Now that the rescue efforts have turned into recovery efforts, many in the media seem to be returning to their previous standards (corporate-driven, not reality-driven). Nearly everyone who survived Katrina are either in public or private shelter, or are still trying to stick it out in hotels and motels all over the United States. All of the survivors are in dire straits, and this will worsen, as the effects of FEMA's recent decision to stop handing out debit cards in favor of mailing needed funds to the survivors. Now, where the funds will be mailed is a
real mystery, since the survivor's homes are, for the most part, still under water--as are their banks and credit unions. I
still say that our kitties, Sophie and Selene, could have handled this disaster better than the Bush misadministration.
Jump below the fold for one story about a Katrina survivor, and to read the impetus for writing it now as opposed to later (when things have settled down a bit).
Now, let's all jump below the fold...
Many Americans have opened their homes to Katrina survivors. We did so, in part, because our sisters and brothers desperately needed help that we saw no one else (i.e., the federal government) providing. But our main reason (for the majority of us, I'd wager), was because we couldn't just sit and do nothing. We had to
help, in whatever fashion we could find. For instance, our family took in a young man who had hypothermia and hallucinations from being in neck-deep water (well, more like toxic-waste sludge), prior to his rescue. More on him, later...
The media has been remarkably silent about what we've (everyone offering private shelter and other help) been doing. They prefer, it seems, to cover the `sexier' aspects of the rescue effort, like dead bodies floating on the streets of New Orleans, or FEMA's decision to stop giving out $2,000 debit cards, because, "some of the `refugees' might use them to buy crack." As an aside, I have never known any drug dealer to accept plastic. Dealers run a mainly cash-only business, and that will be true for as long as drugs remain illegal in this country. Although it is also known that a very few will accept payment-in-kind (it's how they get people to turn to prostitution {which makes the dealers even more money}, as an example), but they are very much in the minority, as far as dealers are concerned.
Now, today, one of my sisters called me. She said that her local media, an ABC-affiliate in Broward County, FL, is reporting about "several failed private shelter situations." She said that the reporter gushed about a survivor who tried to kidnap the children of the private home to which she'd been sent. And then the reporter gushed even more about a survivor being charged with assault and battery after pummeling the man whose house had been opened to him. The reporter was warning people not to offer their homes because it isn't safe, and intoned such "news" in that grave and sober mien they so love to adopt, even when it is clearly not warranted. Nowhere in that `news item' was there even one single mention of the thousands of private shelter situations that are doing fine. Nowhere was there a single interview with a family whose shelter offer was accepted by a grateful, and law-abiding, survivor. My sister all but demanded that we "get rid of" our survivor (but didn't say how, which was probably quite smart of her). She was freaking out because the 'news' was telling her that all of these dangerous people were being let loose in private homes. She feared that I wouldn't recognize the danger until it was too late (she does have serious problems with my outlook on life, but that is a different rant for a different day).
She then told me that reporters are also using the word, "refugee" when referring to victims of Hurricane Katrina. I had to "educate" her (again), by telling her that that word does not apply to people evacuated from disaster areas in their own country. It is (as I and many others believe), a deliberate attempt to make sure that the survivors are viewed as `other,' and `not American,' thereby making it easier to make sure than none of them are able to return to live in New Orleans. This is being done (as many of us believe) so that developers can make a zillion dollars in one of the largest government-backed land grabs in our history, and possibly in the history of the whole world. For what its worth, the correct (or at least, acceptable) terms for the people affected by the hurricane are, "survivor," "evacuee," and "victim," (although the last is not really preferred, even by the survivors themselves, according to our survivor).
Now, on to our own survivor story...
Fiend #4 (as he will be known until he comes forward with his own name) is so-named because our home is called "Casa Fiend." It was named, on Cheers & Jeers, by Fiend #1 (from whose user name the house name devolved), and picked up by Fiend #2 (my Hubby), and Fiend #3 (me). So, it was logical to dub our newest member as Fiend #4.
Anyway, Fiend #4 came to us last Wednesday night (07 Sep 2005), from the shelter at Kelly USA, in San Antonio, TX. He got our number from his sister, found a phone, and called to see if shelter was still available. I asked if he could come home that night. He seemed a bit shocked, but he still said `yes.' So, the household erupted in a flurry of activity, from me ironing my clerical (the shirt that identifies a minister), to Hubby emptying all the trash cans and lining them with new bags, to Fiend #1 running a quick clean-up in the kitchen and bathroom. I left at 7:45pm, when the taxi arrived to get me. We drove over to Kelly, found Fiend #4, and he proceeded to check out of the shelter. He came outside (where I was talking to other survivors) to get me, saying they needed to see me in person. What follows is as nearly accurate as I can recall...
I went with him, to the front desk, to finish his checkout. The Red Cross woman, whose name badge was too small to read, gave us a rather trying time. Now, I realize that it is her job, but it seemed that she was being deliberately obstructive. First, she said he was too young to check out by himself, and then asked if I was his mother (I am not). When she found out that he was 18, she then threatened him with denial of all benefits if he left the shelter (which, if I am not mistaken, is not legal). When that failed to sway him, she then told him that there was no reason to trust me, even if I "claimed to be a minister." She questioned my validity when she learned that I am a minster-at-large (because my disability precludes me from running a parish). She checked my ID and ministerial credentials, and still said I wasn't a real minister, all because I don't run a parish. Apparently, she's never heard of itinerant preachers, whence the concept of minister-at-large originated. She finally took down my address and phone number, reiterated that he'd get absolutely no benefits, and reluctantly let him leave with me. When she made that final pronouncement, I told her that, if she refused to help him, we'd willingly buy him everything he needs. Needless to say, Fiend #4 was shaking and pretty wrung out by the time we left.
Before returning home, I told him we had to stop at Wal-Mart to get some things to tide him over. Even though we're boycotting Wal-Mart, it was the only store I knew to be open at that time of night, so I decided to make an exception. I had already called Hubby and told him of our itinerary, so he'd know when to order the pizzas, and Fiend #4 would have a decent, and fun, "Welcome Home" meal. At Wal-Mart, he kept telling me he didn't need this, and he didn't need that, until I was ready to strangle him. He had nothing, and he really did need everything in the cart (mainly clothes enough for a week {we have a laundry room at the complex, so he can wash his clothes, but we will still be getting him more clothes, as money permits} and personal care items). He actually needed more than was in the cart, but the store we went to had an absolutely horrid selection of shoes, so I told him that we'd hit Payless the next day, because none of the shoes were nice enough to get for him. I must admit, he seemed surprised by that decision. One of the items we bought was a soft cotton blanket. But when we got home, he took one feel of my mink blanket and decided he wanted to use that blanket instead of the cotton one. Hubby laughed and told him to go for it (the other fiends and I decided that we'd make sure he has his own mink blanket before he leaves here, if only so mine doesn't leave with him, LOL)...
The next day (Thursday), he and I did hit Payless (for the shoes), and Family Dollar (for things I forgot at Wal-Mart {comb & brush, hamper, wallet, etc}, and some munchies). Fiend #1 finally went grocery shopping (Fiend #4 was shocked that we have a Grocery Wish List, from which Fiend #1 develops the list she actually takes when she does the grocery run). We had waited until we had our survivor, so we'd be able to include his preferences when making up the grocery list. When Fiend #1 returned, she was beat, and Fiend #4 was there, helping her to get everything into the house, then put away in the kitchen. He didn't even wait to be asked, he just jumped up, and started to help when she first walked into the house.
Fiend #4 still sleeps a lot, which is totally understandable, considering what he's been through. His injuries are slowly healing, and the antibiotics are dealing with the infection quite well. His mental-emotional state is also slowly returning to normal, but we do expect some rough times as he wends his way toward full recovery. But when he is awake, he is extremely helpful. He is very polite, funny (he has an absolutely delicious sense of humor), and willing to do whatever he can to make our lives easier (Fiend #1 and I are disabled, so he helps us with whatever we need, especially when Fiend #2 is at work). I made a small questionnaire for him to fill out, so we could better plan what purchases to make (and when). On the "Favorites" section, the catchall question was, "Anything else you think we should know." Want to know how he answered? It was, "I love you all very much." I think the rest of us cried when we read that. And I know, for certain, that none of us would trade this experience for anything in the world. We are very grateful that we were able to help, and that we got to know someone so utterly wonderful. Fiend #4 is definitely a very welcome addition to the Casa. I would be willing to bet that most of those offering private shelter have similar stories to tell.
What I am trying to say is this: follow your heart when deciding whether or not to open your home to a Katrina survivor. The news media appears to be trying to make it sound like they're all crazies let out of an asylum, and nothing could be further from the truth. We were assured that the Sheriff's Department checked out the survivors; and that no one known to be a criminal or mentally ill was being allowed to go into private shelter. We were told that they would be sent to appropriate places (for example, those who are mentally ill would be placed in hospitals or half-way houses that catered to the mentally ill).
I invite everyone with a "Katrina" story (either as a survivor, volunteer, or offering shelter, or related offer) to share her or his story here. I also urge everyone with letter-writing skills to bombard news outlets with demands for more balanced reporting. There are literally 1000's of successful shelter stories, and they need to be told. I fear that the media are going back to the one-sided reporting they've done for the past five years, and we must demand that they stay on-point, as reporters, not as puppets.
Thank you very much for reading my story. I would love to have enough recommends so that the story doesn't get lost below the fold, and would actually prefer recommends to mojo (4's), but if you want to do both, please feel free to do so! ;~}
Also, please take the poll below. It is not scientific, but it will, possibly, give us an idea of how fast we (at dKos) feel that the media are returning to the bad old days ...
Finally, please read RobertInWisconsin's diary, "AMERICAN SHAME: The Edgar Hollingsworth Story (Feds not permitting home searches!)."
[Update, 15 Sep 2005, 11:02am, CDT]: Changed title so diary could be added to CategoryKatrina archives. Original title was: "An Open Letter to News Management, Reporters, and Stock holders (POLL included)."