I happened to be driving by Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport on Saturday and was surprised to see a Pan Am aircraft (737?) parked at gate 1. I don't think I've seen one of their planes since the 80s. Granted, it's not the same Pan Am I once flew. It wasn't even Pan Am II or Pan Am III. Gate 1 is normally dark so my guess is that it was a charter for Southeastern Louisiana University. They were in town to watch Texas Tech beat them 62 to 0.

Penny Grossman cringes each time a student mentions a birthday party during class at her Boston, Massachusetts-area preschool. The rule there, and at a growing number of America's schools, is that parties and play-dates shouldn't be discussed unless every child in the room is invited.

Associated Press, Should we let kids feel exclusion's sting?

Life isn't fair, and the sooner children learn to accept that, the sooner they'll be able to enjoy life's sweet rewards.

This was perhaps the most uncomfortable I've been behind the wheel in quite some time. Riding the brake at 2mph with the ERV's limited leg room meant holding my leg in the air, with my knee bent at 45 degrees, for an hour. Add to that children dashing in from of the truck looking for candy, very limited visibility, and the fact that I've been qualified to drive this beast for less than two weeks, and it was a very, very tiring drive.

Two events made the pain worth while. We were driving behind several radio station vans that were capturing the crowd's attention by tossing chips into the crowd. What struck me, though, was that when we approached everyone stopped what they were doing the started to clap and cheer. I heard one girl off on the left remark that she was from New Orleans and a little while later I heard a mother refer to us as "heroes" to her son. It was all I could do to keep from crying. I don't volunteer with the Red Cross for recognition, and the thanks we get from our clients are all the pay I need, but it was very, very touching to receive praise from people we'd never met.

I mentioned a second event. As we approached the judge's stand I noticed that the MC was an old friend with whom I'd lost contact, Sean Donahue. I caught his attention and the next thing I heard was Sean remarking to the crowd, "Hey! I know the driver. That's Bill Curnow!" The clapping was heart warming, but the name recognition was just darned cool. It definitely made the next couple of blocks a little easier to drive.

To be honest, my Red Cross tank had been running on fumes lately, but today definitely filled it up. This really is a great place to live.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I've been following the recent protests by illegal immigrants but have been having trouble putting my thoughts into words. (That is beyond "what's right is right, what's wrong is wrong, and is isn't right", that is). I think these guys come pretty close to capturing what I've been thinking:

We are a nation of laws, including those that control how visitors can enter this country, how long they can stay and how they can become permanent citizens. I expect those visitors to obey the same laws that citizens are expected to follow; and I expect my government to enforce the law when those visitors choose to ignore it.

America is my home. I consider myself a generous and hospitable kind of guy, but you have overstepped your bounds when you break into my house… eat my food and sleep in my bed, and then demand that I "forgive and forget" and treat you like a member of the family.

It is not like we ask the impossible of the illegals. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have come to this country legally, persevered through the process, "studied to show themselves approved" and earned the precious honor of American citizenship. It can be done; the invaders simply choose not to make the effort.

Bob Griggs, Nothing "Mexican" on Cinco de Mayo

Considered felons by the [Mexican] government, these migrants fear detention, rape and robbery. Police and soldiers hunt them down at railroads, bus stations and fleabag hotels. Sometimes they are deported; more often officers simply take their money.

Mark Stevenson, Associated Press Writer, Few Protections for Migrants to Mexico

One final thought about this notion that the illegal immigrants are filling vital jobs that American's simply won't do, anyone who watches The Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs knows there isn't any job an American won't do.

Shortly after I'd sufficiently recovered from my Katrina and Rita experiences, I joined the local Red Cross' Disaster Action Team (DAT). DAT members come from all walks of life: the group I'm most often with includes a Lubbock County Commissioner and a retired Southwestern Bell Linesman. All three of us were in the Army.

Although we are responsible for nineteen counties, we've had relatively few calls considering the fire situation in Texas right now. Last night, though, my “day job” and my “night job” collided as we were called out to feed the Slaton Fire Department as they tackled a 3,000 bale cotton warehouse fire. The sun had set by the time we made the coffee, picked up the burgers and fries and headed towards Slaton, a small community about fifteen miles from Lubbock. Despite it being pitch black, we started seeing the smoke about five miles out. We picked up the glow of the fire a mile later.

We pulled up on the leeward side of the conflagration to find out where the fire department wanted us to stage. As I stood there, a mere twenty feet from the fire, I was initially stuck by the lack of smell. It just didn't smell like a fire, in fact, there was barely any odor at all. Then, as a giant 500 pound bale of flaming cotton dropped six feet to the ground, I realized where I was standing and took a step back.

We passed out a few meals before driving around to the windward side of the fire where the bulk of the firemen were. Slaton's fire department is primarily a volunteer department. They all have day jobs and other places to be, but when we showed up they were thanking us! It really should have been the other way around, but I'm beginning to understand that the service we provide to first responders, while different, is really no less important than the role we provide to victims.

Once the guys on the line we taken care of, we drove over to the firehouse to feed the boys monitoring the radios. We had a few extra burgers so they invited us to stay and eat with them. I got to eat in a firehouse! Sure, it sounds silly, after all it's just a building, but it was a neat experience.

It's been just over a month since I walked through the doors of the American Red Cross to volunteer at Lubbock's Katrina Relief shelter. I figured I'd spend my Labor Day weekend helping out and then would go back to work. Boy was I wrong.

My experience started at 11pm on Saturday, September 3rd and didn't end until 9pm on Tuesday, September 27th. I started out working shelter operations but ended Katrina as the nighttime shelter manager. During Rita I was one of two Incident Command Post liaisons for the Red Cross and I authored a web-based database that allowed us to better manage the Rita operation.

I wrote the following on a local message board as a way of keeping my friends up to speed on what was going on at the shelter. As such, it may not make complete sense. I'll try to clarify things as time permits. One word of caution...it's over 5,000 words long.

Hurricane Katrina

Jimmy Castillo, with the local Red Cross, tells me they need additional manpower at the shelters. The Red Cross's offices will be open this weekend if you'd like to volunteer. 2201 19th Street (the old United Way building near Lubbock High).

In case anyone's out shopping, the Red Cross is looking for 1,000 new blankets. I believe the media left off "new" last night. You can take them by the Red Cross (see address above) or, if you like, get them to me this evening and I'll take them to the RC this evening.

Lauren was just telling me that Lubbock was on the national news most of the day. I pulled a 11pm to 7am security shift out at the base so I didn't really wake up until just a little while ago. It was pretty quiet last night, but tonight should be a different story.

I tried to catch some of the national coverage of Lubbock, but keep missing it. I thought I might catch it on the NBS Nightly News (thank you TiVo!) but Channel 11 broke in with the arrival of the third plane of refuges. I believe the total in Lubbock is now around 330.

BTW, we've had one large family in Lubbock since Friday night. They're staying at the base, but I gather they have some family in Lubbock so at least they have a local support structure.

There are some really amazing stories out there at Reese. Most of these folks were plucked off their roofs (or out of the streets) in New Orleans around Noon yesterday. They were in Lubbock several hours later. I spent the night with them, and the better part of this morning, and of all the stories I've heard, and all the emotions I've seen, I haven't seen despair. In their words, I've seen the Good Lord at work. I was also asked to pass this on: Thank You Lubbock!

The Red Cross is still looking for volunteers, although we had plenty this morning. Around 4am we looked up and there were 9 fresh faces asking us what we needed done. Apparently as different sections shut down for the night they sent their helpers, mostly Tech students, over to the shelter.

The real fun came around 6am. We'd been operating with eight nursing students for most of the evening but a bus must have arrived around 6. We looked up and 30-35 students in Raider Red scrubs came walking in. Looked like an invasion.

Some numbers: we received 408 people on Saturday. Around 350 are at Reese with the rest at either UMC or the Salvation Army (they're wheel-chair friendlier than an old airbase). Since they've arrived around 50 have either left to be with family or will leave in the next few days.

When I left yesterday around noon the shelter was still pretty much a shelter: a couple of tables and a whole lot of beds. When I returned last night it had turned into more of a home. A playroom had been set up as well as a couple of TVs and a Playstation. We'd found a couple of basketball hoops, dug out a bunch of chairs, and some of the girls had set up a hopscotch "thing" with some tape.

Anyway, if you'd like to help out the Red Cross you can reach them at 765-8534. The Salvation Army is running the mess hall and may also be looking for volunteers to help with meal times. I believe their number is 765-9434.

I have put Bill to bed, but he asked me to add some more information on volunteers. One of the thing that they are looking for are runners to the airport. Like he said, as people are connecting with their families, many are flying out of Lubbock and need rides to the airport and someone to walk in with them and show them where to go. This is a great way to volunteer if you don't have a lot of time to. Please call the Red Cross.

I took an 82 year old to the airport on Monday and it really put the bounce back in my step after a 13 hour shift. Today's highlight was when I put my phone in someone's hand so he could talk to his momma. Afterwards Winfred confessed that they hadn't spoken it ten years.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't about me, but there are hundreds of these stories and moments out there at the old airbase. They're the fuel the volunteers use to make it through the day. As one person said to my yesterday, your cup will be running over after you spend some time with these folks.

Tonight's dinner was provided by River Smiths. That's 350+ catfish dinners with all the fixin's.

Today has been my best and my worst in the last few days.

I've met a number of wonderful people this week but one of my favorites is a 71 year old man, Naeem, who stayed in NO with his wife in order to look after his bed-ridden aunt. We've had countless conversations in the middle of the night about family, community, food, home, faith, respect and race. We were watching the overnight news and talking about the death that hangs over the City of New Orleans when he remarked that he'd travelled all over the world and had never encountered a City more color-blind than Lubbock. He said everyone he's met has seen him as a person first, second, and third. I told him we certainly weren't perfect and that we had our problems, but we were constantly striving to be better people than we were the day before. Perhaps in 25 years we will finally live up to his image of us.

He and his wife left today to reunite with four of his daughters in Atlanta. Of his nine children he's still waiting to hear from one of his sons. I'm going to miss our talks.

One of our guests started handing out a piece of paper shortly after 7 this morning. He'd gotten one of the volunteers to help him type up a letter from his family. I don't think he'd mind a bit if I shared his words:

To: Our Adopted Family and Neighbors of Lubbock, TX.

We cannot express the kindness you have shown to the people of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. We appreciate all the love and kindness that you have shown us. Especially, the Mayor of Lubbock, City Councilmen, State Representatives, Doctors, Nurses, Nursing Assistants,Volunteers, American Red Cross Officials, and all the people of Lubbock who have shown the people of New Orleans that the people of Lubbock do truthfully live as one big family. In addition, we appreciate the Lubbock Police Department, the Lubbock Fire Department, EMS Services, all charitable associations, ministers who have given the people of New Orleans all the help and grace to us at this trying time. We wish that we could thank each and every individual personally, and through God's will you all will receive your blessings. Thank you is really not good enough. God bless you, God bless you, and God bless you. Thank you.

In great appreciation,
The Johnson family and all the families of New Orleans, LA

The Johnsons flew off to be with family earlier today.

Our imperfections came back to haunt me when I was at the barbershop this morning. A peace officer was bitching about having to spend his holiday weekend out at Reese with "those people" and a good, Christian man reminded us that we're "talking about the dregs of society." I was too angry to say anything and simple got up and left. I really should have spoken up. I will the next time. It's the least I can do for Naeem.

The barbershop incident made me so mad that I wasn't able to sleep yesterday. Consequently, I've been up since 5pm on the 7th (Tuesday). You wouldn't know it to look at me so my only explanation is that our guests at Reese are sustaining me. Still, I have a bed with my name on it.

This morning was a big day as we started school for fifteen or so. The kids at Frenship raised a very generous amount of money and donated it so that the kids could go to WalMart yesterday and buy some "cool clothes". We tried rousing the kids ourselves today. Yeah, well the vacation's over as we'll be waking the parents tomorrow.

I tagged along on the 9am tour of Lubbock. We extended the two-hour tour somewhat with a quick trip to Popeyes (for 25) and a shopping trip to the spirit shop at Jones Stadium. Tech has donated 200 tickets to Saturday's season opener so we had to get outfited with red and black. While we were there one of the athletic dudes noticed us and gave us a tour of the big box right above the grass endzone. One look at the double-tee on the turf and several of the guests realized they'd seen this stadium on TV. That really got them excited.

The longer tour meant we returned after four house instead of the planned two. What I knew, but the guests didn't was that we'd missed Anita Perry. She was out at Reese around noon to visit our work and to visit with our guests. She also made it a special point to visit with the nurses and nursing students on duty.

Oh Johnson's letter should run in the A-J any day now. I've got a line on another surprise, but I want to wait until I get confirmation before sharing it with you.

Oh, one thing I forgot yesterday, the ARC started to tear down the shelter at the Auditorium and Collesium yesterday. I have no idea if this was in the news or not.

We're expecting two new evacuees sometime this morning. Two brothers from an OK shelter are flying here to rejoin their mother.

We didn't see the brothers last night; maybe they'll be in a little later today. We did see a young boy off to rejoin his mother. He and his Grandma were seperated from his mother before the storm so it's been nearly two weeks since he's seen his momma.

Quite a few of our guests obtained apartments yesterday and will be picking up their keys today or tomorrow. Also, the job and housing fair started a little while ago. FEMA travel money has finally arrived so National Travel Systems is out there today. Prior to this MHMR and ARC had been using donated miles and some relief money to fly people home.

Yesterday one of the party rental companies donated one of those inflatable bouncy things. The kids really had a blast, including the one who wound up having to go to the hospital. Oops. Fortunately, it was only a sprain; nothing was broken.

One of the LPD sergents was telling me that their front desk has received a dozen or so complaints from around the United States. Seems a 15-second clip of our guest's arrival at the airport made national news. Some found the "military-styled" police presence with the "dehumanizing" treatment of the evacuees offensive. Callers chaulked it up to us being "ignorant red-necks". I'm going to take a copy of the Johnson's letter to the LPD and LSO this morning to help boost their moral.

The primary reason for having that many peace officers at the airport was because the evacuees were debarking within a very short distance of active taxiways. It was simply an FAA requirement, to say nothing as an obvious safety measure. The gloves were for everyone's protection. The police officers at Reese do not wear them. The side benefit of having all that staff at the airport was that we were able to turn around each plan in 30-45 minutes. That's 100+ people deboarded, screened, given an initial medical exam, and placed on busses for the trip to in-take. LadyB tells me one of the AA pilots said we ran the most efficient operation he'd seen during the airlift operation.

You've probably heard that Stoney B. Blues will be out in Levelland tomorrow night from 6:30 to 9. If you're in the area definately check it out. He's got a bit of a cold, but you'd never know it to listen to him play.

I know of one person who's found a new job. He's a computer tech at Tulane University who will starts at Texas Tech in the same capacity soon. There are probably others, he's just the one I remember from this morning.

Security has changed out here a little in the last 36 hours or so. The South Plains College students started refusing to show their IDs and bitched to the college, so we've stopped checking IDs during the daytime. Instead, we've posted security at the intersection leading into the main shelter and are checking IDs there.

We had a few guests return today. They left us a couple of days ago to attend a funeral in San Antonio of a relative who died during the evacuation. A local church drove them there and back. They'll start the process of finding a home tomorrow.

One thing I find interesting is the number of people who are transfering from Lubbock to Houston shelters to be with family. Personally, I'd transfer them up here. Then again, Houston is much closer to NOLA and many are holding out hope that they can return soon.

Another guest tells me he's found an apartment in Central Lubbock. He and two neighbors were rescued together and all three are moving into the same complex.

One of our clients learned this evening that four members of her family and several neighbors were found in the family's home. Frankly, I think we were fortunate that tonight is the first night this has happened. It won't be the last.

Everyone had a blast at the Tech game, although they would have preferred it if the team bothered to show up. We're down to 98 people in the main shelter, down from around 350. I don't know how many we have over in the dorm, but it's less than 40 I believe. I should know more in the morning.

I've heard that CNN is reporting that Lubbock no longer has the #1 shelter in the state of Texas. Rather, we have the #1 shelter in the country. I've extended by vacation further so I can stay out here through Wednesday morning. After that we should be in the cleanup phase and the ARC won't need be further. Also, I've been asked to attend the ARC's annual meeting and dinner Monday night so I'll likely miss the BC meeting.

Here's an article about one of our guests who lost her daughter after she'd been evacuated to San Antonio. This, and my posting from earlier today, give insight into some of the issues we're facing in the shelters.

Good news! The woman who lost four family members and five neighbors in her mom's house learned last night that several close relatives have survived!

We were down to around 145 guests last night with around 75 scheduled to move out today. The bulk of those who moved over the weekend moved into one of two brand-new apartment complexes, allowing them to build a mini-NOLA community right here in Lubbock. Those moving today were scattered throughout Lubbock in Lubbock Apartment Association properties.

Our goal is to close Reese by noon on Wednesday. Those few guests who have not finalized their plans will be transferred to a shelter at the Salvation Army where we can continue to provide the services they need in a more efficient environment. As a result, tomorrow night should be my last overnight at the shelter. When I started last Saturday I was just another volunteer. Sometime in the middle of last week, though, I wound up as night-time shelter manager. Not really sure how that happened.

The Austin American-Statesman ran a very nice article yesterday about the Bemisses, an extended family of 20 that we had in the shelter. The AAS is a register-to-read newspaper but BugMeNot.com has valid usernames for the site.

As of 3am we had a client population of 107. We received 8 evacuees today who are here to met up with family who had previously been, or are currently at, Reese.

14 individuals were checked out and immediately came back. We can thank the Lubbock Apartment Association for not getting the apartments ready when they said they'd be ready. We've worked with some really great companies and organizations (MHMR especially) but the LAA doesn't seem to get what we're trying to do. It seems like they're trying to stuff their unrentable properties with government checks. It's very frustrating and only causes us more work as we locate alternate apartments and try to calm down upset evacuees.

So, with scheduled move-outs and the re-checking out of the 14 that bounced back, we should be down to 75 clients. Are goal is to be at 50 or less by Noon on Wednesday. If that happens, we'll transfer them to the Salvation Army where they'll experience better living conditions. This'll allow us to de-man this facility and shut it down.

Oh, for those of you what watch NewsChannel 11, yes, that was the back of my head. As one of two remaining shelter managers I was invited to the Red Cross's annual meeting and appreciation dinner. I was really looking forward to the BC meeting, but this invitation seemed too important to pass up.

For those wondering, I'm scheduled to re-enter the real world at 9am Wednesday morning. I've been asked to stay on as a Red Cross volunteer, but I need a couple good night's sleep before I make up my mind.

The demob was going hot and heavy when I left the shelter at 11 this morning. Most of the unused cots are gone as is the snack bar. I believe I saw computer techs breaking down the computer labs. All the toys are gone but I hope they leave the pictures the children drew. I'd been meaning to take photos of them for the last couple of nights.

We have at least 68 guests moving out today and, from the looks of it, the work we're doing to break things down may have motivated several others to make arrangements. Anyone left at Reese at Noon tomorrow will be transferred to the Salvation Army where they can receive more long-term assitance.

The Reese shelter should be closed within a few hours. Of the 31 clients we had last night all but six are moving into new homes or are flying out today to be with family. The remaining will be transferred to the Salvation Army where they will continue to receive the support they need.

If I had to guess I'd say I've put in nearly 140 hours since the 3rd. I spent much of the night talking with a therapist that works with first responders. As he pointed out, I've spent the last eleven days as a Katrina victim and it will take me just as long to work my way through all of this as it will our new neighbors from NOLA. I met a number of great people during the last week and a half (and at least one who promisses to check out the Kings) but am most grateful to have met Naeem, Terry, James, Danette, Dennis, Jimmie and Meg. A special Thank You has to go out to Lauren for helping me through this. I know she was frustrated that she didn't have the time to volunteer, but she made it possible for me to see this through to the end.

What people don't realize is that even if you did not contribute time or money you still made a major contribution. You helped shape Lubbock into the community it is today. We're not perfect, nobody is, but we were able to open our hearts and welcome 440 strangers in their time of need. This was a community effort.

I have to be honest, though, and say that I gave you a very slanted view of life in the shelter. I didn't tell you about the family of five...a mother, boyfriend and three children...with five different last names. I've ignored the teenager that was booted from Frenship High within 3 hours of starting school, and I've damned sure not told you about the four year old who hasn't developped language skills (and he can hear just fine).

Life out their wasn't the bed of roses I made it out to be, but I doubt very seriously any of you thought it was. Imagine surviving for six days, just you and your wife. You're rescued, you're saved, you still have each other. What's the first thing you want to do (after a good shower?) Right!, and that ain't going to happen in the shelter (although I have no doubt some couples went for a long walk at night).

Children had to be distracted. While I certainly hope the younger ones won't remember this experience, I also hope they, and the older ones, remember the kindness of strangers...white strangers. Race was a major factor at the shelter in that it wasn't a major factor at all. We certainly didn't fix years of mistrust in a mere eleven days, but if we got to the children...well...perhaps everyone's future will be a little brighter.

James, the crisis counselor, walked into the shelter at just the right time last night. It was his first night out there, a night at the end of a very acrimonious day among the staff out there. I'd gotten cross with a city official, he'd torn into MHMR, some clients just weren't making any moves to get on with life and by the end of the evening the AJ had been called and the daytime shelter manager had been escorted out by the police. It was a bad day.

When James found me I'd been sitting outside staring into the darkness for a good thirty minutes. He was inquisitive and kind...I knew exactly what he was doing, but frankly I welcomed the opportunity to talk with someone about the last eleven days. We spoke for nearly three hours during which time I learned I was more in tune with my emotions than most who had been in similar situations. The only converstations I had for eleven days were either at the shelter or were about the shelter. I wasn't allowing myself time to decompress, but at the same time writing and talking about my experiences were exactly what I needed to do to help get through it. As James said, it's going to take a couple of years for me to sort everything out. I believe him.

It sounds melodramatic, doesn't it? Two years to learn how to deal with volunteering. Nonsense. Still, I'd find myself crying for no reason. I'd focus so intently on one individual who was struggling that I'd loose focus on how many lives I'd helped. I got three hours of sleep before going in Monday evening. By all rights I should have gone straight to bed Tuesday morning. Instead, I spent three hours driving all over town trying to figure out the best way to handle the undocumented workers we had in the shelter. I was definately fully absorbed.

Yup, it's going to take time. Fortunately, I have Lauren, Gracie, Tater, and all of you. I'll be just fine if I remain honest, and allow myself time.

Some quick facts:

• The South Plains Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC) handled 630 emergencies in the last 12 months
• The average time it takes for an ARC shelter to shut down is three months. Lubbock's shelter was set up and received its first clients on the 2nd. It was closed on the 14th.
• Meg Jakubik, the local Chapter's interim Director of Disaster Services, started her job a little over three weeks ago.

Hurricane Rita

There are currently four shelters: Reese, the Collesium, the Civic Center, and LCU. I'd heard about Gaston as well, but no one is confirming that.

2-3 planes have landed at LIA. When I left Reese...about three hours after the first plane landed...none of the evacuees had arrived at in-take. This is going much slower than Katrina.

We're expecting 800 tonight.

One of the planes was half-filled with people in wheelchairs (around 40 or so). Panic set in until we received word that most had arrived with their care-givers.

I've been badged, but I will not start work (officially) until 3pm on Saturday (yeah! time off!). I'll be the either the evening shelter manager or the evening in-take manager. Technically, the City is running the shelters so we're still not quite clear what we'll be doing at the shelters.

Volunteers are needed, especially if they can work in the morning (6am-ish on to 3pm-ish).

I don't have demographics on the evacuees yet.

Again, we are anticipating this will be a short operation (less than a week).

570 evacuees were processed through Reese last night. 44 have checked out of the shelter for a variety of reasons (alternate care facility, bus trip to Dallas, etc), leaving 526 in the shelters. There are 28 individuals at the Coliseum. 34 of the evacuees previously called New Orleans home.

There are 111 clients in the Coliseum now. As I recall that shelter holds around 300.

Here's an update:

Total evacuees received in the city as of 1550hrs: 811
People housed at Reese: 502
People housed in the Coliseum: 213
People housed in alternate facilities: 69 [1]
People providing their own housing: 21
People currently unassigned housing: 4 [2]
People who choose to grab a bus to Dallas: 2

We are currently processing evacuees through intact.

[1] Includes hospitals, nursing homes, MHMR facilities, the Ronald McDonald House, etc
[2] Probably a typo.

Coliseum: 249
Reese: 507
Checked Out: 105 (MHMR, Nursing Homes, Hospital, Hotels, etc.)
Total: 861 (and still increasing)

Roughly 330 are heading back to Houston as I type this. The Baytown evacuees (340) have still not been cleared to return home.

We've had 1,027 evacuees come through our doors since the start of the Rita operation. I'll have up-to-date numbers as to how many are in each shelter tomorrow morning (they're entering into the computer the names of the 330 who left earlier this evening).

Lauren tells me this was on the news but...for those who missed it...we're moving everyone left at the Coliseum to Reese tomorrow (actually, later today). One day to move 'em, one day to clean up, they might be in a position to re-lay the ice as early as Wednesday or Thursday.

Oh, I believe the woman who arrived with ten puppies made the paper. She, and her pups, were among the folks who went home this evening.

One of the complicating aspects for the Public Information Officer is that we've had far more Rita evacuees that we've had Rita evacuees sheltered at one of the facilities. For example, we've had 199 individuals make their way to Lubbock on their own who have registered with the Red Cross for assistance. This distinction is often overlooked by the media when they are compressing their story to make more room for automobile advertising.

There's a rumor circulating in Lubbock that someone was raped at one of the Rita shelters. This rumor is circulating outside the shelters, not inside. It's false and I'd like a few minutes alone with anyone that passes that rumor along.

In that time, between 2,000 and 3,000 people have volunteered. They have staffed concession stands, helped evacuees pack their belongings and offered their support.Lubbock A-J: City set to close hurricane shelters (Registration Required)

There is a huge difference between volunteering, agreeing to work a shift, and actually showing up for your agreed upon shift. Very few people have volunteered as a result of Rita. Of those who sign up for a shift, only 30-40% actually show up. This started about five days into Katrina.

Keith Patrick said he has volunteered at least 17 hours a day during both hurricane relief efforts. The Texas Tech student has missed several classes during that time.Lubbock A-J: City set to close hurricane shelters (Registration Required)

Keith is my counter-part in responsibility and rank and my superior it dedication. He hasn't been to class since the start of Katrina.

Hap, hap, happy days! A convoy is scheduled to leave the Colisium today at 2. Another leaves Reese at 6. We should be out of business this evening. So, while I'm not scheduled to work tonight, I'm going to head out there this afternoon, in part to see off a few people who went out of their way to try and make last night's hell a little easier to bear, and in part to turn in this 5-pound, $700 boat-anchor (radio) I've been lugging around.

We're out of the shelter business. Four buses pulled away from the Reese T1 Hangar shortly after 7pm this evening heading for Baytown. With sack lunches in hand some 101 people, four cats, at least two dogs, a rabbit and a bird, settled in for the estimated 10 hour trip back home.

Some personal numbers:

Days since volunteering with the Red Cross: 25
Days actively working at/for the shelter: 18
Hours spent working at/for the shelter: ~190
Hours spent at my real job: 73
Longest period without sleep: 47 hours (Katrina)
Most miles driven within Reese in a single shift: 39 (Rita)

One of the Red Cross employees was snapping pictures while we were loading the final buses yesterday. The expression on my face was due to the sudden loss of sensation in my left thigh save for a shooting, burning pain running right up my leg. Things degenerated from there as I was able to feel my muscles contracting, expanding, and rubbing against each other as I walked the hundred+ yards to the post-loading staging area. Best I can tell it was dehydration, a serious problem we fought during both operations. Six bottles of water later and I was fine. Lauren will tell you I was somewhat concerned at the time.

Many of the Rita evacuees passed the time away helping us out. Two volunteered as cooks and helped the Salvation Army prepare our meals. Others helped keep the shelter clean. One even worked off some community service hours. Everyone seemed to enjoy helping us tear down the shelter before the last buses arrived.

This wasn't a new phenomina...we saw this with the Katrina evacuees. Their beds were always neat and the area around them was always squared away. I suppose it wsa their way of establishing order in their chaotic world.

An open letter to Randy Sanders, Editor, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Randy,

My morning routine for the last eight years, regardless of whether I was in Lubbock or not, has included reading the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal online at LubbockOnline.com. That's come to an end. Starting later today, the A-J will require its visitors to register before reading any stories. I won't be one of them.

I don't register to read free content, but I was willing to make an exception for the A-J. Well, I was willing until I read your "Anti-Spam Pledge" wherein you state you will send me "e-mail announcements…on new products, offers and services from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and selected advertisers and affiliates." Your Anti-Spam Pledge is a pledge to spam me. Nice.

Now I'm realistic. I know you won't change your mind just because I don't like your registration policy. You've swallowed the Kool-Aid and will simply have to work your way through this experiment on your own. But I've worked with you in the past and have a special place in my heart for the A-J. I know I won't be missed, but you will be.

Take care.

In a speech to recent to Columbia Business School MBAs, PepsiCo President and CFO Indra Nooyi compared the continents of the world to fingers of a hand with the United States as the middle finger. All she had to do was overlook Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Antartica in order to for his silly little analogy to fit. PepsiCo's PR has since stated that "Indra loves America", but then, so does Jane Fonda.

I've never help Pepsi (the product) and PepsiCo (the company) in high regard. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

The Texas Tech Board of Regents announced last Thursday that Tech will focus groups before moving foward on planned changes to the school seal.

Note that they said "before moving foward" and not "before making any changes". This, coupled with the fact that the announcement was made by former Lubbock Mayor turned Regent Windy Sitton, tells me that the focus groups are a smoke screen and will be used to shield the University from criticism when succeed in removing cotton from the Texas Tech seal.

Hey Tech! Why didn't you start by asking for the alumni's at the beginning of this process? That's what the University of Kansas is doing right now, and that approach seems to be working.