4,000 evacuees in Houston to be relocated to cruise ships

[Judi Lynn]

Sept. 6, 2005, 2:27AM

4,000 evacuees in Houston to be relocated to cruise ships
By CAROL CHRISTIAN
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

The transfer of about 4,000 Katrina evacuees from Houston to cruise ships in Galveston is expected to begin later today, officials announced late Monday.

Red Cross staffers, medical professionals, volunteers and others were to work through the night to begin identifying those eligible to leave shelters at Reliant Park and the George R. Brown Convention Center for the ships, said Lt. Joe Leonard of the U.S. Coast Guard and area commander for the Houston shelters.

Under criteria set by Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, evacuees age 60 and over will have the top priority for the transfer to the ships, said Tom Costello of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Next in line are single guardians with children ages 4 and younger, followed by single guardians of children ages 8 and younger, and ages 12 and younger.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3340998
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[opihimoimoi]

1. From General Fuck Up to CRUISE SHIPS??? Whoa.....??

[DELUSIONAL]

2. Apparently the ex-FEMA guy, Witt (Clinton's) is now in charge.

[CottonBear]

3. Good idea. The elderly can help care for the children

while the parents work. Creative. Eventually they can sail back to NOLA and home.

[Spinzonner]

4. Sounds like a bad idea to me

The young and old will be the more susceptible to disease - especially together potentially. Especially in a closed environment.

The young and old are higher consumers of medical care and medical facilities will be reduced compared to land-based domicile and harder to reach in as timely a manner.

And these cruise ships have proven themselves a bit susceptible to infectious disease outbreaks - not surprising for rather closed in environments with closed support systems.

But, what do I know, I'm not an epidemiologist, I only play one on DU.

[Bridget Burke]

5. Crowded temporary housing always incubates disease....

Apparently the people going to cruise ships will have been checked over for major health problems. Since most cruise ships cater to the mature traveler, health care will be available.

With proper maintenance, the cruise ships should be OK.

[Spinzonner]

7. That's all well and good BUT

Very few cruises last for 'up to 6 months' so it's not a good match for what the so-called mature travelor would experience.

The issue about children's higher incidence of infections AND the combination with elder adults is not addressed.

Stress tends to weaken the immune system and make people more likely to become ill. Extended confinement (as compared to a land-based living arrangement) will increase stress for some.

I remain unconvinced.

[MaineDem]

8. I think they're better in a private room than the Astrodome

Albeit the tiny rooms on a cruise ship. The threat of disease is the same when everyone's all together living in one big shelter, I would assume.

None of these arrangements are ideal. This is definitely a developing situation.

I just hope they can find some comfort and sense of security soon.

[Bridget Burke]

9. Currently, most "land based" evacuees are in crowded, confined quarters.

A stateroom is better than a cot in the middle of a sports stadium.

You are not the one who needs to be convinced.

[lonestarnot]

16. And during this 6 months if they decide to cruise to international waters

there is no protection by U.S. Law, not that this would matter anyway in that there is no protection of poor people by U.S. law.

[Vogon_Glory]

6. They're Better Than A Shanty Town

For better or worse, those cruise ships are better than shanty towns out in the middle of some neglected, mosquito-infected field somewhere.

One thing, though. Those ships are going to need some serious policing. I hope that the DPs have to do what middle-class cruise ship passengers have to do on boarding--pass through scanners and surrender all weapons. I also hope that whoever-it-is in charge of those ships come down hard on trouble-makers so that the decent people have some measure of safety.

Alas, some of those ships are not ADA-compliant. Some of the older and/or more frail DPs are going to have some trouble getting around.

[Lerkfish]

10. my only concern is it is still locking them away, surrounded by water

I doubt they are free to leave if they wish. you have to wait until a ship comes to port, so if the mom on the ship finds out her son in the astrodome has been found, how do they propose to bring them together?

[MaineDem]

11. Aren't these ships going to be docked? (nt)

[Justitia]

18. 2 ships docked in Galveston, home of UT Medical Branch, which is excellent

http://www.utmb.edu/

although now reports are stating this cruise ship idea may be delayed?

[LibDemAlways]

12. I know that desperate times call for

desperate measures, and, as a temporary housing solution, a ship's cabin is probably ok. However, the evacuees are likely to meet with hostility from crew members who remain aboard without the usual "gratuities" that keep them afloat. Also, I hope officials have given some thought to getting enough food on board. When in port, most ship's facilities are closed - thus no pools or shops, and I would bet that recreational facilities like the exercise room will be off-limits because of insurance liability. They are setting up an ideal situation for an outbreak of cabin fever, if nothing else.

The sooner the government decides to provide these people with some cash and job assistance and get them out of makeshift shelters, the better.

[all.of.me]

20. "cash and job assistance"

i agree. people need aid to get back on their feet. the ones that are able need to move forward to some sense of normalcy.

[Child_Of_Isis]

13. Something about this doesn't feel right.

But, I will admit to being the tin foil hat type. I wouldn't get on one if I was in that position. I would be afraid I would end up in Africa or the ship would meet some fatal end.I can hear the rumblings now... "They already tried to drown us once and you want me to get on that ship?". I think it is asking a bit much of people to "trust" that they have their best interest at heart.

[uppityperson]

15. Don't you hate being this distrustful? I sure do.

My first thought was then the ships get sunk.

[jhain]

14. "plans have changed"

not enough takers.

People are NOT leaving - they are still looking for their families.

[Roland99]

17. Cruise evac ON HOLD...airlift out of Texas ON HOLD

http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=3810711

A plan to move some Hurricane Katrina evacuees from the Houston Astrodome to cruise ships was postponed Tuesday because many didn't want to go, and a proposed airlift of refugees out of strained Texas appeared to be on hold after the federal government took over.

Officials had planned to begin moving about 4,000 evacuees on Tuesday to cruise ships docked at ports on the Gulf of Mexico.

However, officials of the Hurricane Katrina Houston Response announced Tuesday that the plan was delayed.

Incident Commander Joe Leonard said some people brought to Houston from the Louisiana Superdome want to stay where they are to concentrate on locating lost loved ones. Others want stability after having to evacuate their homes, being forced to endure squalid conditions in the Superdome and then being moved again to Texas.

<...>

[soup]

19. and who could blame them?

My God, what these poor people have been through already is unimaginable and horrific.

I can certainly understand anyone saying 'No. No more.'

[0007]

21. This was just called off!