So I googled Operation Brother's Keeper and not a heck of a lot came up. But one interesting item with an interesting date came up.
http://wb38.trb.com/news/hurricane08222005,0,2554213.story?coll=wnol-home-1
Operation Brother's Keeper
Yunji de Nies
August 25, 2005, 9:36 PM CDT
As the pastor of First United Baptist Church, Reverend Marshall Truehill preaches the gospel. But for the last three years, Truehill has also been spreading another message.
"We're trying to say to people, you have to be responsible for yourself, your family and your neighbors." Truehill said.
Truehill is spearheading "Operation Brother's Keeper" with the help of the Red Cross, and city and state leaders. They've created a dvd encouraging New Orleanians to leave if hurricane heads this way.
"People will die in New Orleans from drowning or from disease or lack of food, whatever will come in the aftermath of having to be in a city where there are no resources, no accomodations for as long as 8-9 months," Truehill said.
Truehill is focusing on the estimated 145,000 people in the city who rely on public transportation, encouraging religious leaders to make sure everyone in their congregation has a ride out and a place to stay.
"The congregations are being asked to form partnerships with congregations outside of the risk area so that at least for a week or two we'll have somewhere to house people," Truehill said.
In September, 15,000 copies of the DVD will be available for churches, schools and libraries throughout the city. After that, the Department of Homeland Security is providing a grant for another 70,000 copies. Truehill hopes those will go to low income families.
"They can review it, they can look at it with their family members, congregations can show it to small and large groups at gatherings to help teach people and change that cultural mindset that we can stay in New Orleans and ride out storms," Truehill said.
Truehill says those who decide to stick it out despite the warnings, should know they could be jeapordizing other people's lives as well as their own.
"If you take the risk, realize that you're not only putting your own life in danger, but the lives of the people who need to stay behind to see after you," Truehill said.
The 30 minute DVD will also be shown on public television stations throughout September. Truehill says 900 congregations throghout the city, including Muslim and Jewish groups, are on board with the plan. To learn more about the plan, watch ABC 26 This Week on Sunday morning at 11:30.
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