Houston Evacuees Balking at Plans to Move to Cruise Ships

Houston Chronicle ^ | 9/6/2005 | Carol Christian

[wildbill]

If you can tell me how they can live a better life for the next few weeks or months in the Dome--and why they won't be able to find their relatives through the same services aboard a docked ship, then I might agree that i'm being uncompassionate.

Frankly, when people are in shock and traumatized is when they are most in need of someone telling them what to do in their best interest. Letting them make the decision to stay in NO is what got them in trouble in the first place.

The response seems irrational. Does your doctor let you make the diagnosis and decision or does he say, "You need an operation immediately. I'm calling the hospital to get you registered and scheduled tomorrow.

As far as living over water, they'd hardly realize it on those huge ships while safely docked.

[mdmathis6]

I'm just trying to get rid of the image of folks possessive of the most maximum of gluteii maximus trying to fit on those ships' tiny commodes!

[MeanWestTexan]

LA may be worried that Houston won't want them and will ship them back to NO.

LA to TX "Thanks for taking our 500,000 worst welfare-cases!"

[HiTech RedNeck]

Also, you can't get to a phone very easily.

Give 'em cellphones, they'll yak yak yak.

[rocksblues]

Thanks for that image in post 10.

I am also amazed at the amount of racist comments here on FR.

Even though the Race Baiter's are what you see or read, that is not what most Blacks want.

[Hildy]

You guys are shameful, just shameful.

[FreedomCalls]

Today's relocation of about 4,000 evacuees from the Astrodome and Houston's other giant shelters to two Galveston-based cruise ships has been delayed because shelter residents don't want to go.

Isn't that what Barbara Bush got vilified for saying?

[DeFault User]

I spent a fair amount of time in the Astrodome one summer with a good view of the ballgame and plenty of beer. I didn't want to leave either, but after awhile they dimmed the lights and encouraged you to leave.

It was nice while it lasted, perfect humidity, 72 degrees, and a one mph wind from the airconditioning--especially compared to the 95 degree heat and 95% humidity outside.

[zipp_city]

They will hold out for and society will build 3bedroom bath and a half brick homes and pay them to stay there before they ask them to take a job.

[lolhelp]

Your remark was completely uncalled for and anyone who reads it that you are a liberal in disguise, trying to cause racial tension. Or just an idot.

[HungarianGypsy]

They have better living conditions there than they ever had at home.
Some are being taken care of in Phoenix, Arizona in an old coliseum called Veteran's Memorial. I heard on the news some considered their new living conditions a blessing in disguise. The fair is coming to that area in a month and a half. I wonder what happens if they do not have someplace new by then.

[lolhelp]

Your remark was completely uncalled for and anyone who reads would think that you are a liberal in disguise, trying to cause racial tension. Or just an idot.

[k2blader]

It seems a little odd to me too, but unless these people are ranting and raving over it being Bush's fault, why is it they're being so harshly judged for not wanting to move to a cruise ship??

But just keep typing away. You're not suffering much. And that's what matters.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Any way to pull these boats onto land.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

Musta been a low humidity day...:) (I used to live there, I know..)

[flashbunny]

" Would you leave again?"

Let's see...private cabin on a cruise ship, or share an auditorium with thousands of people....decisions, decisions.

[wildbill]

You only have water on one side of the boat and they could leave for visits on land anytime. We're not talking about a small boat here. Each of them holds 5,000 vacationers.

[hophead]

"Not sure about the Antartica comment, but you know accommodations on a cruise ship would provide privacy and better food than they are getting now at a minimum."

Have you seen the size of those cabins??? How are you going to fit a mother and 4 kids in one of those cabins?

[ladyjane]

Donna Smith, 24, wants to leave the sports arena, but not to a boat. She hopes to find an apartment for herself and her children, including 5-month-old Dakota.

I wonder how much Section 8 housing there is in Houston? I wonder if they could find her a husband so she doesn't have to live in Section 8 housing?

[Sam Cree]

One thing about living on a boat, you are very definitely confined to a small area, everyone is forced to get along. Conflicting personalities are uncomfortable.