Citizens of Houston: People of the Year
Thursday September 15, 2005
It’s early morning and the house is quiet. I’m not an early morning person, but have found that rising before Bobbi and Vic are up gives me some time to reflect and “be.” Today there will be big changes taking place at Reliant Park. Last night, the elderly and disabled were moved into the arena. Today, those in the dome will move to the arena and tomorrow those housed at the center will move as well. They’re consolidating everyone in one place.
While they’re moving people over today, the whole medical unit is breaking down and will be gone by 5:00 PM. I talked to one of the people at the medical staffing desk and she said there are no more “emergencies” now, i.e. medical emergencies directly related to their time in LA. Any emergencies now will be handled by hospitals themselves. I asked about mental health and she said the same was true there. Anyone with mental health issues will be directed to outpatient clinics. She indicated my badge will not be good after today. I’m sure I’ll find a way in tomorrow.
I understand why they’re doing this. An effort to get those who are lingering, and there are some, to begin to move into the community. As well, the city of Houston has said “Two weeks is enough,” and is turning the reins over to the Red Cross. I just hope the level of care will continue. The city has done an amazing job taking care of these folks. I want to start a campaign to nominate the citizens of Houston as Time magazine’s “People of the Year”.
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An exhausting day. I think my body is beginning to tell me that it’s had enough. My feet ache, as does my back. It doesn’t seem that I walked or stood any more. I’m just tired!
I started at the dome, checking in on my families. Brenda and her family were gone, and there was no sign of Rebecca and Joseph. I imagine they are on a honeymoon somewhere. Jean and Raydell were packed up and ready to move. They are heading to Baton Rouge where Jean has family. She said she had waited in line for 3 hours to get a photo ID and they had to send people home as the photo machine broke down. She was heading back today after they got moved.
I also talked to Naomi and Tamara. Tamara wants to study psychology in college and really hopes to get into school soon. Naomi said the man who is giving her the house will pick her up later today to take her to the place. He wants her to pick the carpeting since she’s going to live there. (This is amazing generosity and I hope she isn’t getting scammed. Yesterday, they were announcing that people should not go with anyone who has housing unless they have official papers of some kind. The ways people will take advantage is sickening.)
Once I had checked in with those folks, I went to the arena. They had moved the elderly and disabled last night, so I thought I might find Pat. I did not, but did find Gilda, whom I had met yesterday. She was settling in. I spent some time talking with people and running errands for them Gilda needed water, another needed blankets, another envelopes to send her information to FEMA. I told her she could just walk that info right to the FEMA office in the building. She didn’t know they were there.
There were a few more stories today, each one has some unique twist to it, something that makes that person, that family, stand apart….
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“Dorothy,” an elderly woman with her daughter and grandchildren. She flagged me down asking how to use the Metro card she had been given. Once I got the information for her, she seemed to want to chat. She said her momma had always told her she needed to “be up” so that she wouldn’t embarrass herself. She said she always wants to be sure she knows what she’s doing. She and her family had waited out the hurricane at home and she ended up on an air mattress with her baby granddaughter being pushed out by other family. She was another who said that the corruption in New Orleans had gotten too bad. “The Lord was tired and gave us this…”
“Elliot,” an attractive young man I met as I was leaving for the day. When I asked what his plans were, he said he was going back to New Orleans as soon as he was allowed. I asked if he would find work helping to rebuild. His comment: “I won’t do nothing for the city. I’m going back to my old job.” He is angry with the lack of response from the city. He’s a chef for a restaurant in the French Quarter and knows as soon as it reopens he’ll be working again.
“Lethia,” an elderly woman who I met briefly early in the day, but we connected again waiting for the trolley. She got out on an air mattress and went to the Superdome, hell dome. She has the same horror stories of crime and violence that the others have. She said, “It’s the mama’s fault. They don’t pay any attention to their young ones. They’re too busy on their cell phones.” She too talked about her God and said he had worked overtime looking out for the children.
“Earl,” a 52 year old man who was eating lunch when I sat down to take a break. He said that his family of eight, including himself had gotten out safely. He had taken them to the “bridge” and went back to stay in the house with his dog. He had fallen asleep and woke up to when he sensed his shirt was wet. He took the dog to the second floor, fell back asleep and woke up later, realizing that the water was still rising. He made a hole in the ceiling and climbed into the attic. He realized he needed to get out and put together some kind of raft. He and the dog got on the raft and made it to dry land. He said he passed a number of bodies floating. “I felt bad. There was nothing I could do.”
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When Earl had finished telling his story, he thanked me for listening. He said I was the first person who had listened all the way through. “People can’t hear this story. They just walk away.” I asked him if he was dreaming about his experience. He has been having some bad dreams. I told him that is normal and that he should expect he might have more. I also said his family might have nightmares, and that he should let them know it’s normal, it’s okay.
Before leaving, I went to the area where the new arrivals from the dome are being housed. I hadn’t stepped into the area for two minutes and I heard, “Miss Pam.” It was Jean setting up her and Raydells’ things. Down the row from her was the woman who had asked about tickets to the amusement park earlier this week. I thought she, her son and mom had found housing as I hadn’t seen them in a couple of days. Her name is Keisha, her mom is Gloria and son, Tyrone. They’ve found housing and are waiting to get the required paperwork. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll find Naomi and Tamara.
I’m not sure what tomorrow will bring. I talked with the head of the mental health unit, and he seemed to think I would have no problem getting in. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay, but I’ve told some people I’ll be back to say goodbye. I do feel connected to them and will be sad to say goodbye. This has been some kind of nine days…..
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