I'm proud of my City - Part three

Quickly, on Monday Robert Eckels, basically our county head which is a pretty big post down here, said that in the first five days, we had had 24,000 individuals volunteer to help at the Astrodome complex. I think that's pretty good. I really can't begin to describe the sentiment down here, it really is all hands to the pumps, we need to help our neighbors.

And there have been a few organizational problems, but at least at this early stage, I think I can say without reservation that we're truly doing our best.

So, I'm gonna put up this highly flattering article from the BBC.

Houston gave the US the chance to catch its breath.

That was the considered opinion of Robert Eckels, the man in charge of the city's relief effort as he sat on the edge of a stage that had been graced just minutes earlier by the presence of former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush senior. .......

All Texas-bound buses came through here and seldom can the smog-caked downtown high rises have been such a welcoming sight for visitors.

This was their guarantee of water, food, medical care and shelter. So appealing did Texas become that almost 250,000 Katrina survivors headed here.

Those who could filled hotels and motels, while those who could not found refuge in sports complexes and convention centres. ......

Add in the neighbouring arena and a convention centre about three miles (5km) away and you have a town with a population of around 25,000 which has sprung up in days.

Coping with the influx has presented Houston with both challenges and opportunities.

Now that the immediate needs of the evacuees have been met, the city is moving to open up its schools and hospitals to the survivors as well as urging residents to allow the evacuees to use their spare rooms and empty properties.

Long-term issues

It is a burden the city's residents appear to relish. They have whole-heartedly welcomed their fellow Americans in a wholly impressive display of support.

For days, traffic on Kirby Drive, the main road that runs alongside the Astrodome, was packed nose to tail and thousands of Houstonians came out to volunteer their help.

Others came along with carloads of toiletries or toys or clothes, while two of the occupants of one vehicle in front of me jumped out and simply handed money to evacuees who were walking along the kerb.

It has been that sort of time in Houston, people pitching in as they can, officials trying to solve problems they had not even imagined.

But now that the evacuees' immediate needs have been met, attention is shifting to longer- term needs. And though Houston has devised plans to send some of the evacuees to other parts of the country - including onto cruise ships - many are reluctant to move on just yet.

Many do not want to make firm decisions about where they want to live. As a result many evacuees may remain in Houston longer than planned.

That would undoubtedly put pressure on the abilities of officials to devise new solutions as well as asking far bigger questions about the effect that the influx of tens of thousands will have on the social fabric of the city.

Lean, we're here.