Austin will accept up to 5,000 storm refugees

[sonias]

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/09/3AUSREFUGEES.html
Austin has agreed to accept as many as 5,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees, and the first of them are expected sometime tonight, city officials announced Friday.

"This community is going to welcome these folks who have been struck with a tragedy of biblical proportions," Austin Mayor Will Wynn said.

The refugees, who will arrive by bus from Houston, first will be directed to the Delco Center — an Austin school district student activity center in Northeast Austin — to be evaluated and provided with basic services, said Austin Fire Department spokesman Matt Cox. From there, the displaced people will be bussed to the Burger Center in South Austin, which the Red Cross is using as an emergency shelter.

I was at a labor union event tonight and heard from a couple of City Council members that the Austin Convention Center will also be used to
house some of the refugees. The center cleared their calendar through December. Bless our city council for stepping up!

And here's a couple of action items for our next Democracy for Texas Meetup. You don't have to be a member to contribute to these drives
either. Just come by and drop off your items. DFT will take a load of these to these shelters on Thursday morning. DFT meet up info:
When: Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00PM
Where: Mother Egan's
715 West 6th Street
Austin TX 78701


Items to bring to Meetup next Wednesday:
For Capitol Area Food Bank:
They're asking for:
*Diapers
*Bottled water
*peanut butter in plastic containers
*canned meats (ring-pull lids)
*granola/cereal bars

AND

There are some Austinites who have put this effort together. http://www.fromaustin.org. They aren't taking cash donations (say to give to the Red Cross) but are collecting the following items and delivering them to refugees in the New Iberia area and other places where refugees have landed. They are asking for people to donate the following items to them.
* Clean clothing - t-shirts, socks, underwear, jeans, slacks, shoes, shorts, sleepwear, cotton shirts (please no sweaters or other cold-weather clothing)
* Bedding - blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, sheets
* Toiletries - toilet paper, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products, hand-wipes, etc.
* Medical supplies - aspirin, bandages, Neosporin, diarrhea medication
* Canned food or other non-perishables (tuna, peanut butter, granola bars)
* Infant care - diapers, formula, baby clothing
* Bottled water
* Pet care - dog/cat food, collars, leashes


We'll take everything that we get at Meetup and deliver to these 2 groups.
----------
thanks

Sonia

[melissinha]

1. Austin Convention Center

I can tell you what is going in the Austin Convention Center.... When I was there yesterday, people were prepping to get the second wave of about 5000-6000. I can't say for certain but, perhaps there are 10,000 there.

The main organizers are the Red Cross, vast majority of the volunteers are with them. So if you would like to volunteer, you can either go online or volunteer on site, the former is probably the better. Now, we have no time-table so there is I would assume that around the clock volunteers day in day out for at least weeks if not months is needed. I would assume that people especially able to contribute hours during the work week will be very helpful.

From the people I have spoken to, we are getting/got a lot of people who have been flown from Metarie, Louisiana to Austin directly, then Capital Metro buses brought them to the convention center.... Man what a site! There is an emergency vehicle from Wimberley! A group brought miniature ponies to help entertain people.... hundreds or thousands of toys clothes, food, toiletries, towels.... Computers everywhere (I was working with some UT people setting up computers for Health and Services, jobs, etc...still not sure).

So if you all would like, I am sure there are many opportunities to help in the weeks to come, go through the Red Cross. take care.

[tavalon]

2. Actually going to the pershing address is the best choice

They are open from 8-8 seven days a week until further notice. If you don't have a red cross badge by the time you hit the convention center, they are supposed to turn you away (volunteers).

However, having been there yesterday, I can say that it was an unorganized madhouse (the pershing address).

[melissinha]

3. I defer to you

I entered in on the side and was not aware of the proper channels. Just giving my impressions.

Well, I guess madhouse is a matter of perspective, yes the organization has a way to go. But I did see a lot of people getting what they needed. I told a lady in a Convention Center uniform that she might think about getting a properly labeled map to help ease the madness, but then again, all the different posts weren't/aren't fleshed out yet. But it would be nice to at least help people get to Triage.


The UT people are working on a volunteer database as we speak. Hope that helps organize.

Whats the Pershing address?