Evacuee transfer in Texas on hold

[Avalon Sparks]

AUSTIN - While the airlift of Hurricane Katrina refugees out of Texas appeared to be on hold, plans to move some to cruise ships in Galveston have also been postponed.

<SNIP>

Planes carrying evacuees had been expected to leave the state Sunday night when the airlift was under the direction of state officials. Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the state's refugee shelters had reached their limit.

Then federal authorities took over the operation and by Monday planes still weren't taking off. At the same time, for the first time in days, there were no buses or planes in the official evacuation effort carrying evacuees into Texas, the governor's office said.

<SNIP>

Perry announced the airlift Sunday to ease the pressure that nearly a quarter million refugees had placed on Texas shelters.

Originally set up under the Texas National Guard, Perry's office said FEMA took over the operation Sunday night.


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/090705dntexkatrinaairlift.2e961580.html


What do you all make of this???? Again it's FEMA with the delays....

[progressivebydesign]

1. Our Wash. State Gov says she's still waiting for Fed approval.

We're supposed to house 1,000 to 2,000 evacuees in our State, but Gregoire said that they are still awaiting Federal approval for them to arrive. What's the hold up???

[CottonBear]

2. The evacuees don't want to be moved again.

God knows where they'll send them on a ship.

[Avalon Sparks]

4. They weren't sending them anywhere on a ship...

The ships were to be docked at Galveston.

I'd love to have everyone stay in Texas - in Houston and Dallas, but I don't think we have the resources to take care of so many and I think the Katrina victims would be better served if we spread them out a little over other states.... just my opinion. There should also be a network to help families find families to be together where ever they end up finding more permanent shelter.

[Rose Siding]

3. Obviously the republican governor's fault, right Karl?

:eyes:

[mom cat]

5. A cruise ship would be like a prison ...no way out!

[MaineDem]

9. Of course there'd be a way out

The ship would be docked. A floating apartment building.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shavedape]

7. this racist bullshit is not funny.

this racist shit is not funny. why did you post it?

"At one point we found Nigras useful in the agricultural and service sectors of our economy. Unfortunately, after 1865, and especially after 1965, we found that it was no longer cost-effective to employ them in those industries.

These days we find that Mexicans are much more effective. No only do they not insist on 'civil rights' or 'a living wage' it's safer to leave 'em around watermelons and white wimmen."

[Bridget Burke]

8. pursuivant obviously thinks it's funny....

He/she/it has a chance to express his/her/its real opinions!

[knitter4democracy]

10. FEMA screwed up in Lansing, MI, too.

They were told they were getting at least three hundred evacuees on Monday, and only 20 or so showed up with no word from FEMA as to what was going on. There was no warning, no communication, nothing, and it was a good day to do it on, as they could easily use school buses to get everyone from the airport to the shelters.

Honestly, just when you think it can't get any worse . . .

[wellstone_democrat]

11. Its a mess---ask any of us working in cities

in my little corner of Texas they sent unaccompanied minors and people straight from roof tops (yes!) all in the clothes they stood in and without a bit of food to eat in most cases. We understood that there would be an interim period in Houston where they would get food, water, a chance to shower and get some clothes.

the rashes on the infants alone was criminal. How do you have a plan with NO food at all. Not nuts, nothing! How do you send planes to this destination with no diapers and no infant formula? I'll never understand that. Never.

They said 500 more today but I hear they didn't arrive guess I'll fine out in a few minutes when I head out to go work there this evening. BTW, the RC here keeps telling people they don't need volunteers---we found that if you show up and are persistant, they find you something to do and that they are short handed. The head vol told me that they didn't want to look like they can't handle things. I said: you can't, let people help.

I'm leaving now to pick up some vols at the university here and hopefully things are better than when I had to leave to teach this a.m. PLEASE volunteer wherever you are, expecially after the "newness" wears off for many of your neighbors. Some found it all "too difficult" after a few hours yesterday. We all need help and need it long term.