For the past two weeks we have been trying to assess the situation in the Bayous of southern LA.
Hurricane Gustav made landfall in this area and Hurricane Ike came right after with worse flooding than either Katrina or Rita produced. In particular we are looking at the conditions for the Native Americans (United Houma Nation, Pointe au Chien, and 3 tribes of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw).
More info is below, but in a nutshell it is bad, very bad. Please take a few minutes to read this whole email.
We are collecting CANNED FOOD for this area (please remember to collect a variety of fruits, veggies and meats and beans) and I will take the first load down NEXT WEEK (Oct. 8th). I am hoping to be setting up a free clinic/mobile clinic in the area along with Charles Beardsley, representing the Loudoun Medical Group from Leesburg, VA (the folks who ran the Old Depot free clinic in Bay St. Louis, MS after Katrina) and Paula Buhr, with the MS Medical Assistance Team (who ran the clinic in Pearlington, MS).
Please bring the food to our new CAP office at 1704 5th Ave. N. (it's under the parking deck across from the Hugo Black Court House). If you don't have time for that - any monies toward gas for the trip would be most appreciated. Tax deductible DONATIONS can be made to ONB/disaster relief and sent to:
CAP
1704 5th Ave. N.
Birmingham, AL 35203
We also need portable massage tables for the clinic!
Here is something of what we know of the situation in the Indian Community of the bayous.
1) It is an extremely poor area. A person who has been doing damage assessments for Hope International around the world for the last 20 years told the Dulac Fire Chief that it was "the most poverty stricken area he had ever seen."
2) In the area where we are trying to base the clinic (Dulac), there are few houses on stilts, which means that basically they were all flooded. Only those peope whose homes still have flood water in them are still in shelters, which means many are either trying to live in toxic muck-filled homes or are living with family somewhere on higher ground. A mail delivery person observed people cleaning plastic table cloths to put on their water-soaked mattress.
3) Although some are working, the fishing industry is ruined for this season.
4) They live in what we are calling hamlets. Each hamlet only has one vehicle. Whoever is working takes the vehicle to get to work, leaving the rest stranded without means to get to a doctor or anywhere else.
5) Not sure about the rest, but the United Houma Nation has been trying for the past 24 years to get Federal recognition in order to get Federal subsides that other Native American communities have access to. As with other communities in poverty, their ability to get the financial support that FEMA offers in this area is severely hampered by illiteracy and inability to understand the "process."
6) FEMA, Salvation Army, Red Cross have pulled out of the area.
7) Compared to the MS coast and New Orleans, there are few groups supporting volunteer help with cleaning out homes.
8) For most of these rural communities the nearest clinic is 30 minutes away.
9) Although the Terrebonne Council on Aging is set up to give rides to those who qualify and can afford (medically) to wait 3 days, the reality is that after a major disaster people do not take time out to take care of themselves and many of the post Katrina problems are starting to pop up (skin infections, asthma from mold exposure etc.). It is very clear that these people are not getting the medical attention they need in the wake of this disaster.
9) We are told by some groups that even the basics of food, water and cleaning supplies are in short supply.
Please help me show them that the rest of the country does care about them.
Thank you for your support.
Laura
|