FEMA Monetary Support: The federal government, via FEMA, has authorized $2000 each for displaced individuals “to spend on clothing and other immediate needs.” This morning, CNN TV reported that it is still unclear how these funds will be disbursed. Some suggest that the money will be restricted to $2000 per head of household. More as this develops.
At 9:20AM CDT, CNN Headline News reports that the FEMA debit cards will not be issued today due to “logistical problems.”
If you wish to apply for FEMA assistance or simply start the process, here is an online form.
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Pumps & Water: 15 out of 120 pumps are back in commission. Water is finally going down in St. Bernard Parish while it hasn’t begun to recede in the downtown medical district.
The EPA has found lead (not good for kids) and 10 times the normal level of E. coli in New Orleans floodwater. (No, really?) The CDC is investigating reports of Vibrio vulnificis in the drinking water – don’t worry, this bacterium does not cause cholera and does not spread from person to person.
New Orleans is also not a bowl of “toxic gumbo.” It’s what happens when floodwater, sewage, chemicals and debris mix together, not a soup from which the next generation of X-Men and evil mutants will appear.
If you’re still in New Orleans, don’t wade around in the floodwater, get out to get immunized and wait a bit before you go back in.
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Shell: Last evening’s meeting suggests that the company continues to help employees get their personal situations stabilized. Quite a few have school-age children or ailing parents whose needs have to be taken care of before a return to work.
The company is also working on temporary office space and associated logistics (IT, furniture, etc.) to last until the end of 2005 and beyond if necessary. Yesterday’s conference indicated three New Orleans re-entry time frames: 3-, 6- and 12-months. The 12-month scenario has to be the worst-case, which any large business that evacuated New Orleans should prepare for. It’s not easy to move workplaces around.
Each of our displaced employees from One Shell Square (EP/Pipeline) will go back to work as follows:
- ~300 at Robert Training Center – main location for RPD – phase in over the next three weeks
- ~110 at Baton Rouge – RPD support and Pipeline – space ready next week
- ~390 in the Houston Central Business District – EP Projects, Mars Recovery Team, RTD ventures & support functions – over the next several weeks as IT issues are worked out (This is where I’ll be camping out for the next few months.)
- ~370 at Woodcreek (workstations + double-ups, or people sharing offices) – EPX, RTD, EPT and support functions.
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Tulane: Tulane University professors (non-clinical) continue to be paid and are on call to return to New Orleans at the first possible moment. They will be given “special duties” to get the school up and running (the start of spring semester is the goal).
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What Next?: Now is the time to discover flexibility and patience as things take their course. However, we need not be laid-back about it. We must ensure that the progress of our city happens quickly and correctly, with the right resources applied in the right spots. Keep in touch with local leaders and remaining residents (by this, I don’t mean pester them) to find out what they are doing towards recovery and rebuilding. Please volunteer your help in your current location, look for temporary employment (as D is doing) and hope for the best. One day at a time.
