The Houston Astrodome: A Symphony of Relief
Glenda Plunkett , Special to RedCross.org
Thursday, September 01, 2005 — HOUSTON -- When the Superdome in New Orleans was wounded Katrina, the 23,000 evacuees housed there would once again have to move. Solutions had to be found, and one answer was bussing to Houston for sheltering in the Astrodome.
Long time American Red Crosser Patrick Knapp was named Shelter Manager for the Astrodome operation. Knapp was Shelter Manager for the New Jersey shelter operation after the Sept. 11 attacks.
“This was an eleventh hour decision,” said Knapp, who has been with the Red Cross for ten years. “We stepped up to the plate with enthusiasm. We don’t want this shelter to be opened exclusively to Superdome evacuees. We want to serve them all. We want to bring everyone into the fold. This is not about you, or me, and it’s not about rules. This is about our clients.”
One of the problems facing the sheltering team was how to keep track of roughly 30,000 people. Tough problems like this one beg for innovation, and Red Cross creativity and a community partner found the solution.
“We called Kroger and asked for 30,000 of their bar coded swipe cards,” Knapp said. “They agreed and said they said they would set up a system at the shelter with a swipe card for each evacuee. The information will be collected at registration and a card will be assigned to each person.”
As that person leaves the Astrodome for an errand, they will swipe their card at the main gate, helping the Red Cross keep track of who is there and not there -- giving instant accountability. It makes Disaster Welfare Inquiry a snap. Now the Red Cross has a database and we have accountability. It paid for the Red Cross to make the move and advance it service through the cooperation of a community partner like Kroger.
Another key player at the shelter is logistics expert Daniel Krall with the Red Cross. Krall explained that cots were borrowed from FEMA and other state and local government agencies.
Hundreds of volunteers committed to work rotating 12-hour shifts to bring relief to these stranded evacuees with a timeline something like this:
4:00 p.m. - Four volunteers from the American Red Cross wait at the Astrodome ready to help. There were no supplies. The inside of the Astrodome is marked in tape and chalk lines of 5’x7’ rectangles. Each rectangle will hold one cot.
7:00 p.m. – Sysco Kitchen arrives.
10:00 p.m. – Refrigerator trucks arrive with food.
10:40 p.m. - No supplies yet. Whispers of a 10-bus convoy coming from the Superdome, with as many as 60 rogue busses as well carrying desperate, displaced persons aboard all needing one thing—basic shelter. The anxious crew was running on rumours, adrenaline, and a need to help.
11:35 p.m. – The cots arrive! A semi truck and trailer pull into the Astrodome. Volunteers quickly descend upon it to unload cots.
12:35 a.m. – 70 percent of the cots are up in the infield making the infield a sea of green rectangles each with a warm blanket. The sports arena is filling with volunteers on one mission for relief. Red Cross signage goes up.
1:00 a.m. – An ambulance pulls into a cubby just outside of the field of cots to bring medical service to the shelter. Each person will be checked for any health-related problems and if need be, treated by healthcare professionals.
As this reporter walked away from the Astrodome, now standing as an amazing testament of human strength, and innovation, I marvelled at how it was to see it come together. It was like a gifted composer who has this collection of beautiful notes playing in his head and then assembles them into one remarkable symphony. Only this time that symphony played a song of relief for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Kudos to the Shelter Crew of the Astrodome and all of the community partners that made this happen.
I have one question that is really bothering me. It's great the people can go in and out of the dome so they don't go stir crazy. But, what about people who might go out to get alcohol or other stuff that could cause ultimate problems within the dome. How are they going to control that?
Fate Of Mortgages In Damaged Areas Unclear
Consumer Affairs brings up the new bankruptcy rules that involve natural disasters. "Under the new bankruptcy legislation, homeowners who have refinanced may be liable for the full cost of their loans if they waived their protections when signing their new agreements."
"Such was the fate of many homeowners after a series of landslides in Laguna Beach, California, in June of 2005, the Los Angeles Times reported. It remains to be seen how this will affect bankruptcy or relief petitions in the wake of Katrina."
Insurer AIG has this to say about mortgages in the storm damaged areas. "Mortgage insurer AIG United Guaranty laid out guidelines Wednesday for how it will insure its clients with borrowers in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. It did not have figures available, but many mortgages could be in potential jeopardy."
AIG insures 4,145 mortgages in Alabama; 7,131 in Louisiana, and 1,644 in Mississippi, a spokeswoman said. AIG said it wanted lenders to make arrangements with borrowers with severe property damage or temporary job losses to prevent foreclosure."
"Chris Goodwin, vice president of Loss Management (said), 'In working with lenders whose customers have been affected, we are prepared to accept a range of reasonable solutions where mortgage payment is concerned.'"
Those barcoded cards are sure a smart way to keep track of everyone. Thanks for posting this account of the preparations at the Astrodome.