Our City Prepares to Receive Refugees!

[estherhead]

I understand them telling them to relocate as it will be a very long time before they can move into that area again but I can't help thinking how horrible it would be to be a southern child from a culturally rich and integrated city and have to live in an icy cold northern city so very different from your own. Away from your friends and extended family. Wearing a winter coat for the very first time. Forget the terror and trauma they have all been through. This is going to be a very long winter and school season for an awful lot of young people. Homesick, post traumatic stress causing them to have panic attacks and unhappy parents in jobs that they are not comfortable in. What a terrible ordeal.

 

[estherhead]

Great to see that everyone is lending a hand! I really need to stress that these unfortunate people should not be referred to as "refugees." These are American citizens. I think evacuees is much more appropriate (as I see many have used here). Just needed to get that off my chest, thanks.

I understand what you are saying, however I think this can actually help us have mercy on all the other countries who have refugees displaced. It puts a human face on those too. I remember seeing a group of Czech refugees years ago and feeling kind of distant and then one of them was wearing a Nike shirt and suddenly they were people, not 10,000 refugees but 10,000 individuals who had homes and families and who were terrified and alone and hungry with nothing.

American citizens can be refugees just as others. People seeking refuge. Displaced. Whole families calling a car or a fold up cot "home." Not that I am slamming you, I understand what you are saying. It's hard to see the pain and suffering.

 

[The Edgington's]

280 or so just arrived in Battle Creek at about 5:30 this evening. They will spend a few days at the Fort Custer Base and then go to Grand Rapids I believe they said on the news. There is a real community effort to get them the bare necessities for when they arrived.

 

[Julia M]

People are being relocated to California. The expectation is that families will be in emergency shelters for 10-14 days. Then, agencies will be looking for longer term housing.

Obviously, being so far away, California will have fewer relocations.

That's what was in the paper today.

Julia

 

[Mac and Us]

I heard on the news this morning that New Hampshire has offered to take 500 people. They will house them at the old Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, NH.

I also read that Dartmouth College is also taking displaced college students.

 

[Nancyg56]

I heard on the morning news that New Haven is preparing for 100 households to join their city. This city already has it's resources stretched thin, so this is more than a token gesture. Our colleges and universities have opened their doors to our fellow Americans. I pray daily that the families displaced by can find some solace as Americans open their hearts and welcome them into their towns and cities. I agree that the transition from a warm southern climate to SNOW and ICE on top of the everything else will be tremendous.

"But for the Grace of God, there go I."

 

[crazymomof4]

We are not from Philadelphia but just accross the bridge, in NJ. Thought I'd post anyway........The mayor of Philadelphia announced last week that he has found places willing to accept a total of 1000 refugees. His plans include housing them in vacated schools, homeless shelters and the like.

 

[cl1067]

I'm up in South Dakota and it was just on the news today that they expect somewhere around 1,000 evacuees around here. I was really surprised with how far away we are.

 

[all4fun]

Washington state is going to receive 2000 refugees as a result of Katarina. This is according to DH who works for the state and one of his major responsibilities is managing the food stamp program for our state. I can only imagine that they have family or close friends that live here. It would be really hard to be so far from home for an extended time, not knowing how long it would be.

ETA: DH said they are now not using the term "refugee", which was the term the feds started using. They are using the term "survivors of the hurricane" and once they reach our state, they will be called "guests". I guess they want to get away from the negative connotation that the word refugee has, even though technically the term is correct. I know it's really neither here nor there, just an interesting tidbit of info that addresses something a prev poster mentioned.

 

[michellejed]

Our local RV dealer said they contracted with the gov for 200 delux travel trailers to be sent south, they were stocking them with new linens and kitchen ware.

 

[eeyore45]

Chicago here - United was flying supplies in, and evacuees out, those that had families in the area... I dont think there is a specific number but every newscast shows families together, 9 in a 3 bedroom one bath home... Mayor Daley has made news with 2 specific locations for 2,000, one is an apartment building that is ready now, there is room for more, and they are working out the details.

On the radio talk shows people are calling in that have contacted the Red Cross and are converting homes to apartments, or stalling rental homes to turn them over rent free to evacuees... one lady said there is a specific form and she will get tax break (the home usually rents for $1,000 a month) another lady was giving over her basement that had a seperate bedroom, bath and kitchenette, and was told she would receive a certain amount of money from FEMA, but she wasnt concerned with that...


I"m positive there are stories like this all over - - the southern states in particular!!

I have afriend in Colorado with much the same news, and a flight that went down to help with the relocation. That a congressman from Colorado did get into trouble mentioning that they have jobs and hope they stay in CO. obviously LA wants to rebuild have their citizens return "home"...

 

[littleprissboutique]

We are getting 750 coming into Knoxville, TN and 500 in Morristown, TN. With a lot more to come in the next few weeks. I am so happy that all the states are opening their hearts and doors for all of these people... GOD BLESS THEM ALL, AND MAY GOD HELP THEM FORGET THE MADNES THEY HAVE SEEN!

 

[estherhead]

I was at a Red Cross today and asked the director if we were receiving any evacuees as we are just a little college town but I had heard we were. He said all over Ohio they are getting them and we are getting some too but in addition our town is sending school supplies and toiletries to the major Ohio cities. I'm in a little women's group that is organizing toys for kids. So many things we all take for granted that they don't have! It breaks your heart.

 

[crazymomof4]

So many things we all take for granted that they don't have! It breaks your heart.

So true! I was cleaning tonight and thought to myself that I will never again complain about cleaning...........I should just be grateful that I have a home to clean!!!!!!!!!!

 

[4fireworks]

Just heard last night on the news that we are 1 of 10 cities in the state that are designated to accept families, I think about 250 or so. Some of them will be arriving tommorow, they will mostly be in hotels and on college campus. I am very happy to hear that we are able to help some of these people, and you can bet that I'll be doing everything I can to help them out while they're here!