Huuricane Katrina - On the Front Line

Good morning.

Right now it's 5:30 am here in Houston and I'm just about to go back to the Astrodome to begin my volunteer shift to help the Katrina evacuees.

Yesterday, I worked with the evacuees and was able to get some photos for you.

First, I've gotta tell you that I've never seen anything like this.  When I stepped into the Astrodome, it was surreal.  It's hard to explain.  There are thousands of human bodies in every corner of the building trying to survive.

They are destitute, depressed, hungry, thirsty, bewildered and all the other emotions that one might feel after they have lost everything...even loved ones.  But they are thankful to be alive.

So here are a few photos I took yesterday to give you a feel of a small part of the relief effort.

CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO SEE THE FULL SIZED ENLARGED PICTURE

Stepping into the Astrodome with all the evacuees there were a surreal experience.  I was overwhelmed by the immensity of people and the state they were in.  Basically, as a volunteer, you simply checked yourself in and went to work where ever you think people needed help.

Here is a mother with he little newborn baby girl.  As you can tell, both were very tired.  Mom was heartbroken...but she was grateful to have a cot to sleep in.

This is a photo of the sleeping area in the Reliant Arena (used to be the Astro Arena).  As you can see, people are packed in pretty tight. 

My job was to keep cold water and beverages coming outside to the people who were waiting to be checked into the Astrodome and Arena.  It was a back breaking job (and I had back surgery about 4 years ago).  But it was so worth it.  People of all ages were extremely thirsty.  Some were even passing out from exhaustion and hunger.  No kidding.  I help one lady into an ambulance that was near death.  She just couldn't take the heat.

The Arena had plenty of food for everyone.  Don't believe all the media who say that the relief effort is unorganized.  It might be at a macro level, but inside the shelters at the Astrodome and the Arena, people knew what to do, when to do it, and all the victims were being helped in every way possible.

Media and press from around the world were camped out at the Arena.  As you can see, journalists from Australia, England, Brazil, and other countries are all here.

This is a photo of Cris Wagner.  Cris works for me as the manager of one of my businesses.  He is not only a super sharp guy, but he has the biggest heart in the world, and the best person I've ever worked with.  We worked hard today...shoulder to shoulder.

The police were out in full force to keep peace. There were no riots, fighting, shouting or anything of the kind.  The police really kept a close vigilance on law and order during all the chaos.

This is the line for clothing.  It was a huge line, but by the end of the day, everyone had what they needed.  There have been a huge amount of clothing donations to help the victims.  Imagine staying in clothing that you had waded through nasty water in for over 5 days!!  These people were able to choose clothing for them and their families.  THANK YOU to all of you who donated clothing!

Here's a bunch of relief workers folding and sorting clothing to make it easier for victims to pick what they needed.

Here are many of the victims looking for and finding the clothing they so desperately need.

Here's two little cutie sisters hamming it up for the camera.  They are beautiful girls, aren't they.

Here's a lot of the assorted food products donated to the cause.  Relief workers went through all the food and sorted it into different food groups, which will be dispersed in the coming days.

 

Here's a photo of Cris, my manager and "THE BOSS."  I can't say enough about this relief worker.  He was in charge of beverages.  He has more leadership in one finger than most people do in their whole bodies.  He runs a very tight ship.  He really cared about what type of drinks we served, how cold they were, how they were displayed etc.  And he had a system that he created on the fly, that made everything work right.  THE BOSS is the man!

 

Even the most able and strongest of the victims were completely exhausted.  Many of these people were sitting on their house top just the day before, trying to be rescued.

This is where many of the victims have to "do their thing."

Here I am taking drinking water outside to those who need it.  Notice that I'm drenched in perspiration.  Imagine how the people felt outside who had been standing out there for hours on end trying to get processed into the Arean and the Dome.

Even the elderly and those who needed assistance were being taken care of.

Here is the station for helping children.  They had baby food, similac, first aid kits and all kinds of things specifically to help children.

Here's another shot of the sleeping area.  Notice the sign on the wall, "Females."  That guy doesn't look like a female.  Really, people just had to find their own sleeping area.  Space and cots were prized possessions and so people simply took what they could find.

Here is an eating area. Like I mentioned, there was plenty of food to go around.

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This relief effort will be going on for a LONG TIME.  Perhaps months.  The rebuilding effort will take years.  Most of these people will never return to their homeland.  They'll be assimilated into the city of Houston and get jobs and hopefully, rebuild a new life.  Keep them in your prayers.

If you live in Houston, there is always a need for volunteers.  :-)

(More photos to come!)