Pauline Rogers had planned to spend her Labor Day weekend in Biloxi with her family, but thanks to Hurricane Gustav found herself answering phones, directing volunteers and greeting evacuees at one of Madison County's Red Cross Shelters this week.
At least eight shelters in Madison County were filled to capacity through Wednesday as evacuees from the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coast flooded the area starting Saturday evening.
Overall Madison County was spared the worst of Hurricane Gustav after it made landfall southwest of New Orleans on Monday.
With sometimes heavy rains and wind reported Monday and Tuesday, Madison County Emergency Management Director Butch Hammack reported a now serious flooding with a few fallen tree limbs resulting in isolated power outages.
Gustav made landfall about 9:30 a.m. Monday as a Category 2 hurricane about 72 miles southwest of New Orleans and veered into central Louisiana, hitting the Mississippi Gulf Coast with a 15-foot storm surge.
The National Weather Service reported wind gust in Madison County as high as 60 to 75 mph.
Hammack said that the power outages were do power lines being damaged by downed tree limbs and occurred Monday west of Interstate 55 at Colony Crossing and Tuesday on Rice Road.
At the county's multiple shelters volunteers of all ages offered medical services, food preparation, administrative assistance, youth activities, and comfort to those staying at the shelters.
Rogers, who acted as the Red Cross shelter manager at Ridgeland First Baptist, said she was also a shelter manager during Katrina.
"Everyone is more prepared this time around," Rogers said. "With Katrina we had on the job training, and that training prepared us for Gustav."
Madison County Emergency Management Director Butch Hammack agreed saying that the county response went very well.
"The only issues we had was that there wasn't enough space in the shelters," Hammack said. "We had several churches open additional space, but it got to a point late on Sunday that we had to tell people to keep moving north."
Shelter makes room for the elderly
New Orleans resident Barbara James and her family planned on evacuating to Little Rock Ark. Sunday to get as far away from Gustav as possible.
After many hours in traffic the family of 10, whose ages ranged from 67 to 83 years old, made it to Ridgeland First Baptist Church.
"This was as far as we could make it, we were too tired to go on," James said.
Though the shelter was already full by that time with 177 evacuees the family was allowed to stay.
"We didn't have enough beds for them," said Mardi Allen, a volunteer at the shelter. "They didn't mind sleeping on the floor but many of the teenagers staying at the shelter gave up their beds."
James sat with her family watching a weather broadcast projected on the wall of the shelter. "The shelter has been very accommodating to our needs," James said. "Now we are just waiting to see how the storm surge will hit and if the levees will hold up."
Food and medical donations were sent to Ridgeland First Baptist by way of World Vision and the Red Cross.
Pastor B.J. Bennett was on site assisting volunteers.
"There was an announcement at church yesterday and by 2 p.m. we had all the volunteers we needed," Bennett said.
Approximately 40 volunteers came out to help over the weekend.
Bennett said that evacuees were coping with the situation by watching the news and participating in planned children's activities.
Volunteers help keep spirits high
At Madison United Methodist Church children and their parents gathered around a table making necklaces, an activity planned by Renee Scales who was volunteering with her family.
"The crafts were planned for kids, or those who are kids at heart and it seems to be keeping everyone's minds off of the situation at hand," Scales said. "Shelters can be hard for kids so we are trying to break up the day a little and keep them active."
Scales along with her husband and daughter spent the weekend assisting others at the shelter.
"We have the whole family here and we had hoped for a quiet holiday weekend but this is a good way spend time together and help others at the same time," Scales said.
Shelter Manager Mike Scales said the shelter opened at 11 a.m. on Sunday and within 30 minutes they had reached capacity with 85 people.
" We have had a great turn out of volunteers and support from the congregation," Scales said.
On Monday afternoon kitchen manager Cynthia Lauderdale and volunteer Cindy Keller were busying loading styrofoam to-go containers with sandwiches and fruit.
"We had a family of 10 show up and even though our shelter was full we did not want to leave them empty handed," Lauderdale said.
The family had shown up at the shelter that afternoon and the volunteers directed them to another shelter and sent them on their way with dinner.
Lauderdale, who had volunteer during Katrina at the shelter said that things had gone smoothly compared to three years ago.
"This time around it has not been as hectic and anxiety has not been as high," she said.
The shelter's meals were provided by donations from the church and community members. Volunteers worked in shifts to provide three hot meals to evacuees each day.
Julie Bourg, from Houma La. evacuated for the first time in her life and came to the shelter at Madison United Methodist.
"I have always lived close to the coast but this is the first time I have evacuated," she said. "I just didn't want to risk it anymore after what has happened in the past."
"The shelter has been great to me and I have been provided with everything I need," Bourg added.
Evacuees Take it to the Court
The Basketball court at Broadmoor Baptist Church was filled with children and families shooting hoops to pass the time until the stormed passed Monday afternoon.
James Sasser, an evacuee from Hammond La. was giving a basketball lesson to a few fellow players.
"Having a place to play basketball is great the kids and run around and get tired, that way they fall asleep at night," he said.
Sasser and his family found themselves at Broadmoor, the same shelter they had evacuated to three years ago during Katrina.
"The people treat us right here and that's why we came back," he said.
Shelter coordinator Lance Allen said 75 people were waiting to get inside the shelter when the doors opened Saturday night at 10 p.m.
" We thought we might have 15 people trickle in when the doors opened so we were surprised to open the doors to so many people waiting," Allen said.
The shelter was filled to capacity with 144 people by the Sunday. The night had gone smoothly with the exception of a child who was sick with a virus and needed medical attention.
Lynda Gagle, a staff member of Broadmoor Baptist Church was busy assisting evacuees needs and coordinating donations.
"The response has been fabulous we have received more than enough beds, food, and toiletries," she said.
As the song "YMCA" blasted from a nearby speaker system Madison Crossing Elementary Principal Martha D'Amico joined her students in the hallway Monday arms flailing and smiles spread as they contorted themselves into letters.
The students were doing what they normally do in the mornings -- spending the 20 minutes before school exercising. Monday was anything but a normal school day, however.
The Today Show on NBC was scheduled to be in attendance, taping the children's activities. The segment will feature schools that are working to combat obesity and diabetes throughout the United States.
D'Amico said the program started in conjunction with the Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and other government programs. The teachers at Madison Crossing took walking to a new level adding music and arm movements.
"The program has had an overwhelming response, by coming to school earlier the students reduce tardiness and start their day with more energy," D'Amico said.
D'Amico said the school is honored to be featured on the Today Show.
"Were excited to promote fitness and healthy habits," D'Amico said. "It's a nice way for the state to fight diabetes and gain positive attention."
Madison Crossing was referred to the Today show by Mary Fortune, Executive Vice President of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. Fortune learned about the program while teaching "It's a sweet subject," an educational series about type 2 diabetes at the school.
"Its a program that makes you want to get moving," Fortune said. "Teache
rs make it energizing by moving with the kids and its a wonderful contribution to ensure that students have a healthy life in the future."
Fortune said that type 2 diabetes, while often hereditary can be cause by a sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits, and obesity.
Recently there has been an increase in children and adolescence being diagnosed with the disease. In an effort to prevent diabetes in children the Diabetes Foundation has hosted "Sweet Stuff" in 30 area schools within the last month.
Jenny Hall, School volunteer and parent of a fifth-grader said her child looks forward to coming to school in the mornings.
"It's a great way to start their day, it wakes them up and they perform better," Hall said. "It is definitely noticeable how much more alive they are in the mornings and ready to learn."
The segment is due to air on NBC so
metime in Oct.
No comments:
Post a Comment