Houston Chronicle: Many in Louisiana and Texas lament Hurricane Rita 'amnesia'

The Houston Chronicle had an insightful article yesterday on the challenges still facing those affected by Hurricane Rita, who seem somewhat overlooked in light of the devastation wrought by Katrina.

Four months after Rita caused $4.7 billion in damage, people in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas say they're concerned the storm has been erased from the country's memory, overshadowed by Katrina's assault on New Orleans. While New Orleanians fret about "Katrina fatigue," people here say they've been victims of "Rita amnesia."

Obviously not everyone has Rita amnesia, but the news cycle has passed and people are still hurting and in need. True compassion stays until the job is done. We will continue to organize trips out to Sabine Pass and Port Arthur as long as we can be of use.

Houston Chronicle: Many in Louisiana and Texas lament Hurricane Rita 'amnesia'

Directions to Sabine Pass

Dear Team Members,

• Meet: 5 am at the Shell Station, Fulshear, Texas, on Saturday morning, January 21, 2006 (day after tomorrow!)

• What to Bring: WORK GLOVES, HARD SOLED SHOES OR BOOTS (NO SNEAKERS!) RAKE, PITCHFORK, WHEELBARROW IF YOU HAVE ONE

• Lunch: will be provided by the Team.

• Directions: Attached to this email. Distance: 132 miles. If you stop, please make it short and keep moving. Be in Sabine at 8am.

• Plan to Arrive At 8:15 am in Sabine Pass. Try to be on time. We have an important Team Meeting for Work assignments at 8:15.

• Convoy Instructions. At 5 am, we’ll try to consolidate riders, so we take as few vehicles as necessary, parking overflow vehicles behind the library. Due to the number of vehicles which are scheduled to travel with us, we will not be “convoying” like we usually do. You can follow someone down, but feel free to stop on your own for an enroute break. Just have your map and driving directions, attched to this email.

• Jobs and Work Assignments. After arriving at Sabine Pass, we will meet in the High School Parking lot to make the Work Team assignments. We have 7 Work Team Projects scheduled for completion. Thanks for coming. We’ll try to have all projects finished by 3-4 pm.

Suggestion: On Friday, get all your make-ready tasks done. Check and adjust equipment, fill all tanks, tires, etc, get thermos ready, and snacks for the road. We have a lot to do on Saturday and need to do all maintenance before we leave for the job site, so we can all arrive no later than 8:15 if possible. See you Saturday morning!

Grove.

Saturday 21 Early Punch List-- Ya'll come!

Dear All Crisis Relief Team Members:

We have a GO! On one is too old or too young to experience helping those in need. All are welcome on this one, as always. There is no greater blessing than to be smack dab in the middle of an outreach-for-Christ project on a Saturday, as I’m sure you will agree.

If your schedule permits, join us.

Early needs received thus far, from Pastor Dale Martin in Sabine Pass:

Project 1: Major tree removal A single giant, that will yield a large amount of cuttings to be sub-cut and hauled to the right of way A job that must be planned carefully, tree is under major stress, very tall, at a 45-degree angle and resting on the large building It is leaning on the steel building adjacent to Mr. Timms’ property which we cleared, on the south edge of town, last trip. This tree will require we again rent the 50’ towable boom life, bring at least two tractors, chain saws, chains, hard hats, etc. We will also likely need some very long length of rope on this one, for influencing the fall if necessary

Project 2: Electrical work: A young single mother can’t move into her house until some interior electrical work is done that must be up to code. Do we have a licensed electrician on the Team? I will call Jimmy LeFleur and see if he can come with us; he’s not on the email list. Electrical wiring, boxes, outlets, possibly lighting fixtures, will get more detail from Pastor Martin Ideas, please

Project 3: Debris removal at the site of the Old Church: Gloves Wheelbarrows Rakes Front end loader(s) Hand work, picking up debris to clean the site, removal to right of way
More projects to be forthcoming. Please begin to let me know if you will be able to make this one, we’re starting to plan for food, vehicles, trailers, etc. If you can’t go and want to help with expenses, that’s fine too. Make a check to HACCRT and we’ll fill up a truck (it takes two tanks to pull a trailer down there and back).

Thanks,

Grove.

Next Trip to Sabine Pass: January 21

Dear Member of the Houston Area Christian Crisis Relief Team:

Pastor Dale Martin has asked if the Team can return to Sabine Pass on Saturday, the 21st of January. I have told him that we can. That’s the third Saturday from now.

I’ll be getting specific project requests from him prior to that, and will let you all know. In the meantime, plan on virtually the same game plan as always: departure at 5am from the Shell station in Fulshear, and plan on debris removal, tree removal, and “hands on” cleanup. There may be some carpentry repair work also, as we know of one working mother who can’t move into her house until some additional carpentry repairs are made. I’ll have more on that soon.

Thank you for your continued work with this little community of 600 people. The name of Jesus Christ has definitely been uplifted, and made visible, in this community through your work and that of other Christians who have given sacrificially for these, our neighbors.

Grove.