DALLAS -- Dallas Mayor Laura Miller said she was tired of waiting for federal governmental agencies to provide financial and residential help to hurricane evacuees sheltered at Reunion Arena and the Dallas Convention Center. Miller and other civic, religious and community leaders took matters into their own hands. FeedRoom
Miller, Nagin Press Conference
Miller, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Bishop T.D. Jakes Friday revealed a plan to move evacuees from the shelters to single-family residences and apartments. Both mayors said the hurricane victims deserved better than cots and air mattresses.The mayors, though, said federal agencies -- particularly the Federal Emergency Management Agency -- were spread too thin."Local FEMA officials have 100 employees to serve five states, and when the disaster hit they went to New Orleans and there weren't enough people here to take care of the New Orleans residents who came to our cities," Miller said."I think they want to help," Nagin said. "I just think it's bigger than any one person and any one agency. This is a system problem, a process problem, a legal problem, a regulatory (problem) that was set up many years ago and is not modern enough to deal with disasters today."Miller, Nagin and Jakes described a program that aims to relocate evacuees displaced from the Gulf Coast region into area homes, apartments and other single-family or multi-family lodging arrangements.The program includes the assistance of a faith-based coalition of pastors, ministers, and other clergy and religious groups."We will take the 1,500 people who are living on cots and air mattresses in the Dallas Convention Center and Reunion Arena, and we will move them into apartments and stable living conditions with utilities and furniture and dishes and towels," Miller said."We are a third of the way there moving these people out," Miller said.Miller is asking that people donate to the newly created Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund in Dallas to help the 1,500 people get into apartments. The campaign now has $350,000, and the goal is to raise $3 million.Residents are also being asked to become host families, who will take care of evacuees' needs, by calling the Potter's House at (214) 623-4081 between 9 a.m. and midnight."We will sell Mardi Gras beads in our city [7-Eleven] stores through September and October and anyone who buys a strand of beads for $1, that whole dollar will go to the mayor's disaster fund," Miller said."To your wonderful mayor, to your governor, to all the other mayors around the great State of Texas, to all the wonderful people of Texas: You know you have a slogan that says 'Don't mess with Texas,' and it is so appropriate, because you are incredible people. You have taken in New Orleanians, and you are the first state to make that offer... I can't say 'thank you' enough," said Nagin, whose family evacuated to Texas."Your mayor, and the clergy and the corporations that are coming together are doing God's work," Nagin said."Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We have sent you some incredible people, and you can't have them permanently, all right. So don't start trippin'," Nagin said.The evacuees will be moved out of the shelters within the next nine days, Miller said.People can donate to Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund by sending a check to:The Dallas Foundation
900 Jackson Street, Suite 150
Dallas, TX 75202
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/4953685/detail.html
click on link to watch press conference.
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900 Jackson Street, Suite 150
Dallas, TX 75202
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/4953685/detail.html
click on link to watch press conference.
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