Geek Habitat

I am sure it is being done in every city sheltering more than 1 evacuee from the hurricane-ravaged areas of Louisiana and Mississippi, but I wanted to share a few the ways the City of San Antonio is assisting:

* Established the San Antonio Hurricane Relief Fund to help gather and disseminate funds to the numerous charities involved in relief efforts (short list: American Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, Habitat for Humanity). USAA, one of the largest employers’ in San Antonio, has pledged the first $1 million to the fund.

* Both the San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Sea World of Texas are offering free admission to Hurricane Katrina evacuees. I heard this on the local news and radio, so as soon as I find published reports with specific details, I’ll post that as well.

* At least four shelters are currently open in San Antonio: two large shelters at Kelly USA ( a demilitarized former U.S.A.F. base), one at the Levi Strauss plant and a much smaller shelter at old Windsor Park Mall that is expected to be closed sometime this weekend as many evacuees are locating family, friends or others with whom they can stay for an extended period.

* Many food, funds and supply drives are underway, as well as blood donation drives and calls for volunteers. Volunteers will be needed for the foreseeable future, especially in the overnight hours which are understandably difficult to secure volunteers for due to people’s work and family schedules.

* At least four of our local public school districts are enrolling or in the process of enrolling the children of evacuees so they can resume a small piece of normalcy to their lives.

Not to minimize what other Texas and other states’ cities are doing, of course. Due to their proximity to the state border, cities such as Houston and Dallas are also offering an outpouring of support and shelter, as well.

When history looks back on all this, I’m sure it will have some harsh words, and rightfully so. But it will also mark this as one of the major “mass migrations” in America’s history, and it’s everyone’s job to ensure that this migration is handled with the utmost care and concern for those who have been displaced; this wasn’t a voluntary migration to seek a “better life,” these are people struggling to find loved ones and regain their footing after being forced to uproot themselves and their families.