Sunday, September 25, 2005
Good morning all:
Well Mississippi has weathered the effects of the brush with Hurricane Rita. There was a lot of anxiety as we listened to weather updates on our weather band radio in the truck. Fortunately, the storm proved not as serious. We had some pretty severe rains and some gusty winds with tornado watches and warnings.
All told, it created confusion among the RC planners. Our service centers where people line up for hours to get their RC financial assistance were closed down. The volunteers hung out at the Naval Base. We were asked to join a group of volunteers to go to Gulfport Memorial Hospital and enroll the inpatients in the RC Financial Assistance program. That was rewarding as we talked about the hurricane experience with these really ill people. They are now registered to get their $360 per person assistance.
Our Saturday ended as we had to go to the warehouse and get loaded to deliver drinks, etc. to the service center on Sunday. However, that changed by 9 pm as there is doubt the service centers will open. This is a little flavor of how erratic things are down here.
The weather both hot and the storm haven't helped the situation.
Some observations:
- The Service Centers were set up to house the financial assistance teams who manually write checks (circa, 1962) and other teams like family service and the health care teams. People b egin to line up the night before to be one of the 1,000 per day that get a check. The heat is terrible and RC provides all kinds of drinks and snacks. I've been amused and trying not to get cynical of the folks who show in their new SUV's, get their check, and then want a free case of Gatorade. I believe I suggested to a woman that she should use some of her new found money to go to the local store and help the economy.
- This brings up today's question: You've lost everything and your family of 5 gets a check from RC for $1,565. What would you spend it on?
- The stories of suffering continue down here. There are an estimated 70,000 homes that will be condemned. Many still have people trying to live in them. Let's hope our Federal and State governments will put aside politics and really get a good redevelopment plan for this entire area. This needs a Depression era focus, like a WPA or CCC.
- Bob and I drove past one of the Mt. Trashmores that are growing in the area. The counties are beginning the task of picking up the household piles and then bringing it to various sites. The Sunday paper noted that 200,000 cubic yards are being moved daily and there is an estimated 5.8 million cubic yards to move. That doesn't include the homes that will be demolished in Mississippi.
- Another note to well-intnetioned Yankee church groups. Thanks but no thanks for the clothes. I watched a tractor trailer full of clothes get thrown into the dumpster on Friday. The piles in shopping centers are really looking bad after this weekend's rains. Send money to buy products. Or prayers.
- I helped this woman complete a form for financial assistance yesterday in the hospital. Actually, I helped her ex husband comcplete the form. He's been helping her. They've been divorced for 20 years but no is available to assist her. She has pneumonia, one leg and bad kidneys. He was living in a trailer on her property but that blew away. What a great guy.
He told me his daughter has bee boxes and he prayed to God that he protect the bees during the hurricane. The only thing left in the yard were the bee boxes. He prayed for me yesterday.
Wednesday couldn't come soon enough. The 3 weeks really gets long and we seek some good humor to get us through. The cot, portopotties, lining up for food (although good!) is getting old. Tonight is prime rib night!
Take care all.
Bob
Good morning all:
Well Mississippi has weathered the effects of the brush with Hurricane Rita. There was a lot of anxiety as we listened to weather updates on our weather band radio in the truck. Fortunately, the storm proved not as serious. We had some pretty severe rains and some gusty winds with tornado watches and warnings.
All told, it created confusion among the RC planners. Our service centers where people line up for hours to get their RC financial assistance were closed down. The volunteers hung out at the Naval Base. We were asked to join a group of volunteers to go to Gulfport Memorial Hospital and enroll the inpatients in the RC Financial Assistance program. That was rewarding as we talked about the hurricane experience with these really ill people. They are now registered to get their $360 per person assistance.
Our Saturday ended as we had to go to the warehouse and get loaded to deliver drinks, etc. to the service center on Sunday. However, that changed by 9 pm as there is doubt the service centers will open. This is a little flavor of how erratic things are down here.
The weather both hot and the storm haven't helped the situation.
Some observations:
- The Service Centers were set up to house the financial assistance teams who manually write checks (circa, 1962) and other teams like family service and the health care teams. People b egin to line up the night before to be one of the 1,000 per day that get a check. The heat is terrible and RC provides all kinds of drinks and snacks. I've been amused and trying not to get cynical of the folks who show in their new SUV's, get their check, and then want a free case of Gatorade. I believe I suggested to a woman that she should use some of her new found money to go to the local store and help the economy.
- This brings up today's question: You've lost everything and your family of 5 gets a check from RC for $1,565. What would you spend it on?
- The stories of suffering continue down here. There are an estimated 70,000 homes that will be condemned. Many still have people trying to live in them. Let's hope our Federal and State governments will put aside politics and really get a good redevelopment plan for this entire area. This needs a Depression era focus, like a WPA or CCC.
- Bob and I drove past one of the Mt. Trashmores that are growing in the area. The counties are beginning the task of picking up the household piles and then bringing it to various sites. The Sunday paper noted that 200,000 cubic yards are being moved daily and there is an estimated 5.8 million cubic yards to move. That doesn't include the homes that will be demolished in Mississippi.
- Another note to well-intnetioned Yankee church groups. Thanks but no thanks for the clothes. I watched a tractor trailer full of clothes get thrown into the dumpster on Friday. The piles in shopping centers are really looking bad after this weekend's rains. Send money to buy products. Or prayers.
- I helped this woman complete a form for financial assistance yesterday in the hospital. Actually, I helped her ex husband comcplete the form. He's been helping her. They've been divorced for 20 years but no is available to assist her. She has pneumonia, one leg and bad kidneys. He was living in a trailer on her property but that blew away. What a great guy.
He told me his daughter has bee boxes and he prayed to God that he protect the bees during the hurricane. The only thing left in the yard were the bee boxes. He prayed for me yesterday.
Wednesday couldn't come soon enough. The 3 weeks really gets long and we seek some good humor to get us through. The cot, portopotties, lining up for food (although good!) is getting old. Tonight is prime rib night!
Take care all.
Bob
posted by Bob Still at 9:28 AM
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