people to be moved to Houstan Astrodome cnn

[rodeodance]

[lonestarnot]

1. What?

[babylonsister]

3. People in the SuperDome are to be moved to the Houston

Astrodome. Sounds logical at this point; it's hot and dusty here at the moment.

[rodeodance]

8. hope the toilets are working!!--in Houstan.

[lonestarnot]

14. Oh... Not Houjistan? Pakistan, Tusjickistan, Landistan... Is it dry?

I mean any place is better than waterworld.

[rodeodance]

5. that is what cnn just said. that is all they said --

[rodeodance]

2. in other words no housing for many of these people is Available and

FEMA says they have been working on this for days now.

[flyingfysh]

9. military bases have lots of unused barracks

along with cafeterias, medical facilities, theaters, everything. Why doesn't Bush use those?

Because he doesn't care.

[rodeodance]

13. I have talk about it but only talk. You are right!!

[MADem]

17. Most of the bases in the area got badly damaged nt

[theHandpuppet]

93. There are PLENTY of military bases outside the damaged areas!

http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/localList.php?local=44&locTGroup=Military_bases&direction=down&sec=0

MILITARY BASES LIST

Texas
Brooks City-Base
Dyess AFB
Fort Bliss
Fort Hood
Fort Sam Houston
Goodfellow AFB

Lackland AFB
Laughlin AFB
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
Naval Station Ingleside
Randolph AFB
Sheppard AFB

Florida
Eglin AFB
MacDill AFB
Naval Air Station Jacksonville

Naval Station Mayport
Tyndall AFB

Arkansas
Little Rock AFB

Georgia
Fort Benning
Fort Gillem
Fort Gordon
Fort McPherson
Fort Stewart

MCLB Albany
Moody AFB
Naval Air Station Atlanta
Naval Submarine Base - Kings Bay
Robins AFB

Oklahoma
Altus AFB
Fort Sill

Tinker AFB

[MADem]

107. Just because there are bases, there aren't many rooms in the barracks

Military barracks, worldwide, operate at at least 93 percent of capacity. Some are in excess of a hundred percent, requiring personnel to accept what is termed 'substandard quarters' which usually takes the form of four folks in a two person room.

This myth that there are rooms everywhere is false.

Under Clinton, we tore down substandard barracks and built new--and far fewer, because the military was drawing down as a result of the Cheney plan. We also permitted more military personnel to live off base, and draw housing allowance. Most of the kids in Iraq have families at home in CIVILIAN communities, and the reservists do not ever live in military housing in any event.

Sure, you can put them in a hangar, without air conditioning...or the gym, with bad air conditioning...but there just are not rooms at the inn. It is an old and false paradigm.

[MADem]

108. Dupe, delete

Sorry, got a bug msg and reposted...

[lonestarnot]

18. Fuck I have a huge back yard and a two room tent. I take the tent and put

people in my house! Just get them out!

[Karenina]

4. WHAT???

[cbear70]

6. second the What????????

[AValdoux]

7. Why not tent cities? n/t

AValdoux

[rodeodance]

10. yup they said it again-the decision has been made to make the move

to the Astrodome.

[melissinha]

21. I agree

I'd be willing to give up my tent... only used it twice...

I would much rather know it is put to good use.

I am asking my boyfriend if his family, which is from New Orleans, would consider staying here in Austin. Their hotel bills are going to get astronomical. I can't really see how I can directly affect the poor people who have no family in Texas, but if someone can take it down there, I'll donate my 5 person tent and sleeping bags.

[Ganja Ninja]

51. Why not put them in empty military barracks around the country?

Why not take over hotels by emergency order. These people are going to need housing for months. Putting them in the Astrodome is stupid.

[Minstrel Boy]

11. A tent city would be better!

What the hell are they thinking?

[MADem]

25. You mean in Houston, I assume?

Since NO and all of the other affected areas are underwater, or waterlogged, and have no power or sewage, they need to move those people to dry ground.

It could well be they are going to do the trailer routine, like they did after Andrew. But you need to stage the people somewhere, so you can centrally coordinate services and make assignments based on need (family size, location of relatives, and so forth).

For all we know this is Step One, with additional support to follow.

[Minstrel Boy]

34. Definitely. Wherever's dry, has space and infrastructure

to support it.

[oasis]

88. Bush needs to appoint a national coordinator for this. Long overdue.

[Fleshdancer]

38. not in TX! Austin's forcast for today is 104 degrees.

August and September are brutal months down here.

[dogday]

61. Astrodome has air conditioning

they will have air....August is over and September will cool off towards the end of the month....

[Fleshdancer]

66. I was responding to the idea of tent cities

If I had to choose between a tent and the Astrodome, the Astrodome would be the best choice because of the heat.

[dogday]

69. Astrodome is part of Reliant Park

not only the Astrodome but a series of buildings called Reliant Center are there as well, this is a huge complex, hopefully they can make due.

[lastliberalintexas]

100. Thank you!

All the people criticizing this and saying tents would be better have no idea what the next months bring in this part of the world- unbearable heat and humidity followed by a little cooler much *wetter* fall. And from the accounts we're getting, the evacuees will be out of LA for MONTHS.

Yep, give me the Astrodome any day of the week in that scenario.

[Fleshdancer]

12. Good. They need to get out of NO

and as a Texan, I'm glad my state can be of assistance.

[rodeodance]

20. military barrecks would be more private, humane. Let hope the long

term planning they are still thinking of barrecks.

[Fleshdancer]

30. of course. I assume the Astrodome is just a short term solution

and I like the idea of barracks better than tent cities right now because of the heat down here. I want them to have air conditioning.

[MADem]

44. The military has a barracks shortage, frankly

More and more service personnel get a housing allowance, and live off base. Only very junior personnel, transients, people who are reporting to an area for training, and those who are geographic bachelors live on base nowadays.

Substandard barracks, from years past, have been torn down and replaced with fewer rooms but better facilities. There is not a surplus of barracks rooms.

Remember, most of the active duty kids in Iraq have families, they did not live on base. Neither did the reservists, who trained one weekend a month, two weeks a year.

There just are not barracks rooms available in the large numbers you seem to think there are. They could toss them in gyms or armories, but those would be no more comfortable than the astrodome.

[Fleshdancer]

64. don't soldiers who live in barracks keep their stuff there when on tour?

If I remember correctly, when my brother was in the first Gulf war, he was living in the barracks and came "home" to discover that some asshole had stolen his stereo.

Even if there wasn't a shortage of barracks, it doesn't mean they're empty and available.

[MADem]

70. No, they put their shit in a CONEX box

You never leave a bed empty, a room unused--they check out. You pack up your junk (if you have no place off base to store it with family), label it, and it gets stuck in a large shipping container with everyone else's stuff, awaiting your return. You even get to park your car in a special lot (the "come steal shit off my car" lot).

[crispini]

15. My GOD, they said it again.

Holy mother of God.

Well that doesn't sound very comfortable. But they'll be dry.

[seabeyond]

16. lets see if we can do it fuckin right

havent done much other right. they have time to sit it up, in disaster form. clean, dry.....airconditioned. we could do this, if we do this

maybe houston dems can jump on board. and tell us what they need, seeing how they took crawford texas and made a pretty cool camp

actually cindy is experienced in this

fuckin dems just push the repug out of it, lets show them how it is fuckin done

[elehhhhna]

27. Houston is very generous to natural disaster victims:

Last time it flooded here, people left their churches on Sunday & went straight to the flooded neighborhoods with tons of supplies, then actually took flooded-out poor people shopping for furniture, clothes, school supplies, etc.

They're sending the victims to the right place.

[rodeodance]

31. so glad to hear this.

[seabeyond]

42. texans are good. bush fed the ugly in texas

moved here from calif. before bush, i saw the beauty and power of a texan. the good.

they started getting fucked up about 2002. watched. made me sad

[seabeyond]

32. i think so too. we have excellent people in houston.

texans arent bad people. the just need to see. they are pissed at bush. this may be it. they love their luzzyanna people

[seabeyond]

37. fuck....(i am so pissed) lets just take texas. make it blue today

i am going to start in the panhandle. with my people

none of them........are going to be able to defend

[Mizmoon]

19. they are saying they must empty the superdome ASAP

this is the quickest way to relive the suffering. I imagine that the tent cities are next.

[rodeodance]

24. yes, perhaps this is staged move for now--the priority is to get them

out of the filth that is building up in the Superdome at this point--no trash build pick up, no working toilets. no A/c etc etc.

[izzie]

22. How many miles is that? I see the need to move but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just do not like the sounds of it. I am not sure why. I would think making smaller places would be better.

[Synnical]

23. AP: Superdome Will Be Evacuated Today

http://www.wdsu.com/weather/4918928/detail.html

Bus convoys today will begin moving at least 25,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees from New Orleans to Houston.

Most of the refugees are the thousands who have been sweltering for days inside the Superdome in New Orleans. Harris County officials say they'll be sheltered in Houston's 40-year-old Astrodome. The Houston domed stadium hasn't been used as a sports venue in years.

Rusty Cornelius, the administrative coordinator for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security in Houston, said the initial planning has been under way since early today.

Cornelius said specifics of the transport and housing for the refugees were still being worked out with the Red Cross and state government officials.

Rising floodwaters in New Orleans prompted Gov. Kathleen Blanco to announce she wants the Superdome evacuated within two days.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.

[rodeodance]

28. it will take more than a day but i am so glad they have begun the move.

[rodeodance]

33. 'bus conveys'

[Junkdrawer]

40. So, will they imprison them there or will the let 30K hungry, desparate...

people loose in downtown Houston? And if it does turn out badly, will they continue to blame the victims?

[seito]

26. At least they are doing something

The last I heard, they were going to have to endure several more days to a week at the SD.

[jarnocan]

29. can't even

imagine how that will be accomplished??? This entire thing is of course so incredible!
How much money did Bush save on his cuts to FEMA, and the Army corps of Engineers etc.- to squander in Iraq? How much impact has his weakening our progress in fighting global warming, had on these catatrophes? I don't think we will ever know. We will know only the financial but not the full cost, someday.
Bush wants to win at any cost to US! Well is is costing US way to much.

[rodeodance]

41. these people are leaving with the clothes on their back. I can not

imagine how some must feel--leaving everything behind.

[MadeinOhio]

35. Houston Texas?

Uh oh.....Does Katrina have it out for Texas too???

:wow:

[mcscajun]

36. Let's hope this time they put some military-grade communications

in place inside the Astrodome.

Information is just as much a necessity as food and water for these people.

[leveymg]

39. Houston, we have a problem . . .

And if they come in too fast, they'll just skip off the atmosphere and land in Crawford!!!!!!!!

[seabeyond]

45. crawford, oopooooh a refugee camp. hm.

now wouldnt that be fun.

really not suggesting, but, that is a funny to picture

[leveymg]

54. Sure, lots of dry brush to be cut in Crawford. Jobs for everyone!

Time to put that Space Shuttle fleet back into useful service. All aboard!

[durablend]

91. How about some of them move into *'s Crawford house?

It's empty! :evilgrin:

[KharmaTrain]

43. A Smart Move

I expect we'll see a full evacuation of the city will be enacted later today. These people need to be relocated and quickly. The Astrodome has been closed for years, but it has electricity, water and can dispense the large amounts of food and other immediate aid these people will need.

The crisis will be what happens with these people next. I just saw Miles Mindbender in Slidell and the water is still high here...draining into Lake Ponchetrain and then into the city. I haven't heard any estimates on when the lake will settle so that the flooding stabilizes.

There'll have to be temporary cities constructed for these people and others who are still stranded in the region. I'd love to see one constructed on the site of the former Camp Casey...a reminder to meester boosh about the suffering that he's brought upon this country.

[asjr]

46. Every person in NOLA will have to be relocated if

the levees are not repaired. Katrina may be the downfall of this administration because I see nothing that is being done by them except send FEMA personnel there. I am not knocking FEMA but they can only do so much. Shrub's tired old cliches of "stay the course" will not work in LA.

[rodeodance]

49. someone said a task force is being put together at the WH. thats what

administrators do you know.

[asjr]

56. I know none personally, but they are all

Bushites.

[durablend]

92. They'll investigate and then tell *

"Yep, it's bad down there...definitely bad!"

And that'll be the end of it.

[watercolors]

47. How do they sleep

in the seats again? It is unbelievable they cannot find a better solution.

[GOPisEvil]

50. I'm guessing that the Red Cross will bring in Army cots.

The floor of the Astrodome can hold a large amount of cots, I would guess.

[rodeodance]

53. i thought of that also. No reason they can not sprawl on the field down

in Houston. or over in Houstan.

[AngryAmish]

48. This could work

But only if temporary.

This is not tounge-in-cheek. However, the Astrodome has toilet and food facilities. Then, slowly, they can make more permanent arrangements. Maybe a trailer city in the parking lot.

[seabeyond]

57. move them there, get them to feelin better, and safe and rescued

then started lookin at where next. works for me

[watercolors]

62. We still have trailer cities here in FL

Fema has a vast amount of these, I guess what is needed is a place to park them. I hope a long range solution is in the works.

[AngryAmish]

71. Trailer cities

Then section 8 vouchers for housing in Houston area for the poor?

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GOPisEvil]

58. You might really consider editing this post.

Those of us that live here take offense at crap like this.

[seabeyond]

63. you go fellow texan (really calif, but living here)

texans can be better than good.

[dogday]

59. As someone who comes from Texas

I think your remark is basically without merit. After what happened with Cindy and the land generously donated to her effort, I can't believe you are saying that. Texas has already offered to house these people. How much generosity do you need?

[superconnected]

68. True

I'm going by my visit and a friend of mine living there.

Not good experiences.

[dogday]

74. Understand but you know it happened that time does

not mean it will happen again. I live in Houston and we are pretty cool about things here. I am sorry about your experience but Texas as a state will come together and help these people. It wasn't that long ago Houston was underwater just like New Orleans, we know and feel their pain....

[katinmn]

87. I agree. Texans are great, with big hearts.

[seabeyond]

60. houston. oh you are so wrong. nah....... texans can do it. richardson

hightower, get some dems in there to welcome the folks

[dogday]

55. What we need to do is establish a website

where people can check in from this storm to let everyone know they are ok. As they are getting rescued, etc. I just saw a man who was trying to find his family and got the idea. Just some way for people to connect. So many are displaced right now....

[seabeyond]

65. yep......good idea n/t

[Synnical]

67. WDSU is suggestiong Craig's List

http://neworleans.craigslist.com/about/help/katrina_cl.html

craigslist resources for Katrina Survivors

Looking for missing family and/or friends?

* lost and found

Can you provide temporary shelter for hurricane victims?

* temporary housing / shares / apartments

Volunteer opportunities

* volunteer listings

General community notices and updates

* all community listings

[dogday]

72. Glad to see this has been implemented

these people need to connect with family and friends as soon as they can. Great thing to see......

[Swamp Rat]

73. YES!!! WHERE IS MY MOM?!?

:cry:

[seabeyond]

77. no way baby

gosh, tears, you still dont know? i am sorry. oh, .... sittin with you

[katinmn]

80. You probably know about this: Missing persons rescue database

A database being developed for people who are missing and may need to be rescued from New Orleans. Call 225-925-6626 to give officials their names. They may also have information about people already rescued. http://www.nola.com/weblogs/nola/


I'm sorry, Swamp Rat. Hope you hear something soon.

[Swamp Rat]

84. thanks n/t

[kestrel91316]

104. Swampy, about your mom:

When the levees broke and the flooding started to get worse, the hotels (many? not all??) acknowledged that they could no longer provide a safe haven for their guests. So they started to evac them to the Superdome. Now we hear the Superdome people will be evac'ed to the Astrodome, so that is one place you will be able too look. Also, since your mom's SO is ill, you should be checking with all area hospitals that have taken in NO patients.

You WILL find them, and they are going to be ok.

[dogday]

86. CNN is trying to link missing people

and their loved ones. Check there as well. I hope everything will be ok and she is safe. I will be thinking of you and wishing and hoping for the best...

[fudge stripe cookays]

75. Here's another one...

This is from the link on the front page:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4508159&mesg_id=4517981

FSC

[katinmn]

76. Very generous move, and it's a helluva lot better than they are now.

It's too bad they can't designate accommodations with more privacy, though.

The government COULD put them up in military barracks or even hotels but that would cost more money.

Still, at least something is being done.

[seabeyond]

78. might even be able to go outside. let kids play

sunshine. not a bad thing. how about right now. lol. i am not watching news. i dont know what is happening except from board.

[gkhouston]

94. not today. Red zone for ozone this afternoon.

everyone recommended to stay inside. Usually not that bad here, though. Makes sense to bring 'em to Houston, though, since so many Red Cross volunteers are already prepositioned here getting ready to go to LA to help.

[seabeyond]

96. Red zone for ozone ...... no fuckin way. just amazing

and all cause of bush last environmental policy in texas

[gkhouston]

99. first time I've heard "red". We've had orange several times. n/t

[3girlsma]

79. And bush is REFUSING AID (including temp housing) from other nations

If i had spent days in the super dome you could not DRAG me into another complex like it. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

IMPEACH THE FAILURE!

[katinmn]

81. It's still better than where they are now

Toilets have not worked for days (no plumbing). Not enough or bad food. Cars bringing in exhaust. Many health hazards.

I wish they could all go to hotels nearest to NO but I think Houston will take care of them.

[dogday]

85. Think of how long it will take to place

that many people... they keep bringing the rescued there too and it is past 20,000 people. You can't just find housing for people that quickly, they will have to stay at the dome till housing can be arranged. They have nothing to eat or drink, they are at the mercy of the government...

[lse7581011]

89. WHAT????

BUSH IS REFUSING AID? What an arrogant idiot!

[dogday]

90. Is Bush really refusing aid from other countries?

do you have some reference to this. I would really like to know if this is the case....

[3girlsma]

103. I had heard this in some other threads. Now they are saying that the

source is questionable. If this is true i apologize. Bush has spit in the faces of so many nations in the past it did not seem unfeasible.

[SammyWinstonJack]

82. They could use the Alamodome, since it really isn't used for much of

anything really. Monster truck show and such.

[dogday]

83. In fact they could use all the Domes and Stadiums and Centers

Houston has about six of these huge complexes, including Lakewood church which has a setup for 30,000 people. They need to house them in each of these facilities, all with air,(we know better than not to have ac in Texas)could help a lot...

[gkhouston]

97. OMG, they just finished Lakewood. Yes, by all means,

show us your Christian compassion. Let's put 'em up at Six Flags Over Jesus!!

:rofl:

(Sorry, I've been in Houston a while and am not a fan of Osteen. Seems awfully plastic to me.)

[dogday]

105. I don't care what they do, they can help a lot

I called the church and told them to get on the ball. I told them they could make a difference. They could house people, feed them, get supplies. That church has the resources and if it doesn't do that, I will do my best to smear Joel Osteen and the entire Lakewood church. Let's see them put their money where their mouths are...

[rrrevolution]

95. Astrodome today, where tomorrow? don't take this the wrong way but...

Just where do you house approximately 1 million people who lost their homes and their jobs?

There are likely 80,000 people who did not evacuate, but they represent a small number of people without homes. Who can afford to live in a hotel forever? What do you do when temporary shelters have to close because they simply cannot meet the basic needs of the people?

How long do you think these displaced American citizens are going to be content to stay in sports facilities and depend on limited hand outs while they do nothing?

Somebody in Washington DC better be thinking bigger than this.

[seabeyond]

98. gonna have to figure that one out huh

but right now, i think these people will appreciate and be thankful for movin elsewhere. for now

[Beelzebud]

101. Gee you'd think the biggest public works projects we've done lately

are sports stadiums..

Oh wait. They are...

[dogday]

106. You bet, big business in this town

New stadiums and huge church built in the last few years. Yes that is all we do....

[troubleinwinter]

102. Bush Crawford Ranch is 1600 acres. Nice place for a tent city.

He has gotten outta town... Nice gesture if he'd offer his land to the displaced. There are a couple of ponds for swimming.