We’re seeing some progress and a miracle or two.  An AIM project leader’s mother was vacationing in New Orleans and found herself in the group trapped in the Superdome.  Last night she got out. The report: 

Great News!  My mom is safe and sound as of about an hour ago.  Gangs and chaos reigned within the Superdome.  She said it was an open sewer and said the whole place was worse than any Third World country she'd ever been in.  She feared for her life.  At least twice she thought she would die there.  She says we just can't imagine what it was like.

Baton Rouge has emerged as our first staging area. On Tuesday and Wednesday, AIM will send a team of 70 there to begin ministering and serving as go-betweens placing families in homes.  As of last night, 148 families had signed up to host evacuees. We have workers on the ground working hard to find families who are ready to go.  From Baton Rouge this report: 

I’m Michael Paul - I will be helping Adventures In Missions with placing people/organizations with the displaced people in our area.  Baton Rouge has about 30,000 or more in centers in the area.  The dilemma is two-fold:  First, it’s slow and tough to get permission to allow the people from New Orleans to leave the center/area.  It’s frustrating. But we are working on that with the Red Cross and the other agencies here. 

It is so difficult to know who is alive, dead, etc.  Nearly a million people have been displaced.  It is a horrible nightmare to say the least. 

The second thing is the "match" process between hosts and evacuees.  I am going to the largest center in Baton Rouge this afternoon.  I will have a better feel once I do that.  I have had 17 people living in our house since Wednesday.

Some host families have already had bad experiences. This is a huge responsibility for families and churches to take on hosting these people. There are risks. Housing and food are just the beginning. Schooling, jobs, health issues, financial support, etc., will all have to take place. 

Hosts need to understand these people aren't necessarily going to be wonderfully receptive and appreciative of the help.  I am a go between--hosts contact me and bring them to the centers and help in the process of taking people out.  I will try to get help, maybe an e-mail address or someone who can receive the calls.

 I’ll leave you with an idea that Michael Paul suggests:

“It would be great if willing host families could come here and walk and talk through the crowds and get a feel for who would be most suitable to leave the center.”

Please contact Talia Barnes if you can get in your car right away and go to Baton Rouge to pick up a family. We will find a place for you to stay there.  Some will be able to get in the car and go today. We’ll tell you about them.

Seth
Executive Director, AIM

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News from the Field: Baton Rouge, LA (9/2/05)
AIM Report: Helping Katrina Refugees in Atlanta