<p>Interesting graphic from CNN. Note which states do NOT have many evacuees? </p>
<p><a href=“http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/katrina/people/[/url]”>http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/katrina/people/</a></p>
<p>Chihuahua? Coahuila? What’s your point?</p>
<p>?What’s your point? Those are Red Cross shelters, regular temporary shelters.</p>
<p>Cheers:</p>
<p>MA was ready to accept 2,500 evacuees but was told most preferred to stay closer to home. So we do not have any from the Astrodome, though some with connections to MA have come (see for example that Cornell has absorbed ~300 students from Tulane and Loyola). I’m sure that similar factors account for the fact that most of the shelters are located in the South.</p>
<p>North Dakota doesn’t care about black people! :(</p>
<p>Actually, I was trying to find out if many relocated families are in New Jersey. That map really doesn’t tell us much. </p>
<p>We are hearing the same about CA as about MA. SF was ready to take up to 300 evacuees, but that’s been placed on hold for now</p>
<p>Though I know that friends have taken in other friends along the panhandle, I was surprised that the state of Florida didn’t take more–partly because it has a similar climate/culture, partly because I would have thought the Florida Evacuee resources were the best in the country and partly because Florida must have had a few phone calls from Washington.</p>
<p>New Orleanians, relatives missing and lives blown apart, might not be keen to go above the Mason Dixon line. I get that.</p>
<p>I’m sure for these unfortunate, evacuated folk - many of which have probably been separated from family and anything familiar in the process - the farther they are sent from “home”, the less chance they have of re-connecting with loved ones and their “real” life. I don’t think offense should be taken.</p>
<p>I live in Texas, and I’m proud for the effort we have made, but I also realize that we were easy to reach. Heading east out of NO was impossible due to the devestation in Southeast Louisiana and Coastal Mississippi and Alabama. Also, much of Alabama and Florida are still rebuilding from a very active hurricane season last year. I think that refugees will be moved or chose to move to other locations once we’ve had time to catch our breath.</p>
<p>We are surprised that there are no takers to live free in our home in a large Florida city, and it’s near public schools and public transportation. And we won’t even here - Katrina guests would be on their own. We’re sort of hearing that fear of more hurricanes is a concern, with distance from home a secondary issue.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be trying to analyze yet. Most of the victims are still shell shocked and don’t want to make any decisions at this time. In a month, you may see them ready to look for jobs or look for distant family. I believe the whole country will work together for this. Texas was convenient and willing. From what I’ve seen, Houston in particular has gone beyond the call and done it very professionally. I think some other cities might want to study their response.</p>
<p>Texas is wildly generous. Houston is unbelieveable. Inspiring to say the least.</p>
<p>More hurrricanes…I hadn’t thought of that. Good point.</p>
<p>My curiousity extended only to the immediate shelter. As many were flown to Texas–presumably an equal number could have been flown to Florida?</p>
<p>The offers weren’t forthcoming? The offers were rejected? Whatever, it is interesting–as interesting and informative as watching Texas throw open it’s arms.<br>
I don’t know much about Texas. I would not have predicted the outpouring of love and money.</p>
<p>My sense is that the majority of those evacuees will eventually return to Louisiana to help rebuild.</p>
<p>“Yah cain’t get theh-ah from he-ah”
I think Bandit and Along have the right of it. People are shell -shocked, and you cannot easily get to NO from here or Fla right now. I personally know of several families from NOLA that have moved into our area, and a bunch from MS, but these are all people with families in this area - some evacuated before the storm, some came after a few days in other places - B’ham, Jackson, Baton Rouge - when it was clear that this would be long haul.</p>
<p>Well - Mass received its first plane load at about 2pm today - they were the ones being taken out of NO NOW - they don’t go to any shelter - they go directly to NO airport and are being airlifted out - to 3 states today - will be 3 other states tomorrow. MA will be receiving a second plane load at about mid nite tonite. These folks were given a choice at the airport of which plane to board depending on where it was going - so…the states with available shelters are being rotated thru a ??5 day cycle (yesterday we were told we were not getting any at all!!! - after having a small city all set up) There was one interesting thing that happened tho - there was ?? that there were 2-3 gang members on our plane - the flights are being observed by US Marshalls - as there was little time to do security checks on these people prior to the plane taking off - there were NO incidents at all - all of them really seemed shell shocked tho very grateful to be on tera firma - many smiles were seen.</p>
<p>OOOOO and BTW - the people disembarking from this plane today - were black AND white!!! We really need to stop the race card - they are human beings first.</p>
<p>CHEERS - your map is very outdated!!!</p>
<p>The map was posted by CNN, yesterday, Sept 8. It does show where the immediate evacuees went. </p>
<p>I realize the situation will change by next week. It is still interesting to note where folks went initially–and which states outside of the disaster zone provided immediate relief.</p>
<p>Jeepmom:</p>
<p>Thanks for updating on MA. I had not read local news today. Cape Cod in September is fine. Later in the year, it will be too cold for LA people. Hopefully by then new housing will have been found for them.</p>
<p>California was going to take 1,000 evacuees - but they didn’t want to come. Too far. A lot of the evacuees plan to stay in Houston – it turns out that due to recent construction, there is a “glut” of affordable housing on the Houston market – definitely not true of California – so the bottom line is that the prospects for employment and housing are a lot better in urban & suburban areas of Texas than in California.</p>
<p>It’s not a matter of heartlessness, Cheers - it’s a matter of practicality. The families that hope to return to the area don’t want to go far – after all, there probably will be a lot of jobs available related to cleanup and new construction in the New Orleans area. Those who are thinking of moving on and creating a new life for themselves are going to look at affordable housing and local employment options as being of primary importance.</p>
<p>Well at least they have beds, food, medical care, roof over their heads, etc… - and they will be kept warm and comfortable here, kids in school real soon - with alot of support services - the governor has guaranteed that for those wanting to return to the south - they will find a way for them to do that. There may be those who choose to stay also - cold or not - people do learn to adjust - but time will tell.</p>
<p>I have a feeling that the MA evacuees will have somewhat unique experience in a way - they are being housed in what has been set up as a small city - with many many services/transportation, outlets, etc… being provided - tho probably others being sent to military bases would as well.</p>
<p>At this point I think evacuees are not being given any choice when they are rescued - as there are no other places for them to go - Texas is super-saturated - so now other options are being used.</p>
<p>Missing my main observation, Florida, Arkansas, others vs Texas. </p>
<p>CA and MASS are too far away, obviously. </p>
<p>‘Heartlessness’ isn’t the back story. The back story is political/financial…something. </p>
<p>‘Heart’ is the same across the country–as the rest of the country realizes the depth of despair. </p>
<p>But as the despair unfolded, some official somewhere asked some Texas official to take evacuees. Texas officials looked intheir wallets and said “Sure, send 230,000.” I love that. </p>
<p>Phone calls were made and received. What happened in the phone calls to Florida, Arkansas etc?</p>