Houston-Galveston Area Emergency Blogger Network: 2005-09-04

Monday, September 05, 2005

Table Of Contents: Use These Links to Navigate the Blog!

New Posts Added 09/09

We have a report that federal funds for NOLA levees were diverted by the local levee board to buy a casino and a private marina... can anyone verify?

Houston Chronicle Begins to Ask Questions, Too
Hat Tip to Claire
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H-GAEBNET CALLS FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF NOLA MAYOR, CITY GOVERNMENT
Federal Response Was ON TIME --- Nagin is Passing the Buck and the New York Times is Not Telling the Truth NEW LINKS ADDED 09/05

We Are Not Alone In Recognizing the Facts
The True Story of the Monumental and Deadly Failure of New Orleans and Louisiana State Government is Surfacing, Despite Media Distortions and Outright Lies from the New York Times

Under the Mayor's Authority and Responsibility
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Plan
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"Katrina and the Heart of Texas"
Super Blogger and Katrina Relief Effort Volunteer Michelle Malkin Honors Texas Relief Effort

New York Times Libels Texas Motives
Newspaper Used Different Versions of Same Story, One in US Edition, One in International Edition
( Austin Bay blog and KTRK Channel 13-ABC Houston )
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How to Help in Galveston County
Galveston Daily News "How to Help" Page Update

Volunteers Needed Bulletins
Volunteer Center Bulletin Page

Sunday, September 04, 2005

Federal Response Was ON TIME --- Nagin is Passing the Buck and the New York Times is Not Telling the Truth

New: Katrina Time Line Links added below

While we are busy helping people, believe it or not a bunch of local New Orleans officials and the editorial board of the New York Times are politicizing the story of what happened in New Orleans and also LYING ABOUT IT to the public.

The Federal Emergency Response Plan for New Orleans and area states directly that the local area MUST prepare to be ON ITS OWN following a hurricane for at least 72-96 HOURS while Federal relief efforts are assembled and moved in to the area.

Further, the President of the United States --- any president, not just Bush --- CANNOT SEND FEDERAL TROOPS INTO AN AREA TO RESTORE ORDER WITHOUT AN ACT OF CONGRESS! THIS IS WHY THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PREPARED TO HANDLE CIVIL DISORDER WITH LOCAL AND STATE POLICE AND THE NATIONAL GUARD FORCES COMMANDED BY THE GOVERNORS!

To recap the federal response:

President Bush became, as we understand it, the first President in U. S. history to declare an area a disaster area BEFORE the storm hit. He did so to aid the federal relief effort, which of course had to move millions of tons of supplies and equipment, coming in from all over the country, as close as it could safely move them to the probable disaster area.

The U. S. Special Ops teams were airlifted to the Louis Armstrong airport and began working to re-open it ---- between 24-36 hours after Katrina hit.

The Federal Relief convoys --- which were each 4 to 8 miles long carrying millions of tons of supplies including 5.5 million hot meals ---- began rolling into New Orleans on Thursday night: JUST THREE DAYS AFTER KATRINA HIT.

To put it bluntly but accurately, the Federal Relief Effort Was ON TIME and WELL WITHIN THE 72-96 Hour time Frame, and Mayor Nagin and the New York Times Knows it!

But in New Orleans, there are hundreds of school buses and city vehicles, as well as countless private trucks and vehicles, now submerged, and rotting, under the floodwaters of Katrina!

Mayor Nagin and his corrupt city politicians made absolutely no effort --- despite all the OFFICIAL warnings that the levees would break and flood the city --- to commandeer those vehicles and evacuate the poor people!

IN FACT, THERE WERE NO EMERGENCY SUPPLIES OF WATER AND FOOD AT THE SUPERDOME UNTIL THE LOUISIANIA GUARD DELIVERED 3 TRUCKS OF WATER and enough MRE's ( Meals Ready to Eat, ie, combat rations) late Sunday night to care for 15,000 people for 3 days. There were over 26,000 people in the Superdome by that time. There were no more deliveries of food and water.

Nagin and his corrupt city officials did not even stock NOLA's largest public shelter with adequate emergency supplies!

And this man is blaming the federal government for what he helped cause!

There is only one fitting description of Nagin's and the NYT's ranting: it is despicable, politically-motivated, buck-passing hogwash, and it is being spewed on the nation by Mayor Nagin and the New York Times when we should all be coming together to help Katrina's victims!

It is designed to divert attention from what we can only honestly describe as an UNPARALLELED CASE OF CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE on the part of Mayor Nagin and the NOLA city government and city officials!

And the Media's involvement in this can only be described as irresponsible journalistic FRAUD.

WE OF THE H-GAEBNET CALL NOW FOR CONGRESS AND THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO LAUNCH A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF MAYOR NAGIN AND THE CITY OF NOLA's RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA!

If you would like to join us in this effort, please comment below and leave your email address.

Thanks, and regards,

Tom Tyler, a Galveston area volunteer in the relief effort

NEW LINKS 09/05 (Thanks to Mark Reiff)

Katrina Time Line
From American Daughter blog

Washington Post: Governor Refused to Act
Little Green Footballs blog

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Super Blogger & Katrina Relief Volunteer Michelle Malkin Honors Texas Relief Effort

Michelle Malkin, the formidable Conservative journalist whose blog is one of the most popular news and opinion weblogs in the world, has honored the hard work and spirit of the tens of thousands of Texans who have opened up the monumental goodwill and economic resources of our state to help the victims of the Katrina disaster.

Malkin herself has been blogging tirelessly on Katrina and its devastating impact on the people of NOLA, La, Mississip and 'Bama since it all began last weekend, and helped lead an international "blogathon" fund raising effort for the Katrina relief effort.

Don't miss her post, " Katrina and the Heart of Texas" ( also permanently linked at this page at the column at right)

We also add here a link to Malkin's Saturday post, a collection of uplifting accounts of personal Courage and Faith from the frontlines of these terrible events: see, "Stories of Survival"

Friday, September 02, 2005

Galveston County Katrina Relief Effort ------- More Area-Wide Katrina Info and Links Below This Post!

(Dickinson, Texas September 2 2005)

NOTE: For Harris County, National and Other Important Links and Info, Be Sure to Check Out the Posts Below This Galveston County Update Section!

Family News and Missing Person Forums, as well as New Orleans Area Blogs and News Sites, are linked on main page, right hand column, or at this link: H-GAEBNET II

The Galveston County area Katrina relief effort is well underway!

Galveston County Tax Assessor Cheryl Johnson has donation drop boxes at her four area offices

NEEDED ITEMS LISTS, DROP INFO & EVENT INFO will be added below as it comes in... However, if you are giving directly to a shelter, it is often a good idea to call the shelter and ask what items they are running short on at the time!

3,000 Katrina Refugees are in our County in shelters and motels and will be needing our help!

Look below these news links for events, donation drops and other info, by city or area.
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The Galveston County Daily News Reports 3,000 Katrina Victims are now in the county, churches and schools are opening their doors:
Galveston County Daily News: 3,000 Refugees in County
The NEWS also reports that our local schools and colleges are taking in displaced students:
Schools Take in Displaced Students
The Galveston County Daily News also has this story about how to help Katrina victims:
********How To Help the Victims This story is a major source of information on medical assistance, shelter and Human Service office locations, phone numbers, etc.

Guidry News Service website is also covering the Galveston County effort
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GALVESTON COUNTY AREA RELIEF EFFORTS
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Dickinson

Shrine of the True Cross School ...
is accepting clothes, blankets and non-perishable food items. Collected items will be distributed to the Red Cross and other area groups assisting refugee families.

North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce ...
Call for information on needs 281-337-3434
Claire Herring, volunteer coordinator

Dickinson Police Department, Dickinson Volunteer Fire Department ...
are conducting relief drives. Donations can be made at the Dickinson Police Station at 4000 Liggio from 9am to 6pm. The "Fill the Boot" volunteers will be on the streets Saturday September 3 from 9am to 2pm collecting donations for the drive.

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League City

Big League Dreams…
has set up a drop-off point for the Houston Red Cross. Non-perishable food items, clothing and personal hygiene products. 1150 Big League Dreams Parkway. Open daily from 4:30pm to 10pm. Phone (281) 622-1795.

Galveston County Tax Office ...
Cheryl Johnson has set up donation boxes for the Red Cross at each tax office location. The League City office is at the Galveston County Annex at 174 Calder Road. Donations include non-perishable foods, medical supplies, bottled water, school supplies, back packs, diapers, baby food, bedding, blankets, paper goods, batteries or flash lights.

Clear Creek High ...
students have organized a supply drop at the Clear Creek Ninth Grade Center for Tuesday September 6 from 3pm to 7pm. Items requested are toiletries, infant items and non-perishable foods. 2305 E. Main Street, next to the stadium parking lot.

Interfaith Caring Ministries ...
Money donations also accepted. For info or to volunteer call Barbie Ray at 281-332-3881. Open 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday thru Friday. Will be open Labor Day, Monday September 5. Located at 631 FM 270.
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Texas City

The Red Cross ...
619 4th Ave N 409- 945-7200 Call for Info

The Salvation Army ...
4210 Texas Ave 409- 935-1190 Call for Info

The Texas City Police Department and Fire Department ...
are holding a food drive at the Texas City Kroger parking lot, 3541 Palmer at Highway 146. The Red Cross and Salvation Army are collecting non-perishable items.

Community Family Center ...
is accepting donations. Dropped items will be distributed to the Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities. Drop at 2000 Texas Ave Suite 601. For information call 409- 643-8240.

Our Lady of Fatima school ...
is collecting non-perishable foods and basic supplies through September 9 , to be distributed to Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul. Phone 409- 945-3326.

Mall of the Mainland ...
is accepting donations at the mall office during business hours. Non-perishable foods, bottled water, prepaid gasoline cards, etc. 10000 Emmett F. Lowery Expressway. 409- 986-7000.

College of the Mainland Student Government Association ...
is accepting donations of non-perishable foods and other items for hurricane victims at the Student Government Office or the Student Activities Office in the Student Center building. Campus is located at 1200 N. Amburn Road off the Emmett Lowery Expressway. Phone 409- 938 -1211 for information.

College of the Mainland ...
is also offering tuition breaks to Louisiania residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Displaced students who enroll with instructors approval through September 14 and pay the lwoer out-of-district tuition rate rather than the high out-of-state rate. Registration is Mondays and Tuesdays 8am to 7pm and Wednesdays through Fridays 8am to 5pm. For information call 409- 938-1211.

Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce ...
is collecting items to assist Katrina victims in local hotels. Items should be dropped at the Chamber offices from 8:30am to 5pm. Located at 8419 Emmett F. Lowery Expressway near College of the Mainland. Items not distributed to the victims at the hotels will be donated to the Red Cross.
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La Marque

La Marque School District staff and students ..
have organized the Cougar Relief Effort. The community can donate at local campuses through September 16, when the donations will be distributed to local shelters. All checks should be made payable to the La Marque ISD Cougar Relief Fund. For information call these numbers: Highlands Elementary, (409) 935-6321; Inter-City Elementary, (409) 935-8043; Lake Road Multipurpose Educational Facility, (409) 935-6241; Simms Elementary, (409) 935-2891; Westlawn Elementary, (409) 908-5100; Early Childhood Learning Center, (409) 935-3020; La Marque Middle School, (409) 938-4286; La Marque High School, (409) 938-4261.
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Galveston

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Add Your Bulletins & Links Here

This is a Public Service Blog.
It is an Emergency Information clearing house for the public and for the Houston-Area blogging community.
The goal is to accumulate all relevant Public Emergency links and current bulletins here so that not only the public but, especially, the news and info blogging community in our area has accurate info sources at its fingertips during times of public emergency.
To post a bulletin or a link, just use the comments section for this entry. Emergency Blogger Network will organize these comments into full posts below!
Comments and suggestions for this emergency information clearing house --- especially suggested links! -- are very welcome!

Thanks for posting here!

Katrina Evacuation

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Katrina Evacuee, Family Message Boards
for families seperated by the Hurricane and Evacuation
NIUSR INFORMATION PORTAL
Red Cross Family News Network
NOLA.com Missing Persons Forum
Craig's List
WalMart Katrina Search
Houston Chronicle Katrina Forums
KHOU TV Message Board
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Texas & FEMA Help Numbers for Katrina Victims
Area Shelters List for Katrina Victims
Texas and FEMA Help Numbers for Katrina Victims
Red Cross List of Area Shelters
KTRK TV 13 Shelter Story with List of Area Shelters
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General Information for Texas Residents
Texas Catastrophic Hurricane Evacuation Plan
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NOAA's National Weather Service
National Home Page
Galveston, Texas
Houston, Texas
New Orleans
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Area and National Blogs, News Articles
Area Blogs:
SciGuy
Eric Berger’s science blog for the Houston Chronicle has been blogging exclusively on Katrina, especially about the storm's effects on New Orleans. SciGuy has been in contact with bloggers still able to operate out of New Orleans as late as Wednesday.

BlogHouston
BlogHouston has an open thread on Katrina as well a call for volunteers and fund raising list. Great corrective coverage of other local news outlets!

Lone Star Times
Special blogging from the Astrodome by a crew that is unafraid to speak out!

DomeBlog
HouChron bloggers reporting from the Astrodome

OfftheKuff
A popular Texas political blog that has also been doing posting on local relief efforts. "Kuff" organizes his posts by category, so this link will take you to the "Hurricane Katrina" section. You can access the rest of the blog from that section by clicking the "Charles Kuffner" link at the bottom of each post and then clicking "Main" at the top of the page to go to the home page.

Brazosport News
Site of famed Texas blogger Banjo Jones. Like Kuff, Banjo is not exclusively blogging the Katrina aftermath but has some great posts listed on Katrina. In his most famous post to date on Katrina entitled "Open The Astrodome" Banjo first proposed moving the NOLA refugees from the Superdome to the Astrodome before local officials decided to do it.

Full Disclosure
Loren Steffy's HouChron business blog and newspaper column are also tackling economic issues related to Katrina.

National Blogs:
Michelle Malkin
A top ten U. S. blog. Though Malkin normally covers politics and news, she has devoted her blog completely to Katrina since Sunday. Extensive links. Malkin is part of, and reporting on, an international fundraising "blogathon" effort for the Katrina disaster by the world-wide blogging community. Check out the world-wide response of the blogosphere effort to help the United States!

Blog for Katrina Relief
International Blogathon to raise money for Katrina relief effort

News Articles:

Eric Berger
2001 FEMA Report Foretold of Deadly NOLA Disaster
Eric Berger's Superb Article on FEMA's Prediction of the On-Going Disaster in NOLA is a Must-Read

Melanie Markley
Many Left Frustrated in Efforts to Assist

HouChron Special Section on Katrina
Online Edition of Special Report Section Including Great Video Links and Image Collections, FEMA Updates, and much more

GALVESTON COUNTY
Food, Goods & Cash Donation Drives
Neighbors helping Neighbors Drive, Cheryl E. Johnson Galveston County Tax Assessor/Collector
Galveston County Current Bulletins
Aug 31 Katrina Evacuee Texas & FEMA Help Numbers & Information
Galveston County Official Emergency Sites
Galveston County Office of Emergency Management
Galveston County Red Cross
Galveston County News and Media Sites
LIVE KHOU 11 LINK TO WWLTV.COM NEW ORLEANS
Guidry News Service Galveston
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HARRIS COUNTY
Food, Goods & Cash Donation Drives
KHOU 11 "Spirit of Texas" Drive Raises $6.3 Mil
KTRK 13 List of Legitimate Relief Organizations Seeking Donations
SciGuy Blog Posting with List of Legitimate Area Relief Drives & Calls for Volunteers
BlogHouston Relief List and Call for Volunteers
Harris County Current Bulletins
Harris County OEM Katrina Page
Harris County Official Emergency Sites
Harris County Citizen Corps
Houston Area Red Cross Home Page
Harris County Office of Emergency Management
Harris County News and Media Sites
LIVE KHOU 11 LINK TO WWLTV.COM NEW ORLEANS
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