CNN: The first bus just arrived in Houston

[Holly_Hobby]

The people couldn't WAIT to talk to the media.

One woman said all she had to eat and drink was one sandwich and a glass of water.

[Holly_Hobby]

1. The bus had to wait

45 min. at the Astrodome gates before security let them in. Reporter says they people had no idea the Superdome was going to flood.

[efhmc]

5. I bet they did not expect them to be there so quickly. Someone get

her something good to eat!!

[VADem11]

11. CNN says they expected them

between 1 and 3 A.M. central time.

[efhmc]

14. Made that drive many a time. It is fast interstate all the way. so glad

they are there.

[ugarte]

2. What she gets for not looting.

nt

[Catherine Vincent]

3. Did you see the couple that said they hitchhiked to Houston with

their little baby. So sad.

[Holly_Hobby]

4. Everone else is being turned away

unless they came from the Superdome.

[xultar]

10. I really don't like that. Part of me can understand it. But I don't like

it.

[nonconformist]

27. I feel the same. nt

[SoCalDem]

21. So states can "blackball" citizens from other states now?

Is there a "test" these days to see who can move where? When we came to California from New Mexico, no one "means-tested" us or grilled us on where we came from..

Not a very compassionate thing to do.. Are they 'deporting" people to Louisiana these days?? Will they arrest them and then plop them back into the water of NO?

[Igel]

31. There are other shelters in Houston.

They're being redirected there.

Superdome --> Astrodome
Elsewhere --> other shelters

It's an attempt to maintain some order.

[blue neen]

6. Those poor people have to be absolutely traumatized.

The conditions at the Superdome were horrible.

[mitchum]

7. Haven't these people suffered enough?

They lose their homes in the beautiful city of New Orleans, and now they have to go to Houston AKA America's Ugliest City!

[meisje]

12. I'm sure they would be much more happy at your house

[ecoflame]

24. America's Ugliest

city is Cleveland...jeezus

[TX VN VET]

25. Americas Ugliest City?

Don't know why you think Houston is ugly and don't care. I do know that they will have much better living conditions here than they had at the Super dome. They will have cots to sleep on in Air conditioned space, toilets that work etc. and food to eat. What is your plan that would be better under the circumstances?

[friesianrider]

28. I think Houston is pretty nice.

And, you all have got one of the best SPCAs down there - especially since you took in the animals from the Louisiana SPCA.

And by the way, welcome to DU, TX VN VET! Great to have you here, friend, and it would seem a "thank you for your service" is in order. :) :hi:

[faithnotgreed]

29. right on friesander - good post

can i ask you about donating to the animals part of all of this

i want very much to donate - louisiana spca or would you recommend houston or - but do they have access to get the money if i donate via cc or something

what is best
and thanks once again for your deep care for animals
one reason why i love this place

[friesianrider]

35. Yes, please donate by CCs and not snail mail...

Lord only knows when they will have mail service again, and I fear the shelter building and local post office are long gone. I am almost certain that any CC donation online goes right into their bank account.

The info for the shelters is on the DU homepage for the...

Louisiana SPCA: http://www.la-spca.org/forms/donations.htm

Mississippi SPCA: http://s124710419.onlinehome.us/help/donations/

Noah's Wish (a group that deals exclusively with rescuing animals after natural disasters): http://www.noahswish.org/Donations.htm

Another great group is the Humane Society of the United States, at www.hsus.org (check the homepage for links). They're sending crews and supplies down as I type, as is Noah's Wish.

Thanks in advance for any donation - large or small - you can spare! :)

[faithnotgreed]

36. i will try to send to each instead of choosing

that would be too hard

i have to tithe anyway and this is as important as anything to me

thanks again for the information and all you do

[faithnotgreed]

30. sorry tx vet - some like to poke fun and some have raw nerves

and many in between so please understand im sure the poster didnt mean harm by his comment

were glad youre here and thank you very much to the wonderful people of houston and elsewhere that are helping in this time of great need

[Holly_Hobby]

8. They're bringing in 1,000 phones

for 25,000 people.

[baldingrockwarlord]

9. what bothers me is

The victims being bussed from the Superdome are being called refugees, as if they aren't even Americans or our own citizenry.

[mike_c]

15. you don't think "refugee" can apply to Americans...?

What else would you call someone who has been dispossessed and needs refuge?

on edit: answering my own question, I suppose we usually just call them "homeless."

[baldingrockwarlord]

16. .

I guess I like the word victim in this case, because refugee is only a small typo away from refusee. I hope they take care of these folks.

[mike_c]

17. "refusee"-- good point....

eom

[dejaboutique]

13. looks like CNN might stay live for awhile

seems they are the only ones

[Bumblebee]

20. except now it's Larry King and Perry, great combo!

[gatorboy]

18. Wow that was quick! And through a flood to!

I just sayin'. What stopped them from doing this before the hurricane? They made it sound like it would've been so difficult, yet they got them out now driving through a pretty horrendous environment.

But it never fails. Whoever fucked up the rescue mission of N.O. is bound to meet with Bush for a new, shiney medal.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

34. I'm not defending their evacuation efforts but

From what I saw I-10 was gridlocked with traffic. After a certain point people were told to return to their homes or seek suitable shelter that were still on the roads trying to get out. Many of the people arrived at the Superdome well after the window of escape had closed. I think they thought this was the safest interim housing they could provide the population who couldn't leave.

[tridim]

19. Idea: Make Bush visit the victims in the Astrodome

If he went he'd be booed by 20,000 people. He'll resist it just like Cindy.

[Bumblebee]

22. actually he would rather go to TX than LA plus they would do what

they usually do: screen people and plant more who are sympathrtic to him. But maybe this time they won't be able to get away with it -- you are probably right.

[Olney Blue]

26. If he did visit, they would throw out all Dems....

and make sure no awkward questions were asked.

[faithfulcitizen]

32. LOL, at this point, they're all dems!

[lonestarnot]

23. 1 bus with no road to drive on, 1 hospital boat with enough room for how

many 3?

[soup]

33. Are the buses making the return trip filled

with emergency supplies for those still waiting to be evacuated?