area has led the nation in home foreclosures in the last couple of years.
The agency normally sells the homes to consumers and investors. Spokesman Brian Sullivan said Friday that the houses will be "held off the market indefinitely until we can get past this business."
Earlier this week, HUD began notifying real estate agents and potential buyers that the properties were being pulled off the market.
"If the house was under contract, we are going to honor the sale contract," Mr. Sullivan said. "If someone had a hankering to buy a HUD home that's good to go, I can't tell you when that home will be available."
Foreclosed homes that are in poor condition and can't be easily repaired won't be included in the plan. But HUD plans to spend up to $10,000 on repairs on each house.
Some real estate agents are concerned about the move.
"I know there are a lot of agents who have been doing nothing but HUD homes recently, mostly for owner/occupant bidders, so I am sure they are not happy," said Dave Melvin, an agent with the Michael Group, who said he has several investors in the market for HUD homes to renovate.
"I'm having a lot of agents calling wanting to know what's going on," said Connie Zetterlund, who specializes in foreclosed-home sales for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
"Some of these houses need so much work I don't know how they will do it," she said. "I'm sure the inventory of foreclosed homes on the market will go down."
The HUD relief program also includes about 5,600 public housing units within 500 miles of storm-damaged areas.
Also Friday, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, who previously headed the city's public housing program, recognized the Dallas Housing Authority for quickly finding temporary housing for 120 families who fled the storm-hit area.
The Dallas Housing Authority coordinated with public housing officials in Plano, Mesquite, Garland, Lancaster, Arlington, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Tarrant County and Dallas County to find rental homes for 1,000 people.
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TexasStooge
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Belo-owned station to 'play a leading role' in rebuilding New Orleans
DALLAS, Texas/NEW ORLEANS, La. (WFAA ABC 8) - Belo Corp. on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to New Orleans, where it owns WWL CBS 4, pledging that the station "will play a leading role" in rebuilding the city.
"No undertaking of this magnitude has ever been accomplished in the United States without the active participation and leadership of the press, and we are determined to meet our obligations as a journalistic organization and as a corporate citizen," said Robert W. Decherd, Belo's chairman, president and chief executive officer.
In fulfilling these journalistic and community obligations, Mr. Decherd said, the Dallas-based media company will maintain WWL's operating expenses at pre-Katrina levels for the next 12 to 15 months. However, he added, there is no way to predict the recovery time for the station's audience and advertising revenue.
Belo also said it remains committed to a new facility planned for WWL but has postponed the project to conduct a design and engineering review of the new building.
Belo said it has insurance coverage that should mitigate the near-term financial impact of Katrina. Regardless, it withdrew its third-quarter and full-year financial estimates for further assessment. Belo shares closed Friday at $24.19, up 11 cents.
Belo's holdings include The Dallas Morning News and three other daily newspapers; WFAA ABC 8 and 18 other television stations; and various cable and interactive properties.
DALLAS, Texas/NEW ORLEANS, La. (WFAA ABC 8) - Belo Corp. on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to New Orleans, where it owns WWL CBS 4, pledging that the station "will play a leading role" in rebuilding the city.
"No undertaking of this magnitude has ever been accomplished in the United States without the active participation and leadership of the press, and we are determined to meet our obligations as a journalistic organization and as a corporate citizen," said Robert W. Decherd, Belo's chairman, president and chief executive officer.
In fulfilling these journalistic and community obligations, Mr. Decherd said, the Dallas-based media company will maintain WWL's operating expenses at pre-Katrina levels for the next 12 to 15 months. However, he added, there is no way to predict the recovery time for the station's audience and advertising revenue.
Belo also said it remains committed to a new facility planned for WWL but has postponed the project to conduct a design and engineering review of the new building.
Belo said it has insurance coverage that should mitigate the near-term financial impact of Katrina. Regardless, it withdrew its third-quarter and full-year financial estimates for further assessment. Belo shares closed Friday at $24.19, up 11 cents.
Belo's holdings include The Dallas Morning News and three other daily newspapers; WFAA ABC 8 and 18 other television stations; and various cable and interactive properties.
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Many saying goodbye to area shelters
Evacuees rethink lives in more permanent digs as facilities clear out
By JIM GETZ / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Many of the thousands of hurricane evacuees whom Katrina scattered like seeds to the Dallas-Fort Worth area are taking root, growing new lives.
In the last week, thousands have moved from shelters and hotel rooms into apartments and homes across North Texas. They're living with relatives, while strangers and many cities have adopted families, and businesses and landlords have cut the red tape to place people.
As of Friday, about 10 percent of the 17,000 evacuees registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the American Red Cross were sleeping at Dallas' three main shelters: the Convention Center, Reunion Arena and Decker Justice Center. At their peak on Sunday night, the three shelters were holding 2,334 evacuees.
By Thursday night, that dropped to 1,889. If that rate holds steady, the shelters could be emptied in two weeks.
"It's indicative, basically, of the trend we're seeing," said Bill Eckert, Dallas County's emergency management coordinator. "We're trying to get them into long-term housing as much as possible. The goal is to get them out of shelters as quickly as possible."
FEMA could not provide details about where evacuees not in shelters are living.
But according to estimates from city and county officials, Dallas County has at least 6,000 evacuees. Collin County has at least 2,400, with a few hundred in shelters. In Tarrant County, about 1,600 of the 2,000 evacuees are still in shelters.
Apartment life
Charlotte Lassair's family wasn't in a shelter – it was in a hotel, but money was running out.
On Friday, Ms. Lassair sat on the beige carpet of her new apartment in east Oak Cliff with her teenage son Christopher as 5-year-old Kirstin doodled and sang, and her Shih Tzu, Pooh Bear, frolicked about.
It could have been a scene anywhere, except there was no furniture and Hurricane Katrina had destroyed nearly everything they owned in New Orleans.
"It's hard and it's scary," Ms. Lassair, 43, said. "I'm trying not to let everything I lost get to me."
Luck – or a blessing – intervened when she met Sherry Hunter, a schoolteacher and member of Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.
Ms. Hunter's daughter works in a Dallas bank with a relative of Ms. Lassair. Soon, Ms. Hunter and her church had aided the family in verifying its federal housing voucher from New Orleans, obtained supplies and got everyone registered with FEMA for future aid.
"I want to help as many people as I can," said Ms. Hunter, a native of Alexandria, La., who has family in New Orleans. "It's the position I've taken."
Partnerships between helpers and evacuees have been key:
Evelyn Kelly, her daughter Tanya Kelly Kirk and fellow volunteers at St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas found apartments in Arlington for Dianne Perry and her relatives. Paula and Gary Miller of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano helped Regina and Henry Smith's family.As of Thursday, St. Luke's had found apartments for 47 people. It had found jobs for others, was having medical volunteers do basic assessments and feeding 150 twice a day.
"This just shows the character, not only of our church, but of all the people who were willing to do whatever they could do," Ms. Kirk said.
In Arlington, Ms. Perry and seven relatives were sharing an apartment. But that was a step up from moving around four hotels. They ran into Ms. Kelly after visiting the Red Cross in Dallas.
They plan to stay, though they had another setback when Ms. Perry's daughter, Nniki Guyton, returned to New Orleans to find their house looted and nursing license missing.
"We have no other choice to survive," Ms. Perry said about remaining in Dallas-Fort Worth. "We thank God for St. Luke's because they've been feeding us and clothing us and everything."
Like Charlotte Lassair, the Smith family intends to stay in Dallas about six months before restarting life in New Orleans. But unlike her, they haven't found a home more permanent than their hotel. Paula Miller, part of a Prestonwood "host family" helping them with their needs, said the church would find them a home soon. In the meantime, the Millers have helped with transportation and other needs.
"They were talking about how good we were to them, but the truth is, they're just a blessing to us," Ms. Miller said.
Trying for head count
Meanwhile, in Collin County, most cities are struggling to estimate how many evacuees they have, a difficult task because people are so scattered.
People are living in shelters, homes, hotel rooms and other arrangements. At least 1,000 students have enrolled in area schools.
The largest numbers appear to be clustered in Plano, where city officials say they had processed 1,153 people as of Friday afternoon. That includes at least 917 in Plano motels and hotels and 124 in church-sponsored shelters. Hundreds have also arrived in McKinney, Frisco, Allen and Wylie.
School district enrollments give perhaps the most solid numbers for at least the school-age population.
Plano schools reported the most in Collin County on Friday at 424 students, even though there is no large, established shelter there. Other districts such as Frisco and Allen have enrolled 185 and 109, respectively. McKinney, where a large shelter is being run out of an old Wal-Mart, signed up 152 students in the public schools.The county wants to help evacuees plan for life after the shelter.
"We are helping evacuees plan for resources one, two and three months out," said Collin County Homeland Security Director Kelley Stone. "Currently, evacuees without homes and jobs can be cared for under the county health program. As time progresses, evacuees will be seeking employment and housing."
'I am happy'
Evacuee Ingrid Garrett wasn't smiling Friday, despite landing a job, a home and a car after six days in a Grand Prairie shelter.
"I had a tooth pulled this morning or I'd be smiling big, but my cheeks won't stretch that far," she said. "But I am happy."
Ms. Garrett, 28, was waiting to be taken to an apartment in Las Colinas, where she'll live rent-free for the next three months with her mother, Fannie Lyles, 56, and 6-year-old son Corey Mitchell. She's confident she can save enough in that time to get back on her feet.
The apartment, a corporate car and jobs for her and her mother are being provided by Gemmy Industries in Coppell.
"They told me it's not going to be too hard, not too strenuous, so everything's great," Ms. Garrett said. "I lived before in Garland and Mesquite for about a year, and I liked it here, so I'm going to make my life over in Texas."
Staff writers Kathy A. Goolsby, Jennifer Emily, Ed Housewright, Karen Ayres and Kim Breen contributed to this report.
Evacuees rethink lives in more permanent digs as facilities clear out
By JIM GETZ / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Many of the thousands of hurricane evacuees whom Katrina scattered like seeds to the Dallas-Fort Worth area are taking root, growing new lives.
In the last week, thousands have moved from shelters and hotel rooms into apartments and homes across North Texas. They're living with relatives, while strangers and many cities have adopted families, and businesses and landlords have cut the red tape to place people.
As of Friday, about 10 percent of the 17,000 evacuees registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the American Red Cross were sleeping at Dallas' three main shelters: the Convention Center, Reunion Arena and Decker Justice Center. At their peak on Sunday night, the three shelters were holding 2,334 evacuees.
By Thursday night, that dropped to 1,889. If that rate holds steady, the shelters could be emptied in two weeks.
"It's indicative, basically, of the trend we're seeing," said Bill Eckert, Dallas County's emergency management coordinator. "We're trying to get them into long-term housing as much as possible. The goal is to get them out of shelters as quickly as possible."
FEMA could not provide details about where evacuees not in shelters are living.
But according to estimates from city and county officials, Dallas County has at least 6,000 evacuees. Collin County has at least 2,400, with a few hundred in shelters. In Tarrant County, about 1,600 of the 2,000 evacuees are still in shelters.
Apartment life
Charlotte Lassair's family wasn't in a shelter – it was in a hotel, but money was running out.
On Friday, Ms. Lassair sat on the beige carpet of her new apartment in east Oak Cliff with her teenage son Christopher as 5-year-old Kirstin doodled and sang, and her Shih Tzu, Pooh Bear, frolicked about.
It could have been a scene anywhere, except there was no furniture and Hurricane Katrina had destroyed nearly everything they owned in New Orleans.
"It's hard and it's scary," Ms. Lassair, 43, said. "I'm trying not to let everything I lost get to me."
Luck – or a blessing – intervened when she met Sherry Hunter, a schoolteacher and member of Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.
Ms. Hunter's daughter works in a Dallas bank with a relative of Ms. Lassair. Soon, Ms. Hunter and her church had aided the family in verifying its federal housing voucher from New Orleans, obtained supplies and got everyone registered with FEMA for future aid.
"I want to help as many people as I can," said Ms. Hunter, a native of Alexandria, La., who has family in New Orleans. "It's the position I've taken."
Partnerships between helpers and evacuees have been key:
Evelyn Kelly, her daughter Tanya Kelly Kirk and fellow volunteers at St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas found apartments in Arlington for Dianne Perry and her relatives. Paula and Gary Miller of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano helped Regina and Henry Smith's family.As of Thursday, St. Luke's had found apartments for 47 people. It had found jobs for others, was having medical volunteers do basic assessments and feeding 150 twice a day.
"This just shows the character, not only of our church, but of all the people who were willing to do whatever they could do," Ms. Kirk said.
In Arlington, Ms. Perry and seven relatives were sharing an apartment. But that was a step up from moving around four hotels. They ran into Ms. Kelly after visiting the Red Cross in Dallas.
They plan to stay, though they had another setback when Ms. Perry's daughter, Nniki Guyton, returned to New Orleans to find their house looted and nursing license missing.
"We have no other choice to survive," Ms. Perry said about remaining in Dallas-Fort Worth. "We thank God for St. Luke's because they've been feeding us and clothing us and everything."
Like Charlotte Lassair, the Smith family intends to stay in Dallas about six months before restarting life in New Orleans. But unlike her, they haven't found a home more permanent than their hotel. Paula Miller, part of a Prestonwood "host family" helping them with their needs, said the church would find them a home soon. In the meantime, the Millers have helped with transportation and other needs.
"They were talking about how good we were to them, but the truth is, they're just a blessing to us," Ms. Miller said.
Trying for head count
Meanwhile, in Collin County, most cities are struggling to estimate how many evacuees they have, a difficult task because people are so scattered.
People are living in shelters, homes, hotel rooms and other arrangements. At least 1,000 students have enrolled in area schools.
The largest numbers appear to be clustered in Plano, where city officials say they had processed 1,153 people as of Friday afternoon. That includes at least 917 in Plano motels and hotels and 124 in church-sponsored shelters. Hundreds have also arrived in McKinney, Frisco, Allen and Wylie.
School district enrollments give perhaps the most solid numbers for at least the school-age population.
Plano schools reported the most in Collin County on Friday at 424 students, even though there is no large, established shelter there. Other districts such as Frisco and Allen have enrolled 185 and 109, respectively. McKinney, where a large shelter is being run out of an old Wal-Mart, signed up 152 students in the public schools.The county wants to help evacuees plan for life after the shelter.
"We are helping evacuees plan for resources one, two and three months out," said Collin County Homeland Security Director Kelley Stone. "Currently, evacuees without homes and jobs can be cared for under the county health program. As time progresses, evacuees will be seeking employment and housing."
'I am happy'
Evacuee Ingrid Garrett wasn't smiling Friday, despite landing a job, a home and a car after six days in a Grand Prairie shelter.
"I had a tooth pulled this morning or I'd be smiling big, but my cheeks won't stretch that far," she said. "But I am happy."
Ms. Garrett, 28, was waiting to be taken to an apartment in Las Colinas, where she'll live rent-free for the next three months with her mother, Fannie Lyles, 56, and 6-year-old son Corey Mitchell. She's confident she can save enough in that time to get back on her feet.
The apartment, a corporate car and jobs for her and her mother are being provided by Gemmy Industries in Coppell.
"They told me it's not going to be too hard, not too strenuous, so everything's great," Ms. Garrett said. "I lived before in Garland and Mesquite for about a year, and I liked it here, so I'm going to make my life over in Texas."
Staff writers Kathy A. Goolsby, Jennifer Emily, Ed Housewright, Karen Ayres and Kim Breen contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Evacuee family faces tough diagnosis
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - A family displaced by Hurricane Katrina came to Grand Prairie in search of a new home and a new life.
Mike and Sherry Chimento's home in St. Bernard's Parish is underwater, along with the elementary and high schools where they work. They didn't think it could get any worse after leaving their home - but their struggle just took on a whole new meaning.
Shortly after arriving, the Chimentos' niece noticed that their son Drew looked "yellow and pale".
So they took the 10-year-old to a doctor, who ran some blood tests and sent him to the emergency room at Medical City.
"Just from looking at the blood, he came in and took us out one at a time and told us he was pretty sure it was ALL," Sherry said.
ALL is acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Drew's oncologists began treating him with chemotherapy days after the diagnosis.
"I feel like I'm looking in at someone else's life ... you know, it's not the thing you expect to happen to you," Sherry said. "At night, I lay in bed and you know, you feel so hopeless, so helpless."
The news of Drew's leukemia has tested the Chimentos' faith.
"I went to church the last two Sundays at St. Michaels," Mike said. "It's like, I don't feel like I belong. I'm not supposed to be here, there's something wrong ... I don't know."
The hurricane's devastating impact on their lives doesn't seem so daunting any more. Their new goal is getting their son healthy.
"I don't care about the house anymore," Sherry said. "I'll live in a tent - just get him better."
Oncologists are preparing the Chimentos for an emotional roller coaster ride. Drew's prognosis is promising, though, and his courage, strength and positive attitude are giving his family hope.
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - A family displaced by Hurricane Katrina came to Grand Prairie in search of a new home and a new life.
Mike and Sherry Chimento's home in St. Bernard's Parish is underwater, along with the elementary and high schools where they work. They didn't think it could get any worse after leaving their home - but their struggle just took on a whole new meaning.
Shortly after arriving, the Chimentos' niece noticed that their son Drew looked "yellow and pale".
So they took the 10-year-old to a doctor, who ran some blood tests and sent him to the emergency room at Medical City.
"Just from looking at the blood, he came in and took us out one at a time and told us he was pretty sure it was ALL," Sherry said.
ALL is acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Drew's oncologists began treating him with chemotherapy days after the diagnosis.
"I feel like I'm looking in at someone else's life ... you know, it's not the thing you expect to happen to you," Sherry said. "At night, I lay in bed and you know, you feel so hopeless, so helpless."
The news of Drew's leukemia has tested the Chimentos' faith.
"I went to church the last two Sundays at St. Michaels," Mike said. "It's like, I don't feel like I belong. I'm not supposed to be here, there's something wrong ... I don't know."
The hurricane's devastating impact on their lives doesn't seem so daunting any more. Their new goal is getting their son healthy.
"I don't care about the house anymore," Sherry said. "I'll live in a tent - just get him better."
Oncologists are preparing the Chimentos for an emotional roller coaster ride. Drew's prognosis is promising, though, and his courage, strength and positive attitude are giving his family hope.
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Near-final Houston mega-shelters update ...
Just to update the board on the New Orleans West community once known as Houston, TX:
.The combined population of Reliant City and GRB City is now down to 2,137
.Over 90% of the evacuees who came to Houston have been "mainstreamed back into society" (that's an official quote)
.The remaining residents of Reliant Arena (who were supposed to be out by today, but weren't) and the Geo R. Brown Convention Center are waiting on 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom apartments to become available (I didn't know there were such things!)
.The Houston Texans NFL home opener football game is tomorrow in Reliant Park stadium and local TV news interviewed some of the tailgaters who have already gotten there early to set up their BBQ pits and tents and so forth - way to go, guys - they said they were concerned about security being tight enough while they're inside watching the game and their "stuff" is still out in the parking lot - they didn't want the refugees "disturbing" things (I guess the Texan fans didn't know we've actually been feeding and caring for the visitors--they don't need to steal food or even ice chests, we gave them those, too!)
.One evacuee (lol, it's the guy with all the gold front teeth who was interviewed the very first night, right before Jabbar Gibson drove the renegade school bus in the gates--this guy was in his SUV at that time, with 4-5 little kids and other adult family members and said he'd been "rejected" from 3 other shelters in Houston and just wanted some food and water) said now he wants a "home" and said he couldn't care less about the stupid tailgating stuff, he wants the H out of the Reliant complex!
.Now, wanting not to end on *that* note, I would like to add this one:
Over 58,000 Houston volunteers have welcomed and served the displaced Katrina victims in this 2-week period!!! Wow!!!
.The combined population of Reliant City and GRB City is now down to 2,137
.Over 90% of the evacuees who came to Houston have been "mainstreamed back into society" (that's an official quote)
.The remaining residents of Reliant Arena (who were supposed to be out by today, but weren't) and the Geo R. Brown Convention Center are waiting on 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom apartments to become available (I didn't know there were such things!)
.The Houston Texans NFL home opener football game is tomorrow in Reliant Park stadium and local TV news interviewed some of the tailgaters who have already gotten there early to set up their BBQ pits and tents and so forth - way to go, guys - they said they were concerned about security being tight enough while they're inside watching the game and their "stuff" is still out in the parking lot - they didn't want the refugees "disturbing" things (I guess the Texan fans didn't know we've actually been feeding and caring for the visitors--they don't need to steal food or even ice chests, we gave them those, too!)
.One evacuee (lol, it's the guy with all the gold front teeth who was interviewed the very first night, right before Jabbar Gibson drove the renegade school bus in the gates--this guy was in his SUV at that time, with 4-5 little kids and other adult family members and said he'd been "rejected" from 3 other shelters in Houston and just wanted some food and water) said now he wants a "home" and said he couldn't care less about the stupid tailgating stuff, he wants the H out of the Reliant complex!
.Now, wanting not to end on *that* note, I would like to add this one:
Over 58,000 Houston volunteers have welcomed and served the displaced Katrina victims in this 2-week period!!! Wow!!!
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TexasStooge
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Dallas evacuees get apartments, new beds
By CAROL CAVAZOS / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Hurricane Katrina evacuees who moved out of Reunion Arena and into apartments on Saturday will rest on something besides a cot.
Dallas Mayor Laura Miller made sure they would at least have a mattress to sleep on.
Barrie Brown, CEO of the Mattress Giant retail chain, gave away up to $100,000 of its best products after he was prodded by Miller.
There was even more in store for the Katrina victims who arrived at the Foxmoor Apartments.
First came the food: 35 pound "starter boxes" from the North Texas Food Bank worth $52 each at wholesale.
Dianne Dunn was early to register for a new mattress. "I try to be here early, because I know there's going to be a lot of people here," she said.
But Joseph Duncan got the first—and most expensive—mattress on the truck, a $4,000 model. "I need something to support my back, and an air mattress is not going to work at all," he said.
Brown credits Mayor Miller with being a catalyst for the giveaway. "She just had a magical way about her, and convinced us to do the right thing," the bedding executive said.
"I just said there was a need, and if they agreed to do it, I would be eternally grateful. And they said, 'Okay! Yeah, we'll do it,'" Miller said.
Dorothy Barney and her son Jordan were fresh from Reunion Arena and on the way to their new apartment when they unexpectedly ran into Dianne Dunn—her sister and a fellow evacuee.
The next big surprise for Barney was her fully-furnished new apartment.
"I didn't have no table in New Orleans," Barney said. "[It's] stocked with everything a new apartment dweller could want and need—and more."
The resettled evacuees also received phone cards, $200 Wal-Mart gift cards, $200 Target gift cards and a $200 credit from the Foxmoor apartment complex.
"There's nothing to go back to New Orleans for," Barney said, sitting on her new sofa. "There's nothing."
Barney one of 17 evacuee families who moved into a fully furnished apartment, but a total of 35 families moved in on Saturday, and another 15 are on the way. All will need furniture.
So Mayor Miller was appealing to the religious community to round up more sofas and beds, tables and chairs.
By CAROL CAVAZOS / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Hurricane Katrina evacuees who moved out of Reunion Arena and into apartments on Saturday will rest on something besides a cot.
Dallas Mayor Laura Miller made sure they would at least have a mattress to sleep on.
Barrie Brown, CEO of the Mattress Giant retail chain, gave away up to $100,000 of its best products after he was prodded by Miller.
There was even more in store for the Katrina victims who arrived at the Foxmoor Apartments.
First came the food: 35 pound "starter boxes" from the North Texas Food Bank worth $52 each at wholesale.
Dianne Dunn was early to register for a new mattress. "I try to be here early, because I know there's going to be a lot of people here," she said.
But Joseph Duncan got the first—and most expensive—mattress on the truck, a $4,000 model. "I need something to support my back, and an air mattress is not going to work at all," he said.
Brown credits Mayor Miller with being a catalyst for the giveaway. "She just had a magical way about her, and convinced us to do the right thing," the bedding executive said.
"I just said there was a need, and if they agreed to do it, I would be eternally grateful. And they said, 'Okay! Yeah, we'll do it,'" Miller said.
Dorothy Barney and her son Jordan were fresh from Reunion Arena and on the way to their new apartment when they unexpectedly ran into Dianne Dunn—her sister and a fellow evacuee.
The next big surprise for Barney was her fully-furnished new apartment.
"I didn't have no table in New Orleans," Barney said. "[It's] stocked with everything a new apartment dweller could want and need—and more."
The resettled evacuees also received phone cards, $200 Wal-Mart gift cards, $200 Target gift cards and a $200 credit from the Foxmoor apartment complex.
"There's nothing to go back to New Orleans for," Barney said, sitting on her new sofa. "There's nothing."
Barney one of 17 evacuee families who moved into a fully furnished apartment, but a total of 35 families moved in on Saturday, and another 15 are on the way. All will need furniture.
So Mayor Miller was appealing to the religious community to round up more sofas and beds, tables and chairs.
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TexasStooge
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With support all around, family is thankful to many, for much
'Every time you open the door, there's a surprise,' says wife and mother
By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas – Sabrina Robertson, 35, stood in the nearly bare one-bedroom Las Colinas apartment Thursday. She had spent the day moving her family's things from an Irving Motel 6.
She and her family drove out of New Orleans the Sunday before the hurricane. A recent satellite picture online showed their van underwater, so they believe the five-bedroom house they rented is flooded, too.
Section 8 housing assistance will help pay the bills.
"We were eating fast food and TV dinners, and we were all burned out on that," she said. "The first thing my husband said is, 'Can I have a home-cooked meal?' "
There is no table to eat at, but there are three chairs. Mrs. Robertson also had a hard time finding the type of sausage she uses to spice up her gumbo.
But a recent buying spree at Wal-Mart provided a few comforts – a coffeemaker, a microwave, a blender, a television and even some $5 DVD movies.
The couple's youngest sons Juan, 15, and Walter, 16, began classes at MacArthur High School last week.
"The school system here is so much better," she said. "They love it over here."
People have donated plenty of clothes and food. Mrs. Robertson's mother and two oldest children who also fled the Gulf Coast are living in other apartments. One cousin is in Utah. She doesn't know where her 90-year-old grandfather is.
In New Orleans, she worked at a beauty supply store. Her husband, Walter, 39, worked in construction. He's taking a pay cut to start work at a warehouse Monday.
A quiet man, Mr. Robertson wrote down all those he's thankful to on a sheet of lined notebook paper: His lord and savior, sister-in-law Edna Lewis, Grand Prairie Housing staff, Miss Kimberly, and all the people of Irving and Dallas. He also was thankful to the Waterford at Valley Ranch apartments for providing a "comfortable environment."
Most of all, he added, he was thankful to Bishop T.D. Jakes. The family attended services at The Potter's House on Sunday.
"Thanks for giving me a place to feel comfortable enough to release all the pain, emotions and frustrations by teaching a great sermon," he wrote.
Mrs. Robertson added that the support of people has been overwhelming.
"Every time you open the door, there's a surprise," she said.
'Every time you open the door, there's a surprise,' says wife and mother
By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas – Sabrina Robertson, 35, stood in the nearly bare one-bedroom Las Colinas apartment Thursday. She had spent the day moving her family's things from an Irving Motel 6.
She and her family drove out of New Orleans the Sunday before the hurricane. A recent satellite picture online showed their van underwater, so they believe the five-bedroom house they rented is flooded, too.
Section 8 housing assistance will help pay the bills.
"We were eating fast food and TV dinners, and we were all burned out on that," she said. "The first thing my husband said is, 'Can I have a home-cooked meal?' "
There is no table to eat at, but there are three chairs. Mrs. Robertson also had a hard time finding the type of sausage she uses to spice up her gumbo.
But a recent buying spree at Wal-Mart provided a few comforts – a coffeemaker, a microwave, a blender, a television and even some $5 DVD movies.
The couple's youngest sons Juan, 15, and Walter, 16, began classes at MacArthur High School last week.
"The school system here is so much better," she said. "They love it over here."
People have donated plenty of clothes and food. Mrs. Robertson's mother and two oldest children who also fled the Gulf Coast are living in other apartments. One cousin is in Utah. She doesn't know where her 90-year-old grandfather is.
In New Orleans, she worked at a beauty supply store. Her husband, Walter, 39, worked in construction. He's taking a pay cut to start work at a warehouse Monday.
A quiet man, Mr. Robertson wrote down all those he's thankful to on a sheet of lined notebook paper: His lord and savior, sister-in-law Edna Lewis, Grand Prairie Housing staff, Miss Kimberly, and all the people of Irving and Dallas. He also was thankful to the Waterford at Valley Ranch apartments for providing a "comfortable environment."
Most of all, he added, he was thankful to Bishop T.D. Jakes. The family attended services at The Potter's House on Sunday.
"Thanks for giving me a place to feel comfortable enough to release all the pain, emotions and frustrations by teaching a great sermon," he wrote.
Mrs. Robertson added that the support of people has been overwhelming.
"Every time you open the door, there's a surprise," she said.
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TexasStooge
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Katrina survivors get debit cards in Dallas
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - The American Red Cross distributed debit cards Tuesday to Hurricane Katrina evacuees at two North Texas locations.
At Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas, the storm survivors lined up outside in sweltering heat to wait their turn to apply for the cash-value cards.
The Red Cross expected to distribute 2,000 of the cards on Tuesday; others would get appointments for later this week.
The debit cards—valued from $300 to $1,500 depending on family size—are intended for to help evacuees meet immediate personal needs, like food and clothing, in the weeks following the disaster.
"This gives them the mechanism to start building up their dignity after they've suffered such a traumatic loss," said Red Cross Linnea Anderson
Arlene Gardner received a $360 card. She said she would use the funds to stock up before traveling back home to Mississippi this weekend to salvage her belongings and try to restore her house.
"It's a blessing," Gardner said. "I'm going to buy me some food to carry back to Gulfport. They said meat is very scarce there."
Gardner has been staying with relatives in Irving since being evacuated from Mississippi.
Proof of residency in the hurricane zone along with a government-issued identification card are necessary to qualify for debit card relief from the Red Cross.
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - The American Red Cross distributed debit cards Tuesday to Hurricane Katrina evacuees at two North Texas locations.
At Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas, the storm survivors lined up outside in sweltering heat to wait their turn to apply for the cash-value cards.
The Red Cross expected to distribute 2,000 of the cards on Tuesday; others would get appointments for later this week.
The debit cards—valued from $300 to $1,500 depending on family size—are intended for to help evacuees meet immediate personal needs, like food and clothing, in the weeks following the disaster.
"This gives them the mechanism to start building up their dignity after they've suffered such a traumatic loss," said Red Cross Linnea Anderson
Arlene Gardner received a $360 card. She said she would use the funds to stock up before traveling back home to Mississippi this weekend to salvage her belongings and try to restore her house.
"It's a blessing," Gardner said. "I'm going to buy me some food to carry back to Gulfport. They said meat is very scarce there."
Gardner has been staying with relatives in Irving since being evacuated from Mississippi.
Proof of residency in the hurricane zone along with a government-issued identification card are necessary to qualify for debit card relief from the Red Cross.
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TexasStooge
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Southlake sees rash of car break-ins
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
SOUTHLAKE, Texas - Southlake police are warning residents to take precautions after a series of vehicle burglaries.
A crime alert was sent out to residents this week warning of cases in which burglars went house-to-house.
"It's kind of scary," resident Kari Williams said. "You think you live in a really safe neighborhood."
"Out of those twelve we've seen, seven of them were unlocked vehicles," said Southlake Police Lt. Ashleigh Douglas.
Williams said a radar detector was taken from her husband's truck, but a neighbor had a break-in soon after in which burglars took several items from a vehicle inside a garage.
In the other break-ins, the burglars made off with money and laptop computers.
"We were pretty safety-conscious before, but when it's so close to home I think you step it up a notch," said resident Melissa Sircar.
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
SOUTHLAKE, Texas - Southlake police are warning residents to take precautions after a series of vehicle burglaries.
A crime alert was sent out to residents this week warning of cases in which burglars went house-to-house.
"It's kind of scary," resident Kari Williams said. "You think you live in a really safe neighborhood."
"Out of those twelve we've seen, seven of them were unlocked vehicles," said Southlake Police Lt. Ashleigh Douglas.
Williams said a radar detector was taken from her husband's truck, but a neighbor had a break-in soon after in which burglars took several items from a vehicle inside a garage.
In the other break-ins, the burglars made off with money and laptop computers.
"We were pretty safety-conscious before, but when it's so close to home I think you step it up a notch," said resident Melissa Sircar.
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