President Bush declared Louisiana a disaster area two days before the hurricane struck the New Orleans area.
President Bush urged New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to order the mandatory evacuation that was issued on Sunday, August 28.
First responders to a disaster are always state and local emergency agencies. FEMA is there to supplement the state and local activities.
The hurricane threatened an area as large as 90,000 square miles covering three states. Immediate relief could not possibly have been delivered to all the places that required attention.
An AP photo showed a large fleet of New Orleans buses soaking in six feet of water. The mayor apparently had the means to evacuate many of the folks who ended up stranded at the Superdome and the convention center.
FEMA began its activities immediately, not expecting the magnitude of the flooding, the non-response at the city and state level, and the anarchy that resulted.
The local and state governments had rehearsed for a different scenario. Disaster drills in New Orleans had taken place, but with a false assumption that the levees would hold.
Both the law and protocol prohibit the president from ordering military troops into a state without a formal request to do so from the governor of the affected state.
What did you do this weekend? It's ok to be sorrowful for the refugees, it's ok to glue yourself to the TV and try to feel their pain as long as you have lessons learned. For those thinking about riding out a Cat 5 'cane look at Biloxi!
I had plans already, ATL on Saturday w/Dade, we saw some of the most amazing things! I saw Gene Simmons, The Master Chief and Sean of the Dead. We saw 10 foot tall Jack Skellington and more stormtroopers than you could shake a stick at. Where? Dragoncon! Some of you will go that seems so immature... then in the same breath you'll want to go the Ren Fest! Same thing only with Urak-Hai and Jedi! It was great! We saw so many inspiring costumes and more.
During our visit we took a small robotics course from a Battlebot builder, where we first learned the math and science behind levers and pneumatics (2 hours) and then we applied it and built pneumatic powered catapults! the room divided into 8 teams. Dade was fascinated by the math even so we decided to stay we joined up with Evil and Matt both fighting robot builders themselves and started building.
There were 8 teams total and the teacher built one too. The objective was to use pneumatics to catapult a ping pong ball as far as possible. We were issued "kits" that had the parts we were allowed to use. We started by thinking of throwing the ball with a lever we would counterweight the lever for added oomph! Our neighbors also decided this was the best idea as well. In no time they had a working model and we were barely on the base. We decided if we do the same thing we would expect similar results, so scrap it and start over. I tossed in the idea of a 4 bar linkage.(I'm no stranger either based on the Halloween props I've built) but decided without my PC for the calcs it would be to hard to do the math. We started to do a traditional lever throw when I had the idea of a striker. We suspended the ball in the air and used the lever to strike it thus propelling it further than a throw. By this time we were barely started with the pivot point and our neighbors were launching the ball all the way across the room. None of the other cats were doing that good. Another hour in we had it all in a ready to test state so we asked for air, they gave us a pump, we triggered the valve and poof... it went all of 6 inches. We were devastated. I was flabbergasted I was sure it should fire faster than this and so were the robot guys. It was almost contest time at this point. We asked the teacher for a consult since we were done and we were sure we had failed. He looked at our rig and realized that the valve was 90% closed and the check valve was installed backwards! Up to now everyone was sure the orange team, our neighbors were the winners no doubt, but after this little change in out air rig, we did one more test fire. Let me say that room went silent, we have no idea how far the ball was going to go because it hit the ceiling then a light fixture and bounced back to where it started! NOW THAT's MORE LIKE IT!
Next we all packed up and went down to a ballroom to have the competition. I had no idea this was going to happen but lo and behold there were 150+ people and a TV crew there to film it! After intros and all they started with the white team and there rig went about 2 feet and so one went the contest, most people there were disappointed until the orange team threw their ball a good 15-20 feet. We somehow ended up last. Our first throw went a good 25-30 sliced wide right and it went high! Twice as high as any other cat! This brought huge applause, Dade was beaming. The next throw just as far but into the audience and someone caught it! ug! The final throw... we bounced it off the chandelier in the ballroom! This brought the house down! We were the winners hands down, but the teacher still had his rig. He had done... a striker as well! with a 4 bar linkage! and some chain and gear thing we didn't even have in our kit?!?! Not Fair! His rig beat us... Barely! only by a couple of feet. It was close, and if we had time to adjust the kick angle I think we could have bested him.
All in all the trip was outstanding... I can not wait for the next one!
:: 9/6/2005 3:46:35 PM http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/4/151327.shtml This is required reading folks... IN THIS DAY AND AGE THE MEDIA BLAMES EVERYTHING ON THE PRESIDENT THEY CAN AND THE N.O. DISASTER IS NO EXCEPTION! Someone with the balls to tell it like it is has spoken and you might be surprised to read it! I seriously encourage you to hear the other side of the story not being mentioned in the press and decide for yourself. I personaly hear these reports that race had something to do with a slow response, and think to myself how would that conversation go? "well.... they are all black so let's wait 24 more hours before we go..." B.S. there is no way that anything close to that happened! At any rate please read this and decide for yourself.
HOW TO HELP/ INFORMATION
Temporary School Enrolment
For assistance in identifying the closest school to your location, call 713-892-6699 weekdays from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Students living in temporary living arrangements due to loss of housing will most likely qualify as "homeless" students and may enroll in the school district where they are physically present without proof of residence. Parents temporarily housed within HISD's borders can go to the school nearest their temporary residence to enroll their school-age children.
Donations and fund-raisers
Astrodome- ARAMARK is in need of volunteers to hel[ at the Astrodome with serving food and beverages to the Hurrican Katrina evacuees. Please reply to brant-jesse@aramark.com or blackford-fred@aramark.com
The Houston Food Bank needs volunteers and paper goods, cleaning supplies, bottled water, peanut butter, heat-and-eat foods, single-serving foods and snacks that don't require refrigeration, and cash. Information: 713-223-3700 or houstonfoodbank.org/katrina.htm.
KSBJ-FM and the Greater Houston YMCA are collecting prepaid grocery, gasoline and phone cards. Donations will be accepted today at Sharpstown Mall, Thursday at Memorial City Mall and Friday at Almeda Mall, noon-7 p.m. each day. Houston-area YMCAs will accept cards through September.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will conduct a special collection at weekend Masses. Funds will go to Catholic Charities USA.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston is accepting tax-deductible donations at www.houstonjewish.org or Jewish Federation of Greater Houston Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund, 5603 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX 77096.
The Islamic Circle of North America is taking donations at www.icna.org and by mail at ICNA, P.O. Box 572181, Houston, TX 77257.
The West Houston Church of Christ, 17100 West, is collecting phone, gas and grocery cards through September for distribution to Red Cross shelters. Call 281-856-0001 or visit www.westhoustonchurch.org.
The Katy Chamber of Commerce, 2501 S. Mason, Suite 230, Katy, is taking donations of goods and services. Visit www.katychamber.com or call 281-828-1100 for more information.
The United Way Katrina Refugee Relief Fund will raise money for evacuees staying in Houston. Donations are to be made at any Amegy Bank of Texas or mailed to United Way Katrina Refugee Relief Fund, Account No. 3601021, Attn. Teller, P.O. Box 27459 Houston, TX 77227.
To volunteer your time or donate bedding or other items, call the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast at 713-957-4357 or 800-833-5948 or call 211
The East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry Food Pantry, 425 Stafford Run in Stafford, is collecting nonperishable foods 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 281-261-1006.
The Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce, Intown Chamber of Commerce, and Galleria Chamber are excepting donations for the hurricane victims. All three Chambers are accepting men and woman’s clothing, baby supplies, pet supplies, canned food, bottled water and blankets.
Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce
6900 South Rice Avenue
Bellaire, TX 77401
The Galleria Chamber of Commerce
5075 Westheimer Ste. 660
Houston, TX
713-629-5555
The Intown Chamber of Commerce
3015 Richmond Ave Ste 200
Houston, TX
713-524-8000
Media and more
The Buzz, KTBZ-FM (94.5), is auctioning off autographed guitars and rock memorabilia at www.thebuzz.com.
Telemundo affiliate KTMD (Channel 47) and La Mera Mera KROI-FM (92.1) are collecting checks, payable to the Red Cross, as well as bedding, water, toiletries, new undergarments for children and adults, diapers, baby formula and first-aid kits at Telemundo offices, 1235 North Loop West.
Randalls shoppers may add donations to the Spirit of Texas Hurricane Relief Fund and the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to their grocery bill through Sept. 11. Co-sponsored by KHOU (Channel 11) and radio stations KTRH-AM (740), KHMX-FM (96.5) and KKRW-FM (93.7).
Food drive sponsored by KPRC (Channel 2) and H.E.B. Make donations 6 a.m.-6 p.m. at Channel 2, 8181 Southwest Freeway, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at several H.E.B. locations.
Religious organizations
The Chabad Lubavitch Center, an Orthodox Jewish organization at 10900 Fondren, is seeking volunteers to provide Jewish refugees with hospitality, kosher food, clothing and emergency cash; 713-777-2000 or relief@chabadtexas.org.
St. Luke's United Methodist Church is accepting donations. Send checks marked ``Disaster Response'' to the church at P.O. Box 22013, Houston 77227.
St. Vincent de Paul Society, 2403 Holcombe, needs volunteers. Call 713-741-8234. Also needed are nonperishable food, clothing, new underwear, new children's sleeping bags, pillows, slippers, pajamas, crayons, coloring books, personal hygiene items and pet food. Drop off donated items, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, at Washington Thrift Store, 2020 Washington; Bellaire Thrift Store, 5236 Cedar; and Ozanam Outlet, 610 Memory Lane.
Episcopal churches will take an offering Sunday to buy food gift cards for evacuees. Send contributions to Hurricane Relief, Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 3203 W. Alabama, Houston 77098.
The Union for Reform Judaism is collecting donations online at urj.org/give; mail checks payable to URJ Hurricane Relief at Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset, Houston 77005.
The Houston-based Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is accepting donations through local Methodist churches. Online donations may be made at www.methodistrelief.org.
Share your home
Operation: Share Your Home is an organization founded in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina hit. Its purpose is to match people willing to share their homes with evacuees who need temporary shelter.
Sports relief
Texans owner Bob McNair has issued a $1 million challenge. The Houston Texans will match pledges contributed during tonight's game between the Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Details will be announced on KTRK (Channel 13) during the game broadcast.
To find out about conditions in your home parish, you can find a listing of homeland security and emergency preparedness offices and telephone numbers at www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/Parish/parishoepnumbers.htm.
Disaster aid
To apply for federal disaster aid, call the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 800-621-3362; for hearing/speech impaired, TTY 800-462-7585. You can also apply online at www.FEMA.gov. Assist with all needs including: lodging, clothing, and monetary assistance.
Greater Houston Partnership- Helping business locate free office space in order to assist in keeping business running: ghp@houston.org 713-844-3600
MENTAL HEALTH:
The Mental Health Association of Greater Houston, 713-522-5161
MHMRA Neuro Psychiatric (Crisis) Center 713-970-7070
Crisis Hotline 713-228-1505
Shelters
RED CROSS SHELTERS: Hotline Number is 1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636)
Shelter locations as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Mont Belvieu Senior Center: 11607 Eagle Drive, Mont Belvieu (full - 112) Baytown Community Center: 2407 Market Street, Baytown (full – 250) Memorial Baptist Church: 600 W. Sterling, Baytown (full – 135)
Lee College Gym: 200 Lee Drive, Baytown
Missouri Street Church of Christ: 3400 S Highway 146, Baytown
Hilliard Elementary School: 6511 N. Wayside Dr., Houston
St. Mary's Catholic Church: 701 Church Street, Huntsville (capacity 200)
1st Baptist Church: 1229 Ave. J, Huntsville
New Life Central: 2104 Underwood, LaPorte
Fairmont Park Baptist Church: 10401 Belfast, LaPort
1st United Methodist Church: 4308 W. Dallas, Conroe (capacity 200)
1st Baptist Church: 906 Ave A, Katy
1st Baptist Church: 906 Ave, A, Katy
Kingwood United Methodist Church: 1799 Woodland Hill, Kingwood
Also a Red Cross information hotline number regarding locations of shelters is available for Hurricane Katrina victims. Call Red Cross 1-(866) GET-INFO. Local information Hotline number (713) 313-5480.
Pasadena: The Salvation Army East Harris County has opened a shelter at 2732 Cherrybrook Ln. in Pasadena. The phone number is 713-378-0020. They can use food, bedding, baby products and any other product one might need in a shelter. They do not need clothes. To donate, call 1-800 SAL-ARMY.
The Star of Hope homeless shelter will keep its facilities open all night and day to feed and house Katrina victims. The locations: The Women & Family Emergency Shelter, 419 Dowling (713-222-2220); The Men's Development Center, 1811 Ruiz (713-227-8900).
The Salvation Army East Harris County has opened a shelter at 2732 Cherrybrook, in Pasadena. Phone: 713-378-0020.
FOOD:
For Meals, call United Way's Helpline at 800-833-5948
The United Way, Target Hunger and the Houston Food Bank (713-226-4953) are distributing food and basic need items for those with Louisiana ID's at:
North Channel Assistance Ministries - 13837 1/2 Bonham from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Mondays
St. Peter Claver, 6500 N. Wayside 8:00 – Noon Thursdays and Tuesdays
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial – Free hot lunch from 11:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m. from today through Friday (713-468-8356)
First Baptist Church, 7401 Katy Freeway – Free Supper from 5 PM-6 p.m. 9/1- 9/4/05
10:00 am – 1:30 Pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 6-8 PM Wednesdays, East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry Food Pantry, 425 Stafford Run, Stafford
Free Dinner 6:00 PM 9/1-9/3/05 Deer Park First Baptist Church, 438 East 8th.
Copperfield Chursh, 8350 Texas 6 North. For food and shelter availability, call # 281-856-2273
Kosher meals from the Chabad Lubavich Center, 10900 Fondren; 713-777-2000 or relief@chabadtexas.org
11 Am – 2 PM Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Lnagston Family Center, 2814 Quitman
BAPS Care International is ready to start providing Indian Vegetarian food to anyone who are effected by Katrina. Their facility is located at BAPS Care International, 1150 Brand Lane,Stafford, TX –77477. They can also call me at 832.515.5645 or 281.499.7974 x102 or send me an email at vikram.patel@shell.com
NEED A COMPUTER:
Public Libraries – To find your nearest Public Library branch, call 832-393-1313
ATTRACTION AND MUSEUM OFFERS – VISITOR CENTER
713/437-5200 - Ask for Visitor Information or http://www.visithoustontexas.com, then go to “Hurricane evacuees click here”
http://old.mises.org:88/NO2 If you've been following the Camp Crystal blog below, you should be!, this is a link to his live camera feed!
:: 9/2/2005 9:56:53 AM http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9164073/ You saw it on my blog first... now it's national news! I told you read it!!!! first hand account not some sensationalist news reporting!
:: 9/1/2005 10:46:56 AM http://amasci.com/weird/unusual/e-wall.html Cool! Force Field! Seriously... I don't know how practical but the science involved here could lead to something! I wonder if it's true?
:: 9/1/2005 11:27:42 AM http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/01/obliterated.town.ap/index.html You know the N.O. thing is a levee break deal and while it's Katrina related the wind and 'cane did not really hurt N.O. that bad it was the break after that did. East of there was different story and we seem to be forgetting that! Waveland Mississippi got wiped out! I mean gone! This guy said the wind blew his clothes off his body! Let's not forget about the others outside of N.O.
:: 9/1/2005 11:49:20 AM http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/2005/08/28/ You know it had to be out there... this guy stayed in a high rise in N.O. and blogged through the storm... I'm deep linking to the begining of the storm... riveting!
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION! I have a little soap box to get up on... 1st when people hurt we hurt and we help.
WE = You and I as Americans...
Tsunami relief... we rocked and in a time of crisis well when you need it I hope WE are there to help you too. This being said... where is the UN and all the other nations we've helped over the years? ...
I got this email from my friend Jennifer today, I live in Baytown and this situation is dire. People do not have enough money to buy gas(Up 27 cents as this post) to get back see if their home is even still standing.
Please read this! YOU, ME, WE can make a difference!
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As you know, my Aunts own and run one of the largest full service catering companies in Houston, Mélange Catering (had to put the plug in before I start this very serious email). Last night they fed 250 refugees from the Hurricane at a shelter in Baytown. Today the shelter hit the maximum they can hold with 650 people. The Houston area will continue to see a growth in the displaced Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama residents, especially with 25,000 people coming to the Astrodome.
Mélange has started a relief fund to help the people in the Baytown Shelter, and other shelters that are calling them. They have been and will continue to help feed the Baytown refugees. They have gone beyond just ordering and making food, they have ordered paper products so the shelter can continue to house them.
The shelter needs items like diapers, laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc, basic life necessities. They have found a Washateria that has donated the use of their washer and dryers, but people have no detergent or money to buy detergent. Once phone lines are reestablished, these refugees will need to call their family member long distance. They will need calling cards. Even gift cards to places where they can get basic living items will be necessary.
We are asking for your help in any way possible. If you are interested in donating diapers, laundry detergent, phone cards, or other items please contact Laurie Dodson by phone or email (or you can contact me). Feel free to send this out to other you know. When you call Laurie you might reference this email. It is on the kindness and generosity of strangers that these refugees will recover. Thank you for your help.
Jennifer
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Jennifer A. Kerber
Director, Homeland Security
Enterprise Solutions Division
Information Technology Association of America
1401 Wilson, Ste 1100
Arlington, VA 22209
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This is probably the point where I lose the compassionate in compassionate conservative, but there is nothing that pi**e* me off more than watching all these idiots being rescued from their homes after Hurricane Katrina. (Yes, there are some people who get legitimately stuck..but I am not talking about them.) What part of MANDATORY Evacuation is confusing? Not only do they CHOOSE to take their own lives in their hands, they put the lives of first responders in jeopardy when they have to go rescue them. And who do you think is paying for that Helicopter or Coast Guard boat? That right folks, you and me.
I do recognize that my views could be slightly tainted as I have a family of first responders. But I think when I run for office I am going to campaign on a platform that promotes the prosecution of people who ignore the mandatory evacuation orders for the offense of being profoundly stupid. (I love the media excuse, these people have been asked to evacuate in the past and the storm missed them…yes..that is called a miracle or a blessing. but not a tragedy or an excuse). Those people convicted under the profoundly stupid offense will be billed for the cost of the equipment, man-hours, and operational expenses that went into effect to rescue them. And if I can figure out a way to determine the cost of pain and suffering for the worried family members of the first responders whose job it is to go rescue you, then I will add that cost in as well. And stating you could not evacuate because you are poor, elderly, or handicap is not a defense. That is why they have Shelters! You can get to a shelter. Someone will take you to a shelter. I will start the first pre-hurricane shuttle service..me and my Honda civic..one person at a time. I am sure emergency personnel would be happy to give you a ride to the shelter BEFORE the storm rather than give you an airlift off your roof. In fact, as part of my law, there will be funding to “shuttle” people who have transportation issues to shuttles. Also, the kicker on my “Preventing Stupidity During Mandatory Emergency Evacuation Situations” bill (Might have to change it to something more positive to actually get it through Congress “Securing Americans in eVacuation Emergencies” then we can call it the SAVE bill..we do that all the time up here) would be to allow Law Enforcement to Shoot Looters on Site…or maybe we just hang them in the town square. Either way, looting should be an offense punishable by death.
Hurricanes are scary and cause catastrophic damage. By choosing to “ride it out” when you have been asked to leave by trained emergency professionals is just unacceptable. And you and I pay the cost. Last year the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spent $5.6 Billion to give aid to Florida, and that was barely a drop in the bucket for what they needed to recover. That money is from the federal budget, which is made up of your tax dollar. I would not be surprise if Congress passes and emergency supplemental to give FEMA additional funding to pay for Hurricane Katrina recovery effort. We absolutely need this funding, and more, for situations like this …but what I don’t want to pay for is someone else’s epiphany that staying at home 2 miles from the Gulf wasn’t a good idea.
Jennifer
(Yes, my tirade is over).
man·da·to·ry (mnd-tôr, -tr) adj.
Required or commanded by authority; obligatory: Attendance at the meeting is mandatory.
Evacuation n 1: the act of removing the contents of something 2: the act of evacuating; leaving a place in an orderly fashion; especially for protection
We took pillows and water to the Baytown Civic Center last nite and we asked what else they needed and they responded with any type of personal hygiene stuff. My mom had a a good idea.....the small bottles of shampoo/conditioner you get from your stays at hotels.....donate them. If you go to these shelters be prepared it is very sad and the ones we talked to were very greatful. My best friend's family is staying with her because they found out yesterday their house has 10-12 ft of water in it. Just keep them all in your prayers.
:: 8/31/2005 11:03:28 AM http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/o/nov04/nov04c.html WOW! Nov 2004... all of what is now coming true in New Orleans was predicted... the only difference is this was an overflow not a breakdown scenario! it's incredibly acurate to the events unfolding and a possible prediction of what's yet to come. sad...
:: 9/7/2005 10:14:29 AM
