I'm proud of my City

Took some old clothes down to the Red Cross center by the Astrodome this morning around lunch. Didn't go too close, stayed on Kirby, because I didn't want to get in the way. But even on Kirby there were probably 500-1000 people mulling around, usually one or two in the family group carrying large plastic garbage bags.

And this was before a single bus had arrived from the Superdome. We've had two "rogue" buses from New Orleans, one's not sanctioned by the FEMA/NO authorities, and alot of the people who took originally took hotel rooms are starting to show up.

There was a red cross clothing distribution center, well, really it was just pants in one pile, shirts in another, etc. in the parking lot across Kirby. About a hundred and fifty people digging through the stuff. If you want to donate, go there, or better, go to the Red Cross Office on the Southwest freeway(hwy 59) on the north side about at Buffalo Speedway.

There were probably two hundred, maybe more, porta-johns spread throughout the parking lot in groups of five to supplement the ample but dingy facilities inside.

But most notable was the obvious work going on. Hundreds of people, trucks going in and out, parking attendants being unusually nice.

Local vendors are stepping in offering food supplies or whatever they've got. I saw a couple of Kroger trucks in the loading dock.

The only concern I really have is the showers. In the first week or so, they're gonna try to schedule all those people into the lockerroom showers which is gonna be untenable.

And today, locally, there have been the beginnings of an effort of people with extra rooms in their homes to house some of these evacuees at least temporarily. I really feel quite badly that I'm not in a situation where that's possible. But, you know, that's really giving.

On my way back out, I stopped at my favorite Gyro place and ran across a lady buying twenty sandwiches, chips and drinks, for some of the Red Cross people and some of the others at the clothing distribution site. She wasn't involved with the red cross; she was just driving by and saw all the people. I bought ten more and sent them with her.

It's already been widely reported that Houston schools(HISD) has waived all entry requirements for families coming out the hurricane area. No need for ID, school records, etc.

Several of the church run thrift shops, local salvation army or goodwill equivalents like the Bluebird shop my mom is affiliated with, will allow anyone out of that region to come and take what they need, and several of the churches in the area have adopted "sister" churches in New Orleans to help organize relief. I don't think that is a denominational discrimination, simply a way to help organize and channel locally distributed aid. There's a couple of churches who've turned over their buildings, and in one case I know of, their sanctuaries, to help house refugees. (not a big fan of organized religion, but that's good work.)

To the people of New Orleans, I would like to say that you are welcome in Houston.

It's not gonna be smooth, but we will do everything that we can to help.

Lean, we got you.