Foo - For those in Houston...

Has anyone gone to the Dome to drop off donations or to volunteer?

My wife and I are planning on volunteering this weekend, but I've heard mixed stories from the different media outlets that it's very unorganized. Some say they are accepting volunteers, some say they aren't.

Anything you've heard, let me know. Thanks.

The news story I saw said they're looking for more housing. Even garages and the like. Try the local red cross, food banks and salvation army for volunteering ideas.

Thanks Halfbiked.
I live in a 680 sf apartment, so assisting with housing isn't an option at this point. We will be donating clothes, food, and necessities as well, but at this point I'm just trying to clarify whether we go to the Dome directly to volunteer or to some other registration point. I guess ultimately we may have to take the rail over and see what unfolds.

After a lot of searching, I found some instructions. For anyone else in the area, this seems to be a good resource:

http://www.volunteercenter.us/rsvp6.htm

"alanbikehouston" was going to the dome this afternoon to volunteer.

I was trying to volunteer via the knoxville red cross.....very disorganized...a disgrace. there were several nurses/doctors ready to go...but they had pages of paperwork that had to be processed through some place out of state. It will be precious days/weeks till they get through the red tape. seems like they wouldnt piss without an order from headquarters....the person that was supposed to orient us was a no-show because they chose to go to a press conference.

I worked at the Houston volunteer phone bank around 3 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday morning at a volunteer phone bank. We were answering phone calls from both those folks looking for help and folks offering help.

The GOOD news was the endless calls from folks wanting to help. Calls from every part of America. People offering to drive to Houston if their is some way to help. People offering space in their homes.

The BAD news was, there was little specific information to provide to those folks, because the officials making key decisions are focused on a primary goal: getting folks out of New Orleans and into shelters in Houston as quickly as possible. After everyone is safely out of New Orleans, the decision-makers can begin to think about how to help these folks with the countless problems they face.

As of 2 a.m. Saturday morning, the current policies for the government run shelters were: any and all storm refugees would be accepted at Reliant Center, next to the Astro Dome. They do NOT have to come by bus. Folks who can no longer affod hotels can come to Reliant Center. At Reliant Center, a medical reception team is giving quick exams to each person and the most seriously ill are taken to hospitals. Other folks are assigned to shelters in the Astro Dome, the Reliant Arena, and the Reliant Center. On Saturday morning, some people will be assigned to space at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. It is likely that many folks appear healthy after their medical exams will be sent on to shelters in San Antonio and Dallas.

There was no information at 2 a.m. as to whether folks could come directly to George R. Brown without first being processed at Reliant Center. TV News 13 in Houston has been the most reliable source of information, so I hope their 7 a.m./8 a.m. broadcast will explain whether people can come to Brown directly without going to Reliant first. The "government" sources of information seem to be consistently unreliable. I knew Brown was accepting people only because I saw photos of people entering the building. According to "official" sources, Brown is not open yet.

The government run shelters have plenty of cots (35,000 cots, but floor space for far fewer), and plenty of water, and food and baby supplies for their current needs. At least one hot meal will be served each day by the Aramark company, which has the exclusive food service contract at Reliant.. No donated food will be served through Aramark at Reliant.

The folks running the show at Reliant rely heavily on medical-related volunteers. Many non-medical volunteers show up and are told they are not needed. An hour later, an announcement is made that volunteers are needed. So, a volunteer who turns up at 4 p.m. might be turned away, and a volunteer who shows up at 9 p.m. allowed in.

I talked with a volunteer who was at Reliant from 8 p.m. to midnight. She said the number one request was to borrow her cell phone. The lines for the "official" phone banks may have been quite long. So, if you have "free" week-end minutes, and volunteer at Reliant or at George R. Brown, charge up your cell phone and bring it with you. That volunteer said she is returning tomorrow with some extra chargers she has at home. Many folks at Reliant had cell phones that were dead and needed charging.

The Salvation Army is collecting non-perishable food, paper plates, paper cups, diapers, and baby wipes to be provided to families that are located outside of the Reliant Center. HEB stores in Houston are accepting food donations for transport to the Houston Food Bank which is provided food to families and privately run shelters.

The Salvation Army is not currently seeking clothing donations. I suspect they may feel that the logistics of sorting and cleaning used clothing would divert resources from their first priority, which is collecting and delivering food and baby supplies. After everyone has been moved into safe shelters, the secondary issues, such as clothing can be worked on.

On Friday they seemed to have enough medical volunteers showing up. The total focus for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is moving people into Reliant and getting them checked out by the medical staff and getting them water, food and rest. The medical volunteers have been essential for that effort.

The next big challenge at the government shelters is likely to occur on Tuesday. Many of the medical volunteers will be returning to their normal jobs on Tuesday. Many of the original volunteers are likely to be very tired by then. Yet, the need for medical volunteers is likely to be heavy for at least another ten days, and substantial for at least a month.

Later in the week, it is likely that the officials running the government shelters will begin focusing on some other needs. Houston schools are eager to provide services to children, but the logistics have to be worked out. Job placement programs. Apartment hunting help. Mental health counseling...the list of services that will be needed during the next few months is endless.

Many of these services will be provided by private organizations such as the Red Cross. The Red Cross depends on private donations for the services provided. You can donate to the Red Cross on-line and designate your funds to be used for hurricane assistance. The Salvation Army and the Houston Food Bank depend also on private support. Please take non-perishable food to HEB, the Houston Food Bank, or to the Salvation Army offices in Houston.

Many churchs in Houston have opened their own shelters and are running food programs. If you live in Houston, check with your own church to see if you can help, or check with other church's in your neighborhood.

The next few days are, literally, life or death for the people still trapped in New Orleans. Many are dying. Some are getting put on buses to Houston, and dying during the trip. Hopefully, by Tuesday, everyone in New Orleans and that region will be in safe shelters. But, they will need help for weeks and months to come. The news media will lose interest in the fate of the refugees rather soon. The people of Houston need to make the commitment to help these folks for as long as it takes...long after the reporters and FEMA say "On to the next disaster".



www.redcross.org

One of the nurses I met yesterday at the RedCross "orientation" in knoxville called me on my cell. She was a a shelter in knoxville and she needed a doc there to write Rx. If it werent for her call, i'd never have known they needed help. They were flying in dialysis patients and homeless people from the hurricane areas. they had a processing center and a shelter. Knoxville is a long way from Houston, but I'd be willing to bet if you go to any shelter in your area they will be able to use your help. We needed tons of people just to help people fill out paperwork for the red cross vouchers. Just here in Knoxville...which is about a 10 hour drive from the Gulf Coast, we saw hundreds of refugees....Wow...this is a big, big problem. These people have nothing to go back to. I think all of the surrounding states may have a lot of new permanent residents.

It may be a little late, but there still is still a need for help around here. ABC13 has this page for those still looking for a place to help. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/082905_local_donations.html#volunteers

One place that didn't make the list was Hilton funiture. They turned the front of their store into a donation collection point for Southeast Houston area. There were people for New Orleans helping collect and sort the donations.

I didn't end up able to assist, but my wife (ever the trooper) went in on Sat and Sun mornings. Based on her description of everything, it really appears that the city has stepped up to help our neighbors. Yes there is still a lot of disorganization and an awful lot of people (Houstonians) taking advantage of these people's situation, but by and large I'm very proud of our city.

Would be fun to join a house construction company and do some of those - build a house in 2-3 days