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Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Volunteers Outnumber Katrina Refugees at ABQ Convention Center

By Felicia Fonseca/
Associated Press
      Volunteers outnumbered victims of Hurricane Katrina who found shelter in Albuquerque, as the stream of evacuees escaping the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast slowed.
    Those staying at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Monday received one-on-one attention.
    "You need good vibration and music,'' said Ife Jaha, who, with a guitar strapped on her back, was ready to play blues music for the refugees on Monday.
    New Mexico welcomed 93 refugees Sunday, and 40 to 50 remained Tuesday in the convention center, Mayor Martin Chavez said. Others moved into hotels or are staying with family members, he said.
    Chavez said 1,050 homes around New Mexico have registered to accommodate up to 3,050 refugees.
    "We're ready to start moving them to the next step of their lives,'' he said.
    New Mexicans have overwhelmed service agencies with offers of assistance to storm victims, said Kathy Komoll, an American Red Cross spokeswoman. Cash is most urgently needed, she said.
    New Mexico Homeland Security Director Tim Manning said fewer refugees were leaving New Orleans. No new evacuees were expected Monday in New Mexico, he said.
    During the weekend, large groups of people were evacuated from New Orleans shelters, but by Monday rescuers were searching for smaller numbers of survivors in the neighborhoods, Manning said.
    On Sunday, Gov. Bill Richardson said the state was able to accept up to 6,000 evacuees, but Manning said he believes the final number will be "significantly less.''
    Those refugees who arrived seemed relieved to be in New Mexico.
    Yvonne Shelton, 60, spent 3 1/2 hours at the emergency room Sunday night to receive treatment for an arm injury. She said she couldn't ask for anything better than to be in Albuquerque.
    "I think it's neat here,'' she said. "I might just live here. The people here are so nice and friendly.''
    Officials said they were prepared for up to 1,000 evacuees in Albuquerque. Preparations also were made in Roswell, Clovis and Farmington to prepare space for hurricane victims.
    "The key is to remain flexible and do what's best for the people that we're trying to take care of,'' Manning said.
    In Farmington, volunteers set up 500 cots with blankets and pillows at the San Juan County Convention Center, said Lillian Rose, executive director of the San Juan chapter of the American Red Cross.
    "We want to make this as welcome and as restful and as helpful with information as we possibly can,'' she said.
    Volunteers were ready with food, beverages, clothing and toiletries.
    "It's phenomenal. We've probably processed 100 volunteers to help today (Monday),'' Rose said.
    Volunteers also spent time familiarizing themselves with Louisiana and Mississippi and "where they're (refugees) from so that they do feel we have an understanding, and they can learn a little about New Mexico,'' she said.
    New Mexico — with almost $700 million in its savings account, thanks to oil and natural gas revenue — is financially poised to handle the refugees.
    "It makes us uniquely able to financially respond to these kinds of things,'' said New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration Secretary James Jimenez.
    State law gives the governor the authority to tap the state's cash balances by $750,000 each time he issues a disaster declaration.
    Red Cross officials were holding off on requesting more volunteers Monday.
    "The night went smooth, the morale went up, and the people are smiling this morning (Monday),'' said Wendy Riley, disaster action team volunteer for the Mid-Rio Grande chapter of the Red Cross.
    On their first full day in Albuquerque, some refugees headed out on a bus to barber shops and beauty salons for shaves and haircuts. Others headed to the UNLV-New Mexico football game at University Stadium.
    Brothers Kevin and Vincent Williams of New Orleans said they were going to make the best of their visit to Albuquerque.
    "What I've experienced is a roller coaster ride,'' Kevin Williams said. "Anywhere from jubilation after the hurricane was over to the point where the canal broke and that just devastated us.''
    People in the Albuquerque Convention Center were searching the Internet and making calls, hoping to find loved ones some haven't heard from for days.
    About 60 phones and eight computers were set up in the center while televisions hanging on walls were tuned to channels showing video of Hurricane Katrina-battered New Orleans.
    Barbara Dua, executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Churches, navigated Bernell Haney through a Red Cross registry of people affected by the hurricane.
    Haney, 50, said he was trying to track down his parents.
    "Hopefully they evacuated when they had time,'' he said.
    Dua typed Haney's parents' names into the registry and said, "Now we're going to hold our breath.''
    No luck.
    Haney registered himself, hoping if he didn't get to his parents first, maybe they would find him.
    Haney said his plans are undecided.
    "I'm still up in the air thinking I want this to be my home, but my heart is still in New Orleans,'' he said.
    "I know I'm going back but I don't know if I'm going back to stay,'' he said. "I don't believe the city will ever be the same.''