 |
 Holabird AdvocateProviding all the news we see fit to print since 2002!Monday, September 19, 2005 VOL. IV Issue 9N Part 6 Of 6 The Relief Effort Sunday, September 11th, 2005 A First-Person Narrative of the Author's Personal Relief Effort Experiences in Houston on the Second Sunday After the Destruction of New Orleans Due to Hurricane Katrina, Followed by a Few of the Authors Personal Opinions. By Barnabas J. Nemec, Special to the Holabird Advocate Saturday evening, on September 10th, 2005, Syleta called again. She told me she'd once again volunteered until late that night. I might've done the same, but I'd been busy typing a few articles for a hometown newsblog. Syleta said she'd made a new friend who was having her 65th birthday. Having hit it off quite well with Alfredia Wright, Syleta promised to return the following day, (Sunday), with some flowers, fruit, and hard candy, (Alfredia is a diabetic), to make her birthday in the convention center a bit more tolerable. Syleta invited me along, and I agreed, as I'd found satisfaction in helping the week before, and was curious as to what changes had transpired over the previous week. There were a number of changes since I'd last volunteered. The area outside the huge, rectangular building was now swarming with uniformed servicemen, mostly with the Air Force and Army National Guard. Many Houston Policemen were also present. There was a Gwen Stephani concert to take place at the Toyota Center across the street, possibly causing some increased security. Most of the security in the immediate vicinity of the convention center was near the entrances. In order to enter the building, there was now a security search/check nearly as thorough as might be expected at an airport. Syleta's fruit had to be left outside, and I don't think I would've been let in if I hadn't been accompanying her. Operation Compassion now seemed to be in charge of the volunteer relief effort. It was/is a multi-denominational multi-faith group of volunteers, spanning Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Jews who've gone through an elaborate 2 hour training process to become qualified to help with the ongoing day-to-day activities now occurring. They were all wearing either red or yellow T-shirts with OPERATION COMPASSION across the front. I later found out the red signified seniority over the yellow, not that there was a marshal-law type of atmosphere present, some volunteers had simply put in more time, and were more knowledgeable than newcomers. Syleta wasn't a member of Operation Compassion, but she's a lay minister/volunteer at her church, and had an official-looking nametag stating this. Her tag, along with her personalized gifts for an evacuee who's name she knew, was enough of a reason for the powers that be, (the military as well as Operation Compassion), to let the both of us in. The convention center now had an evacuee population of about half of what it was seven days earlier, and was scheduled to have all evacuee residents out and on there own feet in one form or another within a week. This meant by Monday, September 19th the center would be empty, far sooner than previously expected. The Astrodome had/has similar expectations. Despite the drastically decreased resident population, the center could now be described as a functioning little city, even equipped with a chapel/prayer station, a dining facility, a wall with job postings, and a hospital. Most of the air mattresses were now doubled up for the remaining residents, giving much more room than there was before. Syleta and I had some problems finding Alfredia, as her "address" was different since the day before. Over the course of the previous evening, the sleeping area was condensed to give more room, since many refugees were leaving. After a short period of time searching for Alfredia, we decided to have her paged. Syleta told me not to wait with her, so I went upstairs to see what changes had taken place in the activity center. The central room of the activity center was now a chaos filled "loud room". Within the carpeted, auditorium sized room; there was basketball, football, soccer, baseball, ping-pong, smear the queer, and even dancing taking place. The average age of those present was probably 18, though people in their 40's and even little ones no more than six were enjoying the endless recess. The toddler room was now equipped with two elaborate, professionally manufactured play-sets like those one might find at a modern McDonalds. Both were resting in sand boxes filled with a dark artificial sand-like plastic material. Few toddlers were in this room, however, and the toddler room was soon to be merged with the "quiet room", which included the library I worked in the previous week. Not much had changed in the "quiet room". The bookshelves, computers, toys and tables for sit-down activities were still the same. Now, however, as with the loud room and the toddler room, Operation Compassion workers were monitoring the activities and signing everyone in before granting anyone entry. This check-in also included the disinfecting of people's hands. I sat to play a game of scrabble with a fellow volunteer and a few children. I lost, and during this game, Syleta came by with news she couldn't find Alfredia. We then went to the "loud room", where Syleta played a few games of Ping-Pong with a couple of pre-adolescent evacuees, and I played a bit of catch with a football with some teenaged evacuees while waiting to get in on a game of 3 on 3. By this time, Syleta had mentioned that there was a large cafeteria set up on the 3rd floor where she had searched for Alfredia prior to coming to play with the evacuees. Both hungry, we decided to dine. By chance, we ran into Alfredia, which made both Syleta and Alfredia very happy. We all enjoyed a few hours before calling it a day. Throughout the relief effort, I continuously noticed something that contradicts the general negative statements people usually say whenever this kind of tragedy occurs. People are continuously reminding each other how easy it would be for civilization to have a complete social collapse, and when this happens people will turn against each other and chaos of biblical proportions will ensue. It's been the theme of countless dooms-day books and movies. I beg to differ. In my life I've noticed that when things start going incredibly bad, people have a tendency to pull together in order to see each other through. Sure, there may be a short time when panic and such causes situations to worsen, but ultimately, we help each other more than hurt each other. Also, countless politicians, reporters, and loud-mouthed skeptics always seem to take joy in zeroing in on all that is and all that went wrong, seemingly concerned only with finding someone or some group to blame-and keep blaming. If blaming in this situation is something one can be considered "guilty" of, than I propose we are all guilty, but to varying degrees. I only mention politicians, reporters and the pessimistic outspoken because it so often seems they're the ones heard the most. Maybe that also means they're the most guilty, but I won't make that judgment. For crying out loud, how on earth can you blame someone for a hurricane? It's ridiculous! People may respond to the previous statement with: "We're not blaming the weather, we're blaming the government response-it should have been better." Or maybe: "FEMA should've had there act together and seen this coming, it's their fault." It's incredibly easy to script negative statements since that's all we hear at times. Ultimately, however, we can't blame anyone for the destruction a hurricane leaves! Of course it's true certain people in certain positions, and certain groups, could've done better, but the kid who got X% on a spelling test could've gotten (X+1)%, no matter what X is. If nothing else, his penmanship could've been better. "What if X is failing?" one might say. Wel "I don't know" what if an unstoppable hurricane destroys New Orleans? Better yet, what if there'd been a terrorist attack at the same time New Orleans was being destroyed? You can judge, blame and fight, or you can help. (Personally, I prefer reserving judgment, blaming and fighting, so I help.) Sooner or later the legendary "Big One" we've all been hearing about since childhood will come and destroy the better part of California, and regardless of who's in office, no matter what organization will be in charge of the initial relief effort, there'll be an outspoken few who actually think it's reasonable to blame someone for an earthquake. Others who thrive on controversy and pointing out faults will grab onto what's said and repeat it as though it's gospel. In the meantime, the vast majority of the population will start pulling together, helping each other, and giving their nickels and dimes to help rebuild. Footnote: This past weekend, I didn' have the opportunity to return to the Convention Center, but I've subsequently heard the population is now down to about 350. Once again, this is a mere fraction of the from the previous week, (which this article concerns). Mc Comb: Aftermath of Katrina by Rev. David A. Millican Edited by Jerry Hinkle To my family and friends: What I have seen since Katrina: The poor and the wealthy hurt by the storm. Black, white, Hispanic, Oriental and Indian all hurt by the storm. Christian people giving. Churches going all out to minister in Jesus' name. Neighbors going door to door helping one another. Thugs and hoodlums going door to door looking for someone vulnerable. Ice and water being fought over as police tried to keep the peace. People coming up from New Orleans taking over empty houses because shelters are full. Out of town volunteers coming with food and staying for now a week still serving it. The Churches all over this part of the country doing what Christians do in a crisis. The Red Cross doing a great job in the shelters. The Salvation Army doing a great job in the community. Four Hundred crewman from everywhere bring back the power to our homes, churches and businesses. Lines at service stations a block to a mile long. National Guardsman patrolling the streets of Mc Comb along with Kentucky policemen protecting us from the hoodlums and thugs of Mc Comb, Pike County and New Orleans (the most dangerous city in the world before Katrina.) Drug dealers working outside shelters. Doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel working tirelessly,even sleeping in the hospital to do the job God called them to do. WHAT I HAVE NOT SEEN; The ACLU setting up a feeding line. People for the American Way helping in the shelters. The NAACP doing any work whatsoever. The American Atheist organization serving meals in the shelters. Jesse Jackson directing traffic at the gas stations. I could go on but you get my message. Its the Christian people with love and compassion who do the work. The gripers in Congress should come on down and get in line to pass the water and the ice. Are you listening Hillary, Chuck, Teddy and all the sorry loafers we call Senators and Congressmen. They don't have a clue as to what this life is all about here on the Gulf Coast. Boy I feel better now. Publisher's Notes by Jerry Hinkle Well, it looks like we're all done with Barney, for a while at least. His friend, Syleta may submit and article to our little Newsblog, she may change her mind if she actually reads it. I don't know if Barney is the best that Holabird has to offer, the world, but he comes mighty close if he doesn't. He has done a great job. Before anyone asks, I am not David A. Millican. He is a retired minister in the Baptist Church from McComb, Mississippi. He is not my friend, but I wouldn't mind it if we were friends. I say this despite the editing job I had to do on the article that was forwarded to me by one of my prayer partners. Profanity has no place in the Holabird Advocate. I am currently investigating the claim that one can see a cross in this years Harvest Moon. If any of you have seen such a thing, please let me know. This is the year of overflowing harvest, so you never know what is going to happen next.
Comments:
Post a Comment
|
 |