Infinite Monkeys

Firsthand with Katrina's refugees

I just got a firsthand report of the effort to aid those displaced by Katrina from New Orleans to here in Phoenix, AZ. My mother's offer to volunteer her services as a professional grief counselor was accepted and she was invited to serve where several hundred refugees are being housed and cared for at Veterans' Memorial Coliseum downtown. This afternoon she gave me a brief account off what she witnessed (excluding, excluding, of course, anything about the private issues discussed in her counseling).

Her first words were, "You would have been so impressed by the operation. There must have been twenty different agencies all working together. Of course, a few each think they're in charge, but it didn't seem to cause any problems. It's just obvious that this is being run by someone - by people - who have thought of everything."

She continued, "They have a huge bank of phones for them to use free. They have tables of computers for them to use. There are job placement services operating and lots, lots of people already have jobs." She explained that one of the men there had been on the front page of the local paper, which featured him as one of the first of the bunch to secure employment. He was signing people's copies of the front page, "just like a celebrity." She went on to explain that somewhere near 100 people had already been able to move out of the Coliseum shelter and into houses or apartments. But I think the efficiency of the operation was summed up when she gently grabbed my wrist and said, "Brad, kids who were on rooftops Tuesday were in school today." Stranded in a devastated NOLA one day - fed, clothed, comforted, and in class in Phoenix three days later.

She explained that no effort seemed spared to help the newcomers feel oriented and connected to the world. There were maps posted illustrating where Phoenix and Arizona were in relation to where they had come from and the rest of the country. There were media walls featuring all of the major magazines' coverage of the Katrina news and articles from many papers.

But her voice dropped to a whisper when she recounted the next part to me. She said, "I never brought it up, I never asked a question about it, but they kept offering it in conversation - the ones these people are mad at are..." and then she practically mouthed the words (why, I have no idea, as only my two kids were in the room) "the mayor and the governor. They are furious with them. Steaming." And again, she reaffirmed that she was not asking, she did not conduct a poll, but she reported, almost disbelievingly, that not a one mentioned being upset with Bush or the administration. She said Bush, the administration, the federal response were never mentioned. "Not once," she said, "To a person." But mom said they were quick to voice their heated displeasure at the local and state response.

Then she reported something funny. Who was the most appreciated responder to Katrina? I was expecting maybe the Coast Guard swimmers and the helicopters. But nope. As my mind raced to think of who else stood out, she hit me with it: Oprah. Yep, Oprah. Mom recounted how the very idea of Oprah seemed "revered" down at the Coliseum. She said, "Oh, to hear those women go on about Oprah, you'd think she was divine." I'd heard of Oprah taking a bunch of celebs to NOLA to take in the scene, seek answers, and light a few proverbial fires under some people. Yes, mom and I agreed, Oprah is one powerful person. But the ladies at the shelter might argue that that's an understatement.

I don't know quite how to wrap up, other than to say that I am proud of my mom and of my city. Beyond the efforts outlined above, the general populace has come out in force to help our guests / new neighbors. Folks have waited in lines over an hour long in the Coliseum parking lot just to drop off donations of clothes, supplies, baby walkers, etc. The surge of enthusiasm to help has led to tight security for the refugees inside, lest they be overrun. The registered displaced persons are free to come and go from their temporary home, but their privacy is closely guarded - so much so that despite the invitation, my mom couldn't get in the first night she went down. One has to be expected and have their credentials very much in order to be allowed inside.

Of course, history has shown us that there are less than altruistic reasons to keep out people who aren't supposed to be there. There will always be those few who engage in the dirt-baggery of trying to take advantage of the (however temporarily) vulnerable, or of trying to pass oneself off falsely as a victim for personal gain. But I believe that such are few in our town, vastly outnumbered by those inspired by a desire to do good in a more tangible way. My Great Uncle (on my mother's side) likes to quote Mother Theresa's advice for those who wish to help others: "You've got to touch the people."

Posted by Brad at September 9, 2005 05:40 PM | TrackBack