Posted on 09/05/2005 3:29:29 PM PDT by Brilliant
Texans are welcoming tens of thousands of refugees from deadly Hurricane Katrina.
The Houston Astrodome will house evacuees. The weather-damaged Superdome in flooded New Orleans is sending busloads to the venue.
Arrangements had been made to airlift those with special needs to the Astrodome, Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday.
The governor held a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
He has approved $1 million for overtime for officers on security duty at the Astrodome and other shelters.
Reunion Arena in Dallas is also accepting evacuees.
Refugee children will be allowed to enroll in Texas public schools.
Texas is deploying three C-130 aircraft, 300 military police, 120 combat engineers and a support battalion.
Perry also authorized the adjutant general to send members of Texas military forces to assist the Louisiana National Guard.
Texas relief efforts
Here’s a list people and equipment, provided by the governor’s office, from Texas that are helping in relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina:
Seventeen shelters in east and southeast Texas housing more than 2,000 evacuees. Another 38 shelters on standby, including two special-needs shelters.
Eight doctors, five nurses, 10 physician assistants and 30 combat medics from the Texas National Guard stationed at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, La.
Six U-H-60 helicopters, two C-H-47 Chinook helicopters and a C-23 Texas Air National Guard aircraft.
A satellite communications package from the Texas Army National Guard to provide phone and Internet service, along with six personnel.
A 40-member incident command team from the Texas Forest Service.
A search-and-rescue team of 53 game wardens with 52 trucks and 50 boats from the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife Department.
About 50 commercial ambulances.
An 80-member urban search and rescue team, staging in Shreveport, La.
A 35-member water rescue team, comprised of five boat squads, staging in Baton Rogue, La.
About 200 members of the Texas State Guard to assist in shelter operation in east and southeast Texas, staging in Beaumont.
Full mobilization of the Texas Emergency Management Council, consisting of 34 state agencies and organizations.
No charge for evacuees to camp in Texas parks.
He doesn't need to send these guys. I guess he hasn't heard that Sean Penn is now on the job, in his sinking non-powered rowboat, rescuing survivors.
But Perry did oversell how many evacuees some of these places could take. I applaud him and all those making the sacrifice to find food and shelter for these people, many of whom have lost everything, but it would have been nice to have seen him tout more accurate numbers as to how many people some of these arenas could hold.
I agree, Texans are a special breed especially if you are republican! I have to give my hubby KUDOS for rushing out the door when duty calls. Today is his birthday and day off from work, he is in the Medical field, he just got a call from our home town Civic Center, where 500+evacuees are being housed and more to follow, WITHOUT hesitation he immediately jumped into this hospital greens and took off to volunteer his time! God bless AMERICANS!! This is what the AMERICAN SPIRIT is all about...an Unselfish heart!!
And they have the common decency to call the folks from NO evacuees instead of refugees. Let us hope and pray hard that no American citizen ever has to be a true refugee:
One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution.An individual seeking refuge or asylum; especially : an individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution (as because of race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion)
I think he did the right thing. Get them out of NO first, then figure out where you are going to send them.
No doubt that Texas and Texans are doing sterling work. But let's not forget that the Fed Gov't will handsomely compensate them for their outlays.
Apparently Mississippi and Alabama have leaders rather than loafers.
From what I understand, once you've had a face lift, the face falls even faster then next time...?
Blanco's response?
Blanco has been AWOL, MIA since her crying press conference.
She won't go on News shows to answer questions, she is in hiding now.
She mewled like a spanked kitten on TV and blamed Bush. Other than that, nothing.
Perry's a COMPETANT Governor. Therein lies the difference. he's basically picking up all the slack for the incompetant Governor of LA.
Ok, why did Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, New York or California not do it then?
Armchair critic ------- armchair critic------
Cheap shot. Well - I'll tell you one thing. The people of Texas will be paying for this aid all over the state and the Federal Government is not paying us one dime for it. So, just shut your mouth - or go volunteer and give your money to help.
One of my former colleagues (since I'm now retired--drat it!) phoned me this afternoon and got me up to speed concerning Texas Game Wardens' efforts in N.O. area. That report is correct but that just the first contingent. The first contingent has been there a week and were on the water before the Guard got in place (this is NOT criticizing the Guard, small contingents are easier to activate, get mobilized and house, etc.).
He said that it was disappointing the lack of motivation by local (LA) LE units. One of the TGWs supervisors, a Major, apparently got in their faces and told them that they were there to do a job and if they weren't going to help then at least get out of the way. It was a great moment for the Texas boys, and get with it they did. Don't have a tally of folks they rescued (they are still crunching numbers) but the second contingent of GWs and boats are already on scene.
They got some great support from local churches putting them up, feeding them and supplying them with necessities, which they pretty much had (we were always required to carry enough stuff to keep you operational at least three days without outside support, that was our tradition at least). He said he can't say enough about those folks. After 14-18 hour days they would come back to notes pinned on pillows and handmade cards by kids thanking them--many "God Bless you" notes.
So, like we've been saying, there's been folks on the ground (or in the water) since the first hours after the storm, the naysayers and critics need to get a life.
I wish the media and even here on FR people would start talking and posting stories about the people in Mississippi, Alabama and anywhere else but New Orleans.
Wonder if Nagin will be putting on a dress and a woman's wig and high tailing it out to Houston for shelter.
I must be from a very different generation because we always used that expression.
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