Rumors of faraway places sway evacuees (the 100,000 + evacuees want to stay in Houston)

Boston Globe ^ | 9/8/05

[Uncle Joe Cannon]

Rumors of faraway places sway evacuees

Many chose to stay in 'comfort zone'

By Tatsha Robertson and Scott Helman, Globe Staff | September 8, 2005

HOUSTON -- It seemed everyone in line at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston had heard the story about the poor man from New Orleans who got on an airplane and was dropped off in a strange, faraway place: Utah. Others heard that buses had arrived in Houston to take evacuees to Washington, D.C. Some women said they heard a report on television or on the radio that Massachusetts was encouraging evacuees to go there.

''Boston? Isn't it cold up there?" said a woman listening nearby. ''There is nothing for black people in Boston," said Senecia Williams, 44, who was also standing in line.

Rumors and stories about faraway destinations elicited fear and resistance from many in line. The evacuees registering for shelter and resources yesterday all said they'd rather stay put, in Houston -- where an estimated 100,000 people from Louisiana are living, where the Southern culture and people are familiar, and where resources are literally a few feet away.

Officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency had asked a number of states Sunday, including Massachusetts, to be ready to accept people in need of shelter. But on Tuesday, FEMA told the states to stand down, because the evacuees were reluctant to travel far.

''There is a comfort zone here," said Aisha Briscoe, 21. ''The people you know are here. Everyone is in the same position. If you leave the area you might leave resources, and other states might not help you get on your feet."

Briscoe added, ''People want to feel as normal as possible, and going up North won't give you the same feeling the South will give you."

[ECM]

Wow, gotta love the euphemism "resources."

[Uncle Joe Cannon]

Oh, those poor Boston White Limo Liberals.. They were hoping to get a black evacuee play toys to show off to all of their "enlightened" society friends. It looks like the evacuees aren't interested.

[Flyer]

You mean the (mostly black) folks in Houston want to stay in the redneck, racist part of the country? How can this be??

[Lokibob]

 

http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_251021320.html

Number Of Evacuees At Camp Williams (UTAH) Dwindles

RIVERTON, Utah The number of evacuees being housed at the Utah National Guard's Camp Williams was down to 444 Wednesday night after 101 left on buses for Dallas, Lt. Col. David Thomas of the Utah Air National Guard said.

The evacuees from Hurricane Katrina will be going to 27 other cities, most commonly joining family members.

About half the evacuees at Camp Williams, 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, have said they would like to go to another state.

---

They can keep my donations, but kiss off for any more.

 

Utah has tried, and all we get is bad press.

[Past Your Eyes]

''There is nothing for black people in Boston," ROFLMAOWTIME!!!! These people may be ignorant but they sure ain't stupid.

[advance_copy]

"People want to feel as normal as possible, and going up North won't give you the same feeling the South will give you."

Good point.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Hey wait... (since we're on the subject!)
I could do some great things... if I had appromimately 2000 more 're$ource$' with which to utilize.

[gridlock]

What is the unemployment level in Houston? Pretty low, I would wager. Getting forced out of NO might be the best thing that ever happened to some of these people. In six months time, many of them will have gotten jobs and settled down into a new life in Houston, and might never go back, except as tourists.

[mtbopfuyn]

I'm not gonna touch this one, lol.

[dennisw]

You got that right! Though if they (NOLA refugees) can take the cold, Massachusetts is very minority (all kinds of) and illegal immigrant friendly.

[mewzilla]

Briscoe added, ''People want to feel as normal as possible, and going up North won't give you the same feeling the South will give you."

If by that you mean most of us would not be happy to live in a crime and drug infested, politically corrupt place like New Orleans, you're absolutely right. If that's what you continue to want, please don't come.

[libs_kma]

The other day, our local liberal rag had one of our smiling idiot council members heading off to the Astrodome with the same thing in mind.

The article that came out yesterday was that he came up with a big goose egg. No one wanted to come to our city.

Our idiot didn't get his play toys either.

[varon]

Getting forced out of NO might be the best thing that ever happened to some of these people. In six months time, many of them will have gotten jobs and settled down into a new life in Houston, and might never go back, except as tourists.

Would this not be wrong? Will they not be taking jobs that would normally go to illegals and deprive some poor family in Mexico of a better life? (/sarcasm)

[Utah Girl]

It would be kind of weird to think you were going to Texas and end up in Utah. One of the survivors said that he thought the mountains were painted and fake initially. And when I read the articles, many of the survivors were looking for family members and said they would be gone as soon as they were found.

I think it is great that they had to shut down the hotline for help from Utahns because the hotline received over 7000 calls offering assistance in just a couple of days. (I think the outpouring of Americans offering assistance has been astounding.) Also, quite a few of the survivors have said they want to stay in Utah and start a new life. Plus, Utah was one of the first four states to get the survivors because of our level of preparedness.

And it is kind of humorous that you think you're going to Texas and you get Utah. Such a change from New Orleans to Camp Williams. :)

[R. Scott]

Utah has tried, and all we get is bad press.

Anti-Mormonism!
I passed through Salt Lake City back in 1982, and admit I thought it had to be full of door knocking white shirt, black pants wearing, bicycle riding missionaries. I met a whole lot of really great people who helped me out with a minor emergency (fried front wheel bearings) free of charge. People were tripping over each other trying to be helpful.

[Ichneumon]

they'd rather stay put, in Houston -- where an estimated 100,000 people from Louisiana are living, where the Southern culture and people are familiar [...] Briscoe added, ''People want to feel as normal as possible, and going up North won't give you the same feeling the South will give you."

Besides, up North you can't get any decent chicken-fried steak, boiled peanuts, grits, cajun food, biscuits'n'gravy, fried green tomatoes, or pecan pie...

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

In six months time, many of them will have gotten jobs and settled down into a new life in Houston, and might never go back, except as tourists.

I think that is wishful thinking. Many of these people have been on welfare for several generations.

Houston and Texas are there waiting on the people hand and foot and pointing them toward the freebies in Texas.

I heard the feds are going to hand out $2,000 debit cards.

[kittymyrib]

I laughed last night when I heard that they want to close down the emergency operation at the Astrodome in two weeks. These are folks who have been "comfortable" on welfare handouts for three generations. When they get "comfortable", it's going to take the Texas National Guard to get them out of the Dome. Of course, closing the kitchen and folding up the cots might help, but I would be amazed if the powers in charge would have the guts to weather the storm of msm protest that that would engender. These people might be totally dependent on government, but they know how to squawk to the media to get their way. Good luck, Houston, in getting rid of your "guests."