Thu 1 Sep 2005
Hurricane Thoughts
Posted by Kym under General
My idea for helping the hurricane victims is that the government offer folks a $250 per person per month tax credit for each person they take into their home and provide room and board. Government picks up the cost of relocation via paying for airfare which would help the airlines too. The “host” families are responsible for helping their refugees find work and clothing.
Yes there would still be issues to deal with… but you’d have instant infrastructure and the refugees would be dispersed.
People are offering up their homes on craigslist.org.
My husband’s work is matching all donations two dollars for every dollar. So then they are going to combine them all and make a donation through here so that they will then match every dollar with 50 cents. So every dollar of our donation is worth $4.50. I’m psyched about that!!!
Things learned from this hurricane:
When they tell you to evacuate… evacuate.
Choosing not to evacuate is selfish if you can afford to leave. It puts other’s in danger.
If you do get stuck in a natural disaster, you can always use the media to let your relatives know you are ok
Have a means for shelter. Tents that pop up and don’t have to be “pegged” into the ground are good.
Have enough food, water and supplies for 7 days. If there is widespread destruction, it takes days for FEMA to coordinate and get in food and water. My family learned this even with Hurricane Charley. Needless to say all the family in Florida now have generators.
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September 2nd, 2005 at 6:50 am
Although I agree with most of what you say (and am thrilled about the donation multiplication that is going on) the comment about evacuation is a bit off for me.
Most of the people in the Superdome simply did not have the ability (because of lack of trasnportation and/or money) to leave. They went there because that is where they were told to go as an acceptable legal alternative to evacuating the city.
To call them selfish or lavish on the blame (as certain heads of certain governmental agencies are doing) is simply wrong. They did what they could to the absolute best of their abilities. Poverty is/was endemic in New Orleans - a fact that is not at all news to the city or the feds. Not to mention those in nursing homes/hospitals for whom leaving was not an option and who are now currently dying because they still haven’t been evacuated.
Now, staying in your lush beachfront home because you are worried about looters/etc or just because “you didn’t have to leave during Camille.” Yeah, there’s a catagory 5/4 storm heading towards you - show some common sense and accept part of the blame.
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:55 am
My company is also matching donation funds. It’s a good way to donate.
Cas
September 2nd, 2005 at 2:02 pm
Hub’s company is matching, too. This is all so heartbreaking how it’s being handled. I hope our little contribution can do some good.