Amen and hallelujah!
Any time any of our 'folks' are in the path of a bad storm and need shelter, y'all be assured we will welcome you. Our home is humble, but our door is open wide for you! We have a big driveway that will accommodate trailers and motor homes (that's been tested) and outdoor electrical outlets.
I want you all to keep that in mind during this 'busy' hurricane/tropical storm season.
By 'folks' I mean any of our internet friends - even if we haven't met in person ;~)
Who is Fleeing Gustav?? Who is Staying Put?
Caren
Glad you are home safe and sound and no major damage to your home. I am also glad to offer help to those of us in need.
Worked most of Monday with the evacuees that were here.
Take care and keep in touch. Looks like there could be more storms on the way.
DD
I'm so glad both Karen and Caren have checked in now and both are okay makes this much more relaxed and enjoyable now *S*
Thanks for the welcome back! I know what ya'll mean about people being ungrateful... one guy on the news up there was complaining about his bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.. said it was prison food.. can you believe?? I wanted to say ^%$#!.. LOL but I didn't.. oohhh the nerve of some people!
Glad you are safe Caren!!
They showed people leaving Tyler today and they all had nice things to say about East Texas
Off the topic but anyone that gets the kltv news and is up at 10 or saw the 6 one and saw the school bus with the person putting the pump handle back and the bus pulling away ....that was me and my bus today ...hahahahahaha
got back from a field trip and went to fuel it up and I'll be danged if kltv showed up and taped me fillin it up and driven off for their story on school buses and fuel. ROFL
ooohh.. Missy Movie star!!..LOL Wished I could see it!!
well what they showed at 6 was just my hands and the side of my face as I put the pump handle back and I don't think you could see me in the seat as I drove the bus away but you sure could see it had the number 9 on it ROFL..just think it is kinda funny they are doing a story on Pain At The Pump: Jacksonville ISD adjusts buses for rising fuel costs and they use a Tyler ISD bus LOL
Hey they have it on their website, and a still pic that looks like you Phyllis. Did you wear blue shorts and a white blouse today?
http://www.kltv.com/Global/SearchResults.asp?vendor=wss&qu=pain+at+the+pump
yep that be me LMAO
Haha, that was great Phyllis! Was that your hands in the gloves pumping the gas too?
Always knew you would do great things, Phyl. I will be able to say "I knew you, when". chuckle
yeppers I wear those to keep the diesel off my hands...ROFL
Its a shame that the news people even talk to the complainers... I'm sure the majority of people were happy to have a bowl of oatmeal, but that doesn't make good news. If this person was expecting a 5 star hotel with room service then he should have made a reservation! People that ask for a hand out and then complain about what they were given should be put out on their butts! They just make the rest of us honest people look bad. I think anyone that deals with public should get an award and a great big Thank You!!
I totally agree Caren!! Merpeg.. Peg in OK said they got over 2000 evac's. and said their police ran background checks and if they had a felony, they weren't allowed to stay.. Hooray for them!! That's the way it should be everywhere that cities graciously open the door and roll out the red carpet for evac's!!
Almost all of the folks we had were real nice. Only one wanted us to gas up the car and get her FEMA check. Well FEMA did not do checks for this one since the damage was limited and not so wide spread. And I did not give her the $100 for gas, sorry. One did ask for glasses that she broke, problem is she broke them 6 months ago.
No complaints from me. I volunteer because I like to do for others. I can stay home if I wanted to do that. The good always out numbers the bad and I enjoy helping those in need.
D
Mibus- Saw you but did not recognize the hands. Did not know you drove for Jacksonville :)
I dont I drive for TISD and they were doing the story on Jacksonville, Longview and Tyler
here's the link to the story and if you watch the video part at the end you see me pullin out from the pumps
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?s=8948255
David.. I have to thank you personally for volunteering in your area!! You could have just stayed home and let others worry with the evac's!Always.. the good outweigh the bad, and I TG for that! We would be in a very sorry state if it weren't that way.. I am fortunate that I don't have to depend on government assistance, and I can only imagine having to leave home with little to no money, but that is life, and we have to take the good with the bad and just try to cope!
After Katrina, San Antonio tried to get info on any possible sex crime convictions for the evacuees. They got NO info on that.
I volunteered for Katrina-Rita also. That was for a much longer time and much worse situation. IMHO was the government really messed up then felt guilty and tried to save face by giving away everything they could find. Abuse was in every area. I met some great people that really needed help and were vary thankful for things, this was the majority. The "takers", tho not many, took advantage and found ways to make money on the kindness of others. Really disappointed in the preparedness and effort of the Red Cross. Let's hope that we all learned from that and never repeat it.
I was working at one of the larger housing facilities here is FW when Katrina hit. No, David I hope we don't repeat the way it was handled either.
We housed, fed 3 meals/snacks, provided TV, computers, clothes, child care, haircuts, everything they needed. FEMA had their offices set up in one of the buildings here also. We had to cancel events for the duration of their stay. When it became time for them to move into apartments some didn't want to leave. It meant getting a job and paying their own way; but some appreciated having a chance to start over.
Everyone in this state has a big heart and opened it for everyone involved in that tragedy. But as you said the few that abused the system caused us to question donations and every method of help after that.
I know on a national level the Red Cross made mistakes during the crisis but I have to say I was very proud of all the Red Cross people we had here in Orange. They did the best they could and all the volunteers from around the country will always hold a place in my heart. These people went out in 100 degree heat and knocked on doors to deliver much needed supplies, debit cards and in some cases just talk. They missed birthday's, special events and family first to help total strangers. They slept on cots, floors, in cars etc and in most cases ate worse food than the people in the shelters. For me to volunteer was a given, it was my community but for these people who had no tie to us to give up so much and work so hard was a kindness all of us here in Orange, TX should never forget.
This message was edited Sep 5, 2008 8:05 PM
Wasn't the political appointee in charge of FEMA replaced? Or am I wrong? Anyway since it was reorganized, they've done much better!
I think he did resign if I am not mistaken. I guess what I am eluding to is the handing out of money to those who didn't deserve it. There was people that got twice what they should have. We also had one person that wasn't even in LA when the storm hit.
But, then I had volunteered on a food line one evening, there was a family that thanked each person for serving that night; it is those folks that made it worthwhile.
The news here in Houston reported 1 person recieved 11 checks and mant others multiples. We did not get anything and our insurance did not pay for anything because we were evacuated, It is amazing the con artists in this world.
I had a friend several yrs ago that did something like welcome wagon and she got her names from same place that issues food stamps. I rode with her one day and one of the places was a vacant lot.
Hope this post is not considered political. oops bad me if it is :O(
Guess we better let this one die with the storm.