What is YOUR community doing???

[dougjp]

More detail, what we are doing up here in Canada. Call us a Community

Early days yet, just our initial efforts:

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005 ... 82-cp.html

[mahicks]

More detail, what we are doing up here in Canada. Call us a Community

Early days yet, just our initial efforts:

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005 ... 82-cp.html

WOW....I will use the State Farm Slogan for you Canadians...Eigh??? LOL

Like a good Neighbor......Canada is there!!!!


Thank YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[soonertwister]

By the way, I love Denvers idea of utilizing the old military base. Wish all communites that have them would use them in this fashion.Makes for a little more independent, family type living, with everything available in one area.

What's ironic about the Denver situation is that these are brand new high quality apartments that have been finished but not yet occupied.

The massive home ownership boom in the Denver metro area has created a vacuum in the apartment market that has brought rental prices down, and the location at the base wasn't as convenient as needed for many apartment dwellers, and thus it has suffered from low rental rates. It's more cost efficient to concentrate the rentals in some of the buildings, so whole complexes of apartments are completely empty but basically ready for occupation. The persons relocated to Denver will be the first residents of their temporary homes.

[samanthahunter]

Here is Mobile, our church Knollwood Assembly of God have been netwroking in our city as well as with other churches around the country to raise funds and supplies. We have several churches coming with trucks and we rented the last remaining Penske trucks available here to go to "Ground Zero" which is Pass Christian, Waveland, Bay St. Louis MS. We are distributing at the only church left standing in that area. We also running a soup kitchen with volunteers daily in that area out of pick up trucks.

We also will be renting a facility ( one left standing) to house refugees, a food bank, clothing bank etc for the next 12- 24 months as most relief efforts will cease in the next 60 days. This will allow continuous relief as well as offer jobs to many left jobless in the area. We also have many that are opening their homes to any people moving/relocating to this area.

[baygirl_1]

Mobile and Baldwin counties are bustling with activity for those severely affected by Katrina in MS and LA. There are shelters all over both counties. At Mass this morning, they announced that at least 20 new students would be coming to our parish school. They asked for donations of food, clothing, and school supplies for the kids. The heads of all our parish organizations (PTA, school board, parish council, etc.) met this afternoon to plan for the influx of these families and how we can help them meet their needs. I'm hearing from friends and family members that this same thing is happening at churches all over both counties. Churches are taking turns preparing meals and delivering clothing and toys. In addition, there are container trucks set up in parking lots all over the place where they are collecting supplies for MS.
Have to tell this story: Some friends of my sister are from New Orleans near Tulane. They evacuated to Houston last Sat. afternoon. Then, they arrived in Mobile on Friday after making their way from Houston, knowing they have probably lost their home. They reported that all along their way home people saw their Lousiana license tag and offered to buy them lunch or dinner. Also, a man at a restaurant gave their 2 year old daughter a ten dollar bill and told them to buy her a doll! People throughout this county are exercising their compassion.

[soonertwister]

A correction and update on the Denver relocations.

Only 1,000 evacuees will be arriving here, not 10,000. I'm disappointed in the smaller figure, but maybe more wasn't needed.

The first arrivals are there, and they are being housed in dormitories, not apartments as previously reported by the media. (It appears that the original story may have been corrected. If not I was suffering from blurred vision last night...) However, the dorms look pretty decent, and the entrances will be guarded by the police 24 hours a day to provide for their security.

And of course, the residents will be free to come and go as they see fit. I'm almost sure they also will all get bus passes, but I'll find that out later and provide an update, along with any other interesting details.

[simplykristi]

Many evacuees are here in the KC area. One of the community centers here in the area is set up as a clearninghouse for evacuees. KC is set up as an overflow. The children's hospital here in KC transported 24 patients form the children's hospital in NO.

Kristi

[CajunMama]

Just finished making 1216 cookies for the "Play Day". Thanks to BreinLA who came and picked up some ingredients and baked a 3rd of the cookies and to my daughter who gave up a night out. I started at 6 this evening and baked continually. I'll let y'all know how "Play Day" went.

[Miss Mary]

Just what I found from today's online news websites.....


KY offers supplies, prayers
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... /509040354

Road trip rescues family, friends
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... /509040365

TV Stations unite for benefit/telethon
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 7/NEWS0103

P & G donates $1 Million
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 7/NEWS0103

Hamilton County (Cincinnati, OH) offers hurricane relief shelters
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... /509040366

N.Ky. medical team rushes to help battered Mississippi
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... /509030385

Cincinnati homes are opened for displaced from Katrina
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... /509040379

And, the BEST one of all...

Local 4 year old boy's lemonade stand, raises $502
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... /509040367



Mary

[scorpdream]

Our church is getting in tractor trailer loads of food from all over the country and working with the Mobile Area Food Bank. We get it in, unload it, sort it, put it on an "assembly line" of sorts in our fellowship hall, packing boxes, loading trucks and sending them out as soon as they are full. We took a trailer load of food boxes to Bayou LaBatre yesterday and we are waiting on more trucks today. We are also taking personal donations from anyone in town who does not have a church or know of anywhere close by to donate. We are at Dayspring Church on the south side of Cody Road in Mobile, Al.

Several groups went out to Pascagoula and other areas to pass out ice and water and do some cleanup.

There is too much to list, from people lettingus borrow tools and equipment, floor jacks to get the stuff from the trucks, special needs, food packaging, distribution, hot meals, etc. etc.

Personally, we delivered ice, water, clothes, shoes, and food for the past three days to Gautier and Pascagoula. We went to the distribution points that were slow in Mobile and they loaded us down to take to MS. Even the national guard in Pascagoula gave my husband 3/4 truckloads of ice to pass out, because they had to stop devlivering ice to guard the MRE trucks that had just came in.

If we all were this compassionate ALL of the time, the WORLD would be a much better place. MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY SOUL, BOTH SUFFERING AND HELPING!

[Stephanie]

Just finished making 1216 cookies for the "Play Day". Thanks to BreinLA who came and picked up some ingredients and baked a 3rd of the cookies and to my daughter who gave up a night out. I started at 6 this evening and baked continually. I'll let y'all know how "Play Day" went.

I'm sure it'll work out just fine. I know that was a labor of love.

[CajunMama]

Play Day was a joke. They weren't bussing the evacuees from the CajunDome to the park...they were reaching out to those evacuees that were put up in homes and hotels. The ones that were able to move about the city and sleep in a bed instead of a cot with 7000 other people. We went a picked up a very nice young woman and her 2 year old. Others did the same. And some from the CajunDome who had cars came. If logistics for the Play Day were a problem they should have had us set up across the street from the CajunDome. We had food for 5000 people!!! Activities for kids! As we were tearing down we were told we could go set up at the CajunDome....after being out in the sun for 5 hours?????????

But I did meet some wonderful people who are staying at the CajunDome. They had nothing but nice things to say about the welcome and help they have received from us in Lafayette.

[Cookiely]

Tampa has accepted injured to various hospitals in the area. They are also expecting an additional 250 in shelters.

[Stephanie]

Play Day was a joke. They weren't bussing the evacuees from the CajunDome to the park...they were reaching out to those evacuees that were put up in homes and hotels. The ones that were able to move about the city and sleep in a bed instead of a cot with 7000 other people. We went a picked up a very nice young woman and her 2 year old. Others did the same. And some from the CajunDome who had cars came. If logistics for the Play Day were a problem they should have had us set up across the street from the CajunDome. We had food for 5000 people!!! Activities for kids! As we were tearing down we were told we could go set up at the CajunDome....after being out in the sun for 5 hours?????????

But I did meet some wonderful people who are staying at the CajunDome. They had nothing but nice things to say about the welcome and help they have received from us in Lafayette.

I'm sorry that it didn't work out quite the way it should have, but i'm sure that you did make a difference to some that were from the CajunDome.

[JQ Public]

Raleigh is preparing from anywhere between 300 and 1000 hurricane survivors.

More Than 300 Hurricane Evacuees Due To Arrive In Raleigh

POSTED: 7:04 pm EDT September 3, 2005
UPDATED: 7:15 pm EDT September 5, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. -- More than 300 victims of Hurricane Katrina are expected to arrive at Raleigh-Durham International Airport Monday evening, Wake County officials said.

Once the evacuees arrive, they will be transported to the Wake County Hurricane Diaster Victim Center, which is located in Raleigh.

On Saturday afternoon, local officials were notified of the need to host 500 to 1,000 evacuees of Hurricane Katrina within hours.

In response to the request, Wake County, the City of Raleigh and the RBC Center partnered to set up the Wake County Hurricane Disaster Victim Center.

Emergency crews also set up receiving stations in Charlotte and Greensboro for a mix of medical patients and other people who have been forced to flee damaged areas along the Gulf Coast.

Wake County expected at least 500 people who did not need medical attention to arrive Saturday. But officials sent their emergency teams home Saturday evening. They then called workers out again past midnight when word began to circulate that some storm victims might be coming.

But a county spokeswoman said Sunday that State Emergency Management officials have instructed Wake, Guilford and Mecklenburg counties to assume a standby role until further notice.

"We are prepared and ready to receive individuals with a two-hour notice," Wake County Community Health Director Gibbie Harris said. "The community has come together to quickly marshal resources to respond to this need, and we have demonstrated that we can handle something of this magnitude."

About 400 Raleigh, Wake County and RBC Center employees converted a 100,000-square-foot vacant corporate training center in Raleigh into a recovery center -- complete with cots, blankets and pillows -- in less than 24 hours.

"We have no idea how long these people will be here," Harris said. "We just have to prepare for them to be here a while."

The RBC Center and the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center will provide culinary services and operate a cafeteria, if evacuees arrive, officials said.

"The county and city staff have pulled together to make this happen in less than 24 hours," Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said. "I'm proud of our community's response."

Officials said the recovery center could not accept donations.

"We admire and understand people's desire to help these victims," Joe Bryan, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, said. "We thank them for their generosity and ask them to funnel their donations through established relief agencies."

[soonertwister]

A brief update from Denver.

125 evacuees were airlifted to Denver on Sunday and are now settled into a dormitory at the former Lowry AFB. The dorm is the property of Aurora Community College. The new arrivals were met by 800 volunteers to serve their immediate needs. Some of the stories they told were pretty harrrowing, I won't repeat them here. All were given their choice of clothing and supplied with ample hygienics and toiletries. They are being provided medical and mental health assistance as needed in each individual case. One older woman said that Denver smelled "fresh and clean" and was a good place to be. The new residents were advised to breathe deeply and drink lots of water in their first days after arrival from sea level NOLA. At lunch today, some residents did not want to leave their dormitory rooms, because they were afraid that their rooms would be broken into and their meager possessions stolen while they were eating. They agreed to lunch when told that people would stand guard at their dorms to prevent crime. One man was rescued from a rooftop in New Orleans and was in Denver four hours later. Qwest provided 50 telephones without charge for residents to call anywhere in America.

Today hundreds more evacuees were expected to arrive, but that never happened. According to what was reported, those persons were instead redirected to midwestern cities. Denver still expects to be hosting about 1 thousand evacuees by Wednesday.

Eighteen people took up an offer at the Houston Astrodome to relocate to Denver when offered. Some had refused other offers before they accepted the offer to come to Denver. Frontier arranged for their free travel and flew them here non-stop from Houston. They were met by courtesy buses provided by Doubletree Hotels and transferred to their new temporary residences at the Doubletree on Quebec Street and the Marriot TownePlace Suites on Monaco Parkway. Those two hotels are providing their housing and meals for their first two months here. This group is being sponsored by Volunteers of America, and will be assisted in their transistion to a more normal life. Among those who arrived are retirees, a waiter and a printer, who is a 24-year-old father of his two children who arrived with him. Two more arrivals were expected today, one a pregnant woman.

One person said that they were being treated "like kings and queens, prince and princess". Another said that the future is unlimited. One of this group said he realized that New Orleans would never be the same when he saw dead bodies on roofs and corpses floating in the water as they evacuated to Houston by bus.

More later...

Oh, and Colorado Governor Bill Owens said that all children that arrive should expect to be enrolled in the Denver school system within three days of their arrival.


(Edited typo.)

[Stephanie]

Great story sooner! Denver is a beautiful city and they will need to get acclimated to the new altitude!

[soonertwister]

Thanks Stephanie. Just wait until those children get into school, they are going to be in for a real shock. It would not surprise me in the least if the average annual family income in the Cherry Creek School District exceeded 125 thousand dollars a year, maybe over 150.

And I'm certain that some of those children will be placed there. I think they are within that district or right on the borderline. You can't be bused out of your home school district unless you want to attend somewhere else. Frankly, any family that turns down the opportunity for a Cherry Creek education for their children would be making a big mistake in my mind. Even if it took a year or two before catching up, the benefit would so outweigh the negative that I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to refuse the opportunity.

[azsnowman]

I am SO glad to see the White Mountains responding! Just wish to HADES I'd get the call out

http://www.wmicentral.com

Local firefighters answer call for help with hurricane crisis





By: Mara Reyes, The Independent 09/09/2005





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WHITERIVER - Firefighters from the White Mountain Apache Tribe Fire and Rescue Department answered the call for help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. They are helping with the clean-up efforts in New Orleans, La.
The department received a call Tuesday from the State Land Department asking for tenders and volunteers to help remove water from the flooded city. Capt. Carlos Valadez, Firefighter Joyce Bragg and Firefighter Doug Seeds met other firefighters in Tucson Wednesday before heading out to Baton Rouge, La., for a briefing and then on to New Orleans were they are working with the New York Fire Department.

The assignment is for two to four weeks, but if more time is needed, the crew will leave the fire truck in New Orleans, fly back to Arizona, and other WMAT firefighters will take their place.
Fire Chief Paul Kuehl is happy his department is able to help during this "historic" crisis. "You see all this happening on the news and wish you could do something to help. It's neat to be able to help," he said.
"We've had a lot of fires on the reservation, and people from all over came to help us. Finally we can help. I'm glad we can do something. This is historic," Kuehl said.
The department is also on standby after State Land asked for more volunteers for a 20-member fire-fighting crew. Twenty firefighters were requested, but about 50 firefighters from throughout the White Mountains have volunteered. They are waiting for an assignment.
Also from the White Mountains, Deputy Chief Stuart Bishop of the Pinetop Fire Department left Wednesday to work with evacuees at an incident command center in Texas.
White Mountain Lake Fire District also sent two firefighters this week to the disaster area. A spokesman from the department was uncertain what their duty would include.

[Persepone]

The "kids starting school" issue has a local radio station (WROR-Boston) on a call for backpacks sized and stocked with school supplies for various ages... The requrirement is for "new."

Another call is for outfit a kid drive (new clothing only)--e.g., socks, underwear, jeans, shirts, and WINTER gear, etc. for a specific size--e.g., size 10, size 12, size 14, etc.

The biggest problem when dealing with "things" as opposed to money is that you need a horde of volunteers to "sort" and "group" stuff so that it gets to the right recipients, etc. They have a bunch of volunteers working on just that right now.

The other problem is distribution--it is my understanding they will work through the Salvation Army which has distribution in place on the ground nationwide. However, a lot of the donations mentioned above are for those who have been evacuated to Northern States...

Yesterday and early this morning (overnight) we got a bunch of evacuees from New Orleans who were "still wet" having literally been plucked from roofs, apartments, etc. hours before and flown here directly! I can imagine that it was quite a shock (as we speak it is 68 degrees here) and yes, everyone will not only need clothing, but warmer clothing than they are perhaps used to for this time of year. Come winter, people will need winter coats, gloves, hats, scarves, boots, etc. that are different from what you need on the Gulf Coast in the winter.

This problem must also exist for evacuees to Utah, Denver, Wisconsin and other "northern" parts of the country...

So a little bit of what is being done locally is in the "let's do it a little more slowly, but let's do it right" mode.

One interesting question was posed on the radio this morning as I was driving... but an example of something where the kinks need to be worked out.

The radio station reports that people have come forward to donate cars. Obviously if people's cars got washed away, etc. they need cars in order to function... But people are trying to figure out how to make this work. How do you handle the title transfers, etc. and then how do you "allocate" them to those who need them? I think, in the end, they will go through the Salvation Army or some similar organization... But that is an interesting concept--how to donate a road-worthy vehicle to someone who can use it instead of just trading it in, etc.