Things in Houston going to hell..deaths on the buses, no toilets in Dome

[rainbow4321]

No water, supplies, shelter..people camped in the parking lot outside the shelters. So now they get to sit in Houston heat instead of New Orlean's heat???

OK, if it was KNOWN that Houston was the destination, why the FUCK did FEMA not get everything there that is needed to house and care for the people??? Last time I checked, it is not Houston that has the lawlessness and high water, so they cannot use those things as excuses!!!!!


From a Houston dome blog:

http://blogs.chron.com/domeblog/

Out in the parking lot, dozens of buses filled with more evacuees are waiting to unload. Bryant says Harris County Tax Assessor Paul Bettencourt said as many as 18,000 people may be on the grounds by noon.

A doctor told Bryant some people have died on those buses.

On the Astrodome floor, people sleep in cots, some getting real rest for the first time since taking shelter in New Orleans' Superdome. But a few have been arrested for fighting over those cots.

Volunteers are bringing badly needed supplies to the volunteers, but when they pull into the parking lot, they are often swarmed by the desparate.

It's about 10:30 p.m. and Eric is reporting that people continue to flow into the Astrodome.

It's been less than a day and already the crowds are beginning to take their toll on this gigantic dome turned shelter.

The toilets are overflowing and when Eric went to the restroom he found out only one toilet was flushing.

[Arugula Latte]

1. Unbelievable.

This is a fuck-up of epic proportions.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Hey, where is the support from the faith-base organizations?

[Arugula Latte]

3. They're to busy praying for liberal judges to die

-- and hatin' gays takes a lot of time and energy, dontcha know.

[txindy]

5. The mega-churches with buildings the size of airport hangars?

Very good question.

[musette_sf]

10. Let's see that scumbag Joel Osteen

open up the former Compaq Center to displaced persons. Of couse he won't.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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

[alarimer]

33. He's a charlatan like all the rest

Any religious freak with a giant mega-church like that is in the same ilk as Robertson and the other scumbags; I don't care what anyone sayd to defend him. They all just take money from people to enrich themselves.

[BikeWriter]

40. Prove your post or put "IMO" in front of it.

Where's your sources?

[BikeWriter]

45. "Joel Osteen Organizing Aid Effort"

Famous Houston, Texas minister Joel Osteen is in Atlanta for two nights of sold-out appearances.

His internationally televised Sunday sermons are watched by seven million people and many of the refugees fleeing New Orleans have all ready found their way to his church in Texas.

No one is more optimistic from the pulpit than Joel Osteen, and he told 11Alive’s Wes Sarginson this disaster is a challenge and an opportunity.
http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=68669

[NaturalHigh]

71. Maybe you should read this.

An article about what Osteen is doing to help

Some people like to bash Christians, especially those who are public figures.

[BikeWriter]

72. Osteen raised $70,000 last night...

Spokesman don Iloff said Osteen had an event in Atlanta, where he raised $70,000 last night, and he has another event tonight. He will return to Houston Saturday.
Iloff said 100 percent of the money Osteen raised would be given to the Astrodome Recovery Project.
http://www.click2houston.com/news/4930621/detail.html

[Carni]

58. I think that dome IS a mega-church

I have a friend who told me that--she also told me the name of the preacher affiliated with it but I can't remember what she said his name was.

[gkhouston]

60. no -- the *Summit* is now Lakewood Church

pastor's name is Joel Osteen.

[meganmonkey]

7. PLEASE STOP SAYING THINGS LIKE THIS!!!

I work for a hunger relief organization.

I have been fielding calls all week from people and groups wanting to help.

THE MAJORITY HAVE BEEN CHURCHES or CHURCH-RELATED GROUPS!!

I am an atheist/agnostic - I have no personal reason to defend or malign anyone.

I am sick of hearing people bash everyone connected to a church.

I don't like the idea of federal funds going to these groups the way Bush has proposed, but leave that issue out of this!!

These are some of the best organizations my (non-faith-based) nonprofit works with.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. The point is, these organizations don't have the logistical

wherewithall to do it themselves - a point that all Shrub's ballyhooing does not address. The GOVERNMENT needs to organize relief, and it is not doing its job.

This is what people pay taxes for.

[meganmonkey]

13. I agree with you completely

I don't agree with the folks upthread who are making smarmy remarks about people who are trying to help - and in many cases are already doing more than our gov't has.

edit: especially since the people who make smarmy remarks never seem to respond to evidence that 'faith based' orgs ARE helping, even when I provide links, etc.

They should be taking out their anger at the GOV'T, not the churches.

[Burried News]

24. Thanks - you did the right thing. Saw two segments last night

where pastors stepped in to help. It is hurtful and counterproductive to lash out the way we are.

[rainbow4321]

36. Baptist camp in TX housing some refugees...

And requests have gone out for other church members to help out:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Camp_Compass.1b7db0df.html



Camp Copass, a Denton Baptist campground, was alerted Friday morning that up to 300 evacuees displaced by the devastation of hurricane Katrina would begin arriving, said Brad Springer, the camp administrator.

The camp on the edge of Lewisville Lake is preparing for about 50 refugees from Louisiana by the close of the business day today, said Amanda Rogers, a staff member at the camp. Springer said the camp was already making preparations for refugees at noon.

The Federal Emergency Management Association lists the waterside encampment as an emergency shelter. The camp has several dormitories and meeting rooms, as well as a worship center and recreational areas.

Gary Loudermilk, the executive director of the Denton Baptist Association, said the organization had reached almost 80 of its 83 member churches with information on volunteering time and materials to the relief effort.

[BikeWriter]

53. IMO, any Democrat automatically excluding Christians...

from our movement is fucking up by the numbers! My parents were Christian and Democrats to the end.

[sarcasmo]

18. I was thinking the same thing this morning.

These right wing whack jobs hope it's the RAPTURE.

[sueh]

29. Relative of mine is a pastor at a Houston Nazarene church...

and he and his congregation are gearing up to feed at least 1000 people on Saturday.

[BikeWriter]

54. Right on! That's great!

[complain jane]

41. Hey yeah, they get tax money don't they? Fuckers.

[gkhouston]

52. quite a few of the shelters are in churches

and a lot of the local churches are having collection drives for needed items like bottled water, nonperishable food, diapers, toiletries, etc.

[CottonBear]

4. This is worse than I could have ever imagined. God have mercy on us. n/t

[txindy]

6. Red Cross has their facilities set up in Texas. Or so they've claimed.

Where are they, now? Or did the buses drive right by them?

[wildflower]

8. We need to get churches and hotels in the area involved

Is there a community pool for funds to facilitate this? Can we start calling all hotels, churches and other buildings in the area that could possibly house these people?

The hotels are heading into their off season anyway; they should soon have the room.

[intheflow]

17. A friend in Amarillo is trying to reopen a hospital & a conf. center

to receive refugees.

[sandnsea]

19. They are

Churches and schools from all over the south are being used. We're talking a million plus people. Overwhelming. The stupid thing was not to let the public know the Astrodome was only going to accept 6,000 people.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/katrina.htm

[rainbow4321]

21. Dallas area hotels are doing just that...

Here is the DU/TX thread that has info on hotels giving a month free housing, getting buffets funded, having free garage sales for the refugees headed to this area <asking for donations from the public>.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=180&topic_id=19354&mesg_id=19360

We have quite a few (about 30 families and growing )
hurricane victims staying at our hotel and it is heart
breaking to see how they have been affected. They are
all so humble and are so thankful for any help they
can get. We are trying to do what we can do to help,
so I came up with an idea. We are having a FREE Garage
Sale for the Hurricane victims at our hotel on Friday
at 1pm. If you have any items (clothes, toys, food,
kitchen stuff, blankets, pillows, etc. - ANYTHING)
laying around the house, please bring it to the
Residence Inn Park Central by noon on Friday. We will
also be having another one on Tuesday at 1pm also. Any
one attending the Garage sale will have to present an
out of State license for admittance.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x19378

The owners of the Quality Inn at Market Center have found themselves the hosts of about 350 refugees from Hurricane Katrina. About 100 of those are children. Although they expected to be able to return to their homes yesterday and today, they are stranded here. Some of the families have no access to cash and only brought a change of clothes and not much else. Anything you can do to help is appreciated.

[Flavin]

9. Just think if this had been a Nation-Wide disaster...

All these years we have ben told ourt government has plans to care for it's folk, US, if there are national disasters...

Here we are, the truth.

Maybe we are all by our lonesome if something bad happens....
There goes another fine myth....
and a chunk of my remaining youthfull world-view....

Flavin

[kansasblue]

12. just what I thought. From the frying pan...into the fire

From one Dome-hell to the next

[President Kerry]

68. it is very difficult for me to blame them..

They're trying very very hard. FEMA fucked up, no doubt, and it's an understatement. But Gov. Perry and Mayor White are doing a hell of a job. The situation in NOLA was impossible, every hour counted. They jumped in, and offered a better alternative, though it may not be best. I'm very impressed by Texas. Even more impressed by private citizens offering housing to the displaced.

[spuddonna]

14. No water on the buses?! Jesus Christ!!

This is insanity...

[Barack_America]

15. Call your community leaders and insist that they begin efforts...

...to relocate families to your community.

Shelters are temporary and many of these people will never be able to return home!

You can't get them out of New Orleans, but you CAN help get them out of Texas!!!

[fudge stripe cookays]

23. reprehensor and I are going to call our mayor in Rowlett.

We have two huge vacant spaces that used to be grocery stores here, and have sat empty for over 2 years.

These poor people have nothing. I won't be able to live with myself if I do SOMETHING.

FSC

[Festivito]

16. Wait for people to go crazy, then excuse not sending supplies.

After three days of no water, or worse, drinking bad water, people go crazy, violence can ensue, then we can SAVE money by not having to send in supplies.

It's worked so far.

Why no air drops? Hmmm. They don't drop to "staging areas." Nothing is more important to Brown than staging areas.

[Mugsy]

22. I'm in Houston. What if we're hit next???

I wonder as I sit here in Houston, just what will we do if WE get hit next? We're only halfway through hurricane season.

[sueh]

27. You and other Houstonians will have to figure it out for yourselves...

sadly, the * admin doesn't know how.

[SammyWinstonJack]

49. Probably the same thing that happened to NO. nt

[EVDebs]

25. The gulf coast is now No.America's Bangladesh

I guess this is what corporations and Thomas Friedman mean by 'globalization'.

[aquart]

35. Y'know, I wonder what corporate America thinks of this?

How safe do they feel with Bush in charge?

Not Halliburton, of course, but other corporations.

[smurfygirl]

26. i would just get arrested too. jail is

probably nicer than their make shift shelter.

[whyverne]

38. You beat me to it!

See a cop, walk right up and kick him in the butt. (He'd probably say, "Go away, I got enough problems".

"And the cops don't need you and buddy they expect the same"

[Eloriel]

28. PLEEEEEEEZE POST PERMALINKS instead of main page link

It's the difference between directing someone to the homepage of DU versus one of the threads.

Here it is: http://blogs.chron.com/domeblog/archives/2005/09/evacuees_phone.html


For those who don't know, you can find the permalink on most blogs at the bottom of the item. This one was a hotlink at the timestamp. Sometimes there's a "link" or "permalink" link at the bottom. A few blogs have them at the top of an entry.

Please, folks, this is a research-heavy place, this DU. Don't make that a worthless pursuit.

[philosophie_en_rose]

30. Being arrested would get one better treatment, I think.

One would have a cot, as well as food.

*not advocating crime, but arrests for petty things are not fair to the people not getting to spend time in a safe place like jail.

Sheesh. when jail is the preferable alternative...

[President Kerry]

69. never mind the thuggery and rapes...

[Spinzonner]

31. I hate to say this but

it sounds like they need to put restroom attendents in all these evacuation centers and mobilize plumbers both at the centers and as fast response teams.

It sounds absurd to me to even say it. I don't really understand why people can't seem to properly use facilities deigned for much larger numbers.

[rainbow4321]

34. The more disabled/ill having problems getting to the restrooms/food

Per a report on MSNBC earlier, the food area and the bathrooms are almost inaccessible to the weaker/disabled refugees because these areas are 2 or 3 levels above the main "living" area.
Hope they get more volunteers to help get these people where they need to go---right now it seems like there aren't very many.

And you are right about having maintenance people on site! These bathrooms probably were NOT meant for 24/7 use by 10,000 + people for what could be months.

[gmoney]

51. Facilities are NOT designed for 24 hour use...

...not to be crude, but I think most people will only take a dump in a stadium during a sporting event if it's an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY -- either they go before the game, or tough it out until after. But you have hundreds/thousands of people who have been WAITING to use a proper toilet, so I imagine the demands are quite different. Plus they're probaby being used around the clock, not just for a four-hour sporting event.

There SHOULD be some leadership within the dome to give the "residents" specific responsibilities, such as keeping the place clean, keep the toilets working, helping to distribute food, etc. so things don't get out of hand. Those who are not already tending to children or the elderly at least. I'm picturing the Government camp that the Joads find towards the end of "The Grapes of Wrath" where all the adults participate in keeping the community working.

I know that's a lot to ask for from people who have been through this tortuous ordeal, but it could have been a strategy used from day one in the Superdome before things went south.

[gkhouston]

55. if memory serves, the plumbing at the Dome has been a bit

temperamental for years. I wouldn't be surprised if they've skimped a bit on maintenance in the last few years as the Dome fell out of heavy use. I'll bet the last time they went all out to make sure everything really worked was the last time they had a rodeo there which was, um, 2 1/2 years ago, I think. And you're right about everything suddenly getting much heavier use than it probably experienced even when new and in top working condition.

I'm hoping they'll get things worked out in the next day or so -- get the plumbers in to fix things, get the residents and volunteer workers better organized and get settled into a rhythm. Yesterday was utter chaos -- I think so much effort had to be spent on the simple act of sorting out the immediate needs of thousands of people that it was impossible to stay on top of everything.

[Bridget Burke]

32. Here's a more recent report....

Seems as though some of the details are being worked out. Reliant Center (where the Texans play) will be opened & possibly the George Brown Convention Center.

www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3335968

[etherealtruth]

37. FEMA ...

... has proven itself UNABLE to respond in a crisis. The problems facing these AMERICAN CITIZENS on AMERICAN SOIL should have been anticipated, and with that, dealt with.

I would NOT trust FEMA to deal with skinned knees on a playground, after their shameful performance ... it must be noted they seem to be incapable of learning from their mistakes.

[Iris]

39. Damn. At least if you were arreste for fighting over a cot, you'd get to

go to a place with a working toilet.

[Stinky The Clown]

42. Move all those dark skinned people to a state where we can control 'em ...

:sarcasm:

[HR_Pufnstuf]

43. The next step (if these people live) should be to..

...utilize one of the recently closed military bases and convert immediately to a Tent City. Is this happening? Where is everyone that was displaced going to go? Whats the plan? Let these people get tired of the Astrodome and hope that they just walk away and become cheap labor for Houston businesses?? And if these people need medicine and are sick, why arent most of them going to a Hospital instead of a Sporting Arena?

[ohio_liberal]

73. Nope, its not happening

Bergstrom AFB is empty. All it needs is the barracks cleaned, or so other DUers in the area have said.

[Politicub]

44. Is FEMA being this incompetent on purpose?!

I mean seriously. They are doing everything wrong.

And waiting for Bush to arrive to start with the aid is beyond the pale. The could have saved 100's or maybe 1000's of lives by going in Tuesday.

[OhioChick]

46. Dear Lord

what's next? I saw earlier where a bus carrying people flipped over on the highway.

[gmoney]

47. Hallibribem sublet the dome last week...

and they're charging FEMA $500/head per night for "lodging" and "meal service" --- I'm just speculating, but would ANYONE be surprised to find out it's true?

[cpamomfromtexas]

48. I used to work there

I was in the IG's office doing audits of the handling of past emergencies, FEMA is NOT organized. Priorities are seriously out of whack around there. For example I once went to audit an emergency and they spent funds to remove branches off a "hiking trail". And this was considered normal. Or how about putting electrical lines up again after an ice storm the exact way they did it 3 years prior! How about putting them underground and not having this problem again?

Anyone with ANY sense knows you get a list of risks, and a map of the country and brainstorm possibilies of what ifs. This is very similar to what the military is supposed to do when planning all types of scenarios. Every few years, the head of FEMA is changed to another political appointee, not someone who is experienced at getting things done.

THIS AGENCY IS FUNDED YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, AMERICANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPECT IT TO BE DONE WELL. AFTER ALL, WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PAYING FOR IT!

[gkhouston]

56. I can believe that. Kind of like DC in general...

the quality of the political appointees varies greatly, but the worker bees are usually very competent and truly care about serving their country.

[Kali]

67. My god I would be happy if we could expect it to be done

even half assedly. They are making things WORSE now!!!

[Deep N RedLand]

50. What I find hypocritical...

...is how all these Repug politicos being interviewed keep saying now is not the time to place blame (meaning on them), yet the Conservative Corporate Cable (CCC)media gives the time of the day to these fundie freaks who are blaming all this on no prayer in school and other secular sins.

Jee, don't they ever think if the creator was this great punisher of vice they like to portray he, she or it as they would have wiped out the White House rather then these poor souls in N.O.; the majority who are likely devoted church-going Christians.

[Carni]

57. Is it true the astrodome is now owned by a church?

A friend of mine said some church owns it and that the thing has been vacant for two years--she also said they have been fixing it up a little bit at a time. If that is the case WTF?

[gkhouston]

59. no, not the Dome. What used to the be the Summit, which

is where the Rockets used to play (basketball), is now Lakewood Church. It's big, but not so large as the Dome.

[Carni]

61. Thanks

I thought that sounded a little odd when she told me that!

[gkhouston]

62. I still think it's odd that the Summit is now a church. n/t

[nini]

63. Will they blame the local govt like they're doing in NO?

or are they republicans?

[cquik18]

64. While it's good that the Astrodome was available for the relief efforts...

why wasn't the new Reliant stadium also available as well? Could it be because the wealthy and corporate Houston elite did not want to have their NFL Texans football games disrupted by the presence of displaced New Orleanians (and they're NOT refugees!)when the season starts next week?

[Igel]

65. At 3:22 today, somebody upstream posted

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3335968
"Houston officials announced plans to open Reliant Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center to shelter hurricane evacuees after the Astrodome reached capacity.

"Mayor Bill White announced today that Reliant Center will hold up to 11,000 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina."

I was wondering. Last night was the UT -- Oregon game. But there were far too many official vehicles around it. Couldn't help but wonder if they weren't checking it out.

[cquik18]

66. That's good to hear....

Thanks, Igil! Somebody in Houston got the memo, LOL!

WE ARE ALL FROM NEW ORLEANS.

[Sugarbleus]

70. Wow, hot and TOUCHY thread here... my 2 cents:

While I dislike Mega Churchs and the likes of Robertson and F.Graham, (I would NEVER ever give money to Robertson)...HOWEVER, all the other religious orgs and churches that ARE opening their doors, their pantrys et al....ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING!!

This is EXACTLY what we expected from them all along... To help people without regard to race, financial ability, or any other "label".

This is the RIGHT THING FOR THEM TO DO and I appreciate it.

At the end of the day.........HELP IS HELP. Accept it.

Quit the childish nit picking in the middle of a DISASTER!