the journey

Katrina one year later

honored
Originally uploaded by Brazen Photography.

President Bush has proclaimed August 29th a National Day of Remembrance of Hurricane Katrina. Here's an excerpt of the proclamation :

"One year ago, a vast coastline of towns and communities was virtually destroyed; one of America's great cities was submerged; and many lives were lost in one of the worst natural disasters in our Nation's history. On this National Day of Remembrance of Hurricane Katrina, we honor those who did not survive the fury of the storm and those who continue to put their lives back together in its aftermath. We also remember the heroism of ordinary citizens who touched our hearts with their bravery and compassion and moved our whole Nation to action. . ."

To view a Virtual Prayer Service at Beliefnet, click here.

Technorati Tags : Hurricane+Katrina, National+Day+of+Remembrance

A quirky day

aloha
Originally uploaded by notraces.

Maybe this is the new normal day in a post-Katrina world:

+ Early this morning, we picked up our normal weekly load of food at the Tarrant Area Food Bank in Ft. Worth. There were virtually no canned goods or dry goods.

+ Salvation Army's on-site shelves (in Cleburne) are empty because of the evacuees and local needs. However, their central distribution hub (Central Church of Christ) has plenty of donated/purchased food.

+ They've warned us that they'll be sending their "food clients" to us & other local agencies.

+ Scott & I picked up a donated sofa and love seat (really nice ones) and delivered them to an apartment being prepared for an evacuee family. It's one thing to provide short-term housing or an apartment, but a number of things, including furniture, are also needed--cleaning supplies & a broom, school supplies, towels and sheets.  Oh yeah, you'll need a bed & kitchen utensils too.

+ Salvation Army is prepared to support evacuee families for two months (maybe three), to help them find jobs & to provide the support necessary to help them start a new life.  Many have already decided remain here in Texas.

+ Sadly, many of "our new friends" are accustomed to paying $375 for rent (including utilities). In Cleburne, however, the cheapest apartments go for $500 per month (not including rent).  That's a change that will eventually hit them in the checkbook.

+ Local evacuees relocated from New Orleans are attending job fairs & finding jobs if they have suitable training & experience. I just hope the jobs they find are sufficient to address the increased cost of living.

+ I'm tempted to help at the shelter tonight. Overnight volunteers are needed (in two hour shifts) to spend time with the evacuees as a long as there are people staying in the Senior Center.

No ride for you!

FOR AUCTION: cyclone
Originally uploaded by sgoralnick.

Seeing this photo reminded me of a mother who wouldn't allow me to ride the rickety roller coaster at Chain of Rocks Amusement Park in St. Louis during the 1960s.

She came across as the proverbial "coaster Nazi" who replied to my pleas by saying, "No ride for you!" ;-)

This photo is also one of a growing collection of prints being auctioned at Flickr; the proceeds from the auction will assist the Red Cross in Hurricane Katrina disaster relief.

Before/after photo in Pass Christian, MS

  Pass Christian, MS House Before/After 
  Originally uploaded by CraftJunkie.

[Click on photo for larger view.]

Now, it's time to rebuild!

From Wikipedia:

"Pass Christian is a city located in Harrison County, Mississippi. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,579.

Once famous for its resorts, Pass Christian was the hardest hit city during Hurricane Camille in 1969. The extent of destruction from Hurricane Katrina on the August 29th 2005, is not yet known. Preliminary reports indicate more significant damage than from Hurricane Camille..."

Source: Wikipedia
via

Charles

Charles is one of the 225,000 evacuees who were shuttled to Texas this week & I had the good fortune of spending some time with him.

With a handicapped son and a wife safe tucked away in Florida before Hurricane Katrina hit land, Charles had every intention of riding out the storm and being reunited with his wife & son the next day.

But that didn't happen.

Charles tells a tale of being transported from location to location--a bus station, then a train station--only to be left at a bus station for a 12 midnight ride to God-only-knows-where.

Reflecting on the experience, Charles expressed lingering frustration, and talked about fear.  He was frustrated because of the ill-treatment (especially the lack of patience & respect) he received during the height of evacuation--he felt like the officials were treating him like one of the looters.  And he hated being categorized with the likes of them.

Also, fear developed due to lack of clear communication and sketchy information.  For all he knew, his well-meaning rescuers might dump him in the middle of nowhere not knowing what to do with him.

But he finally relaxed somewhat when he learned that Texas was the eventual destination of his bus.

I was captivated by Charles' non-stop talking.  At no point did he ever ask name or wait to hear anything I had to say because there was only one thing he needed: a compassionate, listening ear.  So, I did the best I could (at 1:00 a.m.) to be attentive & listen well.

Not knowing I was a "religious-type," Charles commented on matters of faith with a unique perspective.  Not believing God had sent the storm, he was convinced there was something he (and/or New Orleans) was supposed to learn from the tragedy. 

Incidentally, his need to make meaning of the tragedy was apparent throughtout our time together.  I found that encouraging as that is often a sign that healing has started.

Around 2:00 a.m. I said my goodbyes & left Charles with best wishes and a sincere smile.  Because my two-hour shift was over, he was tired, I was tired.  And it was time to go home.

[Charles is a 45-year-old unemployed black man who believed many of the evacuees would have more  after the flood, than they had before the flood.  At least after the disaster they'd have free housing, free clothing & free food.  And he was hopeful that FEMA would provide each evacuee $1000 (a rumor that was floating around) to start over again.  I hope he's right.]

We are ok!

Two Bible passages that are particularly pertinent in today's uncertain world:

Psalm 46:1-6

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Reassuring our children: Parenting after a disaster

Here's an excerpt of an informative article posed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship:

Practical considerations:

• Continuously reassure your children that you will help to keep them safe.
• Turn off the TV. Overexposure to the media can be traumatizing. If your older children are watching the news, be sure to watch with them.
• Be aware that your child’s age will affect his or her response. Adolescents in particular may be hard hit by these kinds of events. Obtaining counseling for a child or adolescent soon after a disaster may reduce long-term effects.
• Calmly express your emotions, but remember that a composed demeanor will provide a greater sense of security for your child.
• Give your children extra time and attention and plan to spend more time with your children in the following months.
• Let your children ask questions, talk about what happened, and express their feelings.
• Play with children who can’t talk yet to help them work out their fears and respond to the atmosphere around them.
• Keep regular schedules for activities such as eating, playing and going to bed to help restore a sense of security and normalcy.
• Consider how you and your child can help. Children are better able to regain their sense of power and security if they feel they can help in some way.

Theological considerations:

The offerings below are not intended for "proof-texting". Rather, this material provides minimal biblical background for further research as the parent/guardian considers some theological responses to questions from the children. It is critical to own one’s response out of one’s individual faith experience and understanding. Thus, the texts listed are for descriptive purposes, not prescriptive.

• God did not "do this" to these people. God loves all humans (John 3:16). This is not a "God-problem" (Nancy Walker).
• God set the world into motion after creation and gave us dominion (responsibility, Genesis 1:26-31). We are able to make a response to an imperfect world when trouble happens that we cannot explain. We may never have the answers.
• We are reassured when we remember all the ways in which God takes care of us. (Psalm 136)
• God weeps with us when God’s creation is in disorder. (Isaiah 45:18)
• God is active when we join God in helping each other. (Luke 15:11-32)
• God brings good out of all things. (Romans 8:28)

Source: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

How people are responding to Katrina

These are some of the ways people are responding to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina:

• Shock and overwhelmed.  This can’t be happening.  This is the kind of thing that happens in movies & nightmares, not in the real world.
• Anger.  Who or what caused this disaster?  Is it a fluke of nature?  Is God to blame?  Why would a loving God cause/allow anything like this to happen? 
• Blaming.  Why didn’t they have better contingencies for a category 5 hurricane?  Surely they knew something like this could happen?  Why are FEMA, the national guard, national, state and local authorities taking so long to respond?  Who’s responsible for the delays?
• Fear.  I want to help, but I’m not trained.  What if I do more harm than good?
• Resentment. I’m not sure that I want all of these outsiders in my neighborhood.  Won’t they hurt my opportunities for finding a decent job?  Aren't we creating a new welfare class?  Who's going to pay the tab for all of this?
• Impatience.  How long is this going to drag on?  Why doesn’t the mayor, governor or President do something to move things along?  When will the news reporters stop talking about this?  I’m tired of all of the depressing images and inflammatory commentary.  I want things go get back to normal!
• Trapped and gloomy thinking.  Will the Gulf Cost ever rebuild?  Will the U.S. ever rebound from the ripple effects of this tragedy?  Are we doomed to rising gas prices?
• Guilt.  If I really cared about people like I say I do, why haven’t I done anything?
• Compassion.  This is terrible.  What can I do to help?

An adaptation and expansion of materials published in A Youth Worker's Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis by Rich Van Pelt and Jim Hancock.

Prayer after Katrina

The is one of the better prayers after Katrina:

- Be present, O God, with those who are discovering that loved ones have died, that homes and jobs are gone. Embrace them in your everlasting arms.

- Be present, O God, with those who suffer today in shelters, hot and weary from too little sleep and too much fear. Let them know they are not alone.

- Be present, O God, with those who wonder what they will find when they return to homes battered by wind and engulfed by flood. Teach them to hope.

- Be present, O God, with those who have not been able to reach loved ones, who are frantic with worry. Offer them consolation.

- Be present, O God, with those who have hardly recovered from last year’s storms, who are unsure how much they can bear, who yearn only for quiet. Grant them peace.

- Be present, O God, with all who respond - mayors, police, firefighters, FEMA employees, Red Cross workers, pastors, church disaster response coordinators. Their work is just beginning, and will not end for many months. Strengthen them for service.

- Be present, O God, with the people of the United Church of Christ in storm damaged areas, and especially with the staff and clients of the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi where we fear so much has been damaged. Inspire us by their determination to care for others amid their own trials.

- Be present, O God, to each of us as we pray, that distance may not deter us from generous giving and enduring companionship. Help us remember tomorrow, and next week, and next month.

- Be present, O God, with all affected by Hurricane Katrina. May Immanuel, God with us, our precious Jesus, take every hand and lead us home. Amen.

John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ
August 30, 2005

Source: UCC.org

Should we give God credit for the storm?

An excerpt of a sermon on this subject:

"I wonder if it makes sense, psychologically speaking, to assume that when one is faced with intense suffering, one must be the victim of divine punishment. We seem to be wired with the need to explain anguish. We need to know that suffering has a reasonable cause and a distinguishable meaning. While giving God credit for the storm doesn't exactly make those who are suffering feel any better, it at least gives them the comfort of a framework through which to understand the events.

However, even if blaming God for the hurricane makes psychological sense, I'm not sure it makes theological sense. In the Book of Genesis, we are told that following the devastation of the flood, God made a covenant to never again harm life with the waters of a flood, and sealed that covenant with a rainbow. In the gospels, Jesus, the very incarnation of God, does not incite the storm on the Lake of Galilee; he calms the storm and soothes the fears of his Disciples. If we believe that Jesus truly reflects the nature of his Heavenly Father, we are invited to trust that our God is a loving and merciful God who would not cause levies to break, windows to shatter, and human beings to go missing..."

Source: Any Day a Beautiful Change

Romans 8 revisited through the eyes of Hurricane Katrina

Printed below is Romans 8:35-39 (Msg) revisited today:

Do you really think that anything is capable of driving a wedge between you and God's love?

No way, there's absolutely no way!

Not hurricanes or natural disasters, not breached levees or flooded streets, not destroyed homes or obliterated neighborhoods, not looting or lawlessness, not uncertainty or anxiety, not shock or grief, not separation from family or homeland, not hunger or thirst, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not shattered dreams or broken hearts, not even the worst of sins or maladies recorded in Scripture.... 

None of these have the power to consume us because of the presence of a gracious God & His undying love for us!

So, don't ever forget this: God's with you with tear-filled eyes, broken-hearted, arms open wide & ready to comfort.  God didn't create the pain, the forces of nature are to blame.

I'm absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can prevent God from loving us.  Why?  Because of the eternal love given to us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Are we excited & comforted by this?  You bet we are!

Photos for auction on Flickr

For Auction: A Brush With Lush
Originally uploaded by tarotastic.

Photos, like this one, are up for auction in the Hurricane Katrina Relief Auction.  It's amazing how creative people (and groups) are being in providing much-need financial assistance in the wake of a national disaster.

Speaking of works of art, the following excerpt from a Guardian-UK article paints a very bleak picture:

"New Orleans descended into anarchy Thursday, as corpses lay abandoned in street medians, fights and fires broke out and storm survivors battled for seats on the buses that would carry them away from the chaos. The tired and hungry seethed, saying they had been forsaken. ``This is a desperate SOS,'' mayor Ray Nagin said.

`We are out here like pure animals,' the Rev. Issac Clark said outside the New Orleans Convention Center, where he and other evacuees had been waiting for buses for days amid the filth and the dead.

`I'm not sure I'm going to get out of here alive,' said tourist Larry Mitzel of Saskatoon, Canada, who handed a reporter his business card in case he goes missing. `I'm scared of riots. I'm scared of the locals. We might get caught in the crossfire.'

Four days after Hurricane Katrina roared in with a devastating blow that inflicted potentially thousands of deaths, the frustration, fear and anger mounted, despite the promise of 1,400 National Guardsmen a day to stop the looting, plans for a $10 billion recovery bill in Congress and a government relief effort President Bush called the biggest in U.S. history.

New Orleans' top emergency management official called that effort a 'national disgrace' and questioned when reinforcements would actually reach the increasingly lawless city...'"

Source: Guardian-UK

Children affected by Hurricane Katrina

  kelsey 
  Originally uploaded by ratterrell.

Please pray for the children, families, homeless, sick & elderly who were affected by this national tragedy.

From the author who posted this photograph:

"This is Kelsey. She is an evacuee now residing at the Southern University activity center. Kelsey is a 'ham.' Every time I turned around she wanted me to take another picture and then wanted to show it to her mom. This picture was a 'command performance.' She told me to take another picture and as a 'loyal subject' I dutifully obeyed 'her highness.' There was never any doubt about who was in control and had the power in our friendship...Kelsey did.

For additional up-to-date AP photos, multimedia, satellite images & related stories click here.

One other note: I was moved & impressed by the prayer for the hurricane victims posted here.

Highway overpass before and after Katrina via DigitalGlobe

  Highway Overpass Before and After Flooding VIA DigitalGlobe 
  Originally uploaded by matthew_harris.

Satellite photographs are beginning to be posted via Digital Globe & Flicker.  Click on this photo to view a larger version, and to view other satellite photos.

To access additional satellite images, click here for the Digital Globe Web site.

Source: Flickr.com

Hurricane Katrina photo/image links

This is a special edition of "cool links" dedicated to everyone affected by Hurricane Katrina:

• flhurricane.com: This site tracks the path of Hurricane Katrina. via
• Flickr.com: Photos posted as "hurricane katrina."
• River Stage Data: Live river flood gauges.
• Resource Shelf
• FEMA.gov: Information on how you can help.
• UMCOR (located in Baldwin, Louisiana): Disaster relief. Flood buckets & health kits needed (see instructions).
• Washington Post: Hurricane refugees head to Houston
• Houston Chronicle: Great links, video, and information for the refugees.
• Associated Press: Latest Katrina photos (a photo gallery)
• Nola.com: New Orleans cops ordered to stop looters
• NASA: Katrina photos via NASA.

Prayer for the Gulf Coast area

From  Sojo:

"During hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters, those who have the least to lose are often those who lose the most. Why?

First, the dwellings in which poor people live are not as sturdy, stable, or safe as others. "Shotgun" shacks, mobile homes, and poorly constructed apartment buildings don't do well in hurricane-force winds and tidal surges.

Second, the places where poor people live are also the most vulnerable. The rich often live at the tops of hills, the poor in the valleys and plains that are the first to flood. The living conditions in these neighborhoods are also usually the most dense and overcrowded.

Third, it is much harder for the poor to evacuate. They don't own cars, can't afford to rent them, and often can't even afford a tank of gas - especially at today's prices. They can't afford an airplane, train, or even bus ticket. And, as one low-income person told a New Orleans reporter, they have no place to go. People in poverty can't afford motel or hotel rooms, and often don't have friends or family in other places with space to spare. In New Orleans, there were many people who desperately wanted to leave but couldn't.

Fourth, low-income people are the least likely to have insurance on their homes and belongings, and the least likely to have health insurance. If jobs are lost because of natural disasters, theirs are the first to go. Poverty makes long-term recovery after a disaster more difficult - the communities that are the weakest to begin with usually recover the slowest. The lack of a living family income for most people in those communities leaves no reserve for emergencies.

New Orleans has a poverty rate of 28% - more than twice the national rate. Life is always hard for poor people - living on the edge is insecure and full of risk. Natural disasters make it worse. Yet even in normal times, poverty is hidden and not reported by the media. In times of disaster, there continues to be little coverage of the excessive impact on the poor. Devastated luxury homes and hotels, drifting yachts and battered casinos make far more compelling photographs.

The final irony of New Orleans is that the people who normally fill the Louisiana Superdome are those who can afford the high cost of tickets, parking, and concessions. Now its inhabitants are the poor, especially children, the elderly and the sick - those with nowhere else to go. Those with money are nowhere to be seen.

As the Gulf Coast now faces the long and difficult task of recovery, what can we do?

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco declared Wednesday a day of prayer: "As we face the devastation wrought by Katrina, as we search for those in need, as we comfort those in pain and as we begin the long task of rebuilding, we turn to God for strength, hope and comfort." She urged residents in her state to ask "that God give us all the physical and spiritual strength to work through this crisis and rebuild."

+ Click here to send this message to friends and family and encourage them to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina with their prayers and donations

If you wish to make a contribution to help with disaster relief, contact one of the following agencies recommended by FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) or the relief organization of your choice.

+ Click here for more information on how to help

Source: SojoMail

Hurricane Katrina photos & satellite images

This message is posted on the Digital Globe satellite image page:

Dear Concerned Party,

First let the DigitalGlobe community say that all of the people and communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina are in our thoughts. We hope for the most rapid and best outcome possible for them all.

DigitalGlobe is aware of the extreme humanitarian need in the communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina and is making every effort possible to collect useable satellite imagery of the impacted areas. We have five potential satellite accesses planned for the next week.

Weather conditions permitting, this imagery will be posted on our website and available through our partners.

DigitalGlobe and Google are working closely to provide the updated imagery via Google Maps and Google Earth as quickly as is possible.

Please visit our website periodically throughout the next days in order to get updates on newly available imagery.

Best,

The DigitalGlobe Community

Katrina ravages Gulf coast

  2074350 
  Originally uploaded by John Hay.

Click on photo for larger view.  Be sure to view all of the Hurricane Katrina photographs in this Flickr photo set.

I know you will want to extend your prayers & well-wishes, and tangible expressions of compassion & concern for all of those affected by this natural disaster.

Source: Flickr.com