Our First Katrina Refugees

We booked our first refugees at the Inn yesterday -- an older couple who had
stayed with us on vacation in the past, and who lost everything in Katrina.

They are living day-to-day, not sure when -- or if -- they'll be able to
return home. When I asked them why they came so far North to stay, they
just shrugged their shoulders and said "Because we like it here..."

So, the Constellation Suite is their new home until further notice... (They
like old prop-driven airliners...)

Interestingly, others in New Orleans have decided that Iowa doesn't sound so
good to them:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/app...65/1001&lead=1


Here's the story, in case the link expires:
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Iowa is ready, evacuees are not

Des Moines Register

September 7, 2005
Iowa is ready to welcome thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees - but it
was unclear Tuesday whether any of the people fleeing the Gulf Coast want to
come.

Iowans raced to be ready for hundreds of homeless people who had been
expected to arrive as soon as Tuesday afternoon.

The Iowa National Guard and American Red Cross prepared the Iowa State
Fairgrounds for up to 1,000 people who were expected to come from evacuation
points in Houston. The state has offered to assist up to 5,000 evacuees.

But they didn't come.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Iowa officials spoke with Federal Emergency
Management Agency officials who said they were having a hard time getting
people to leave the evacuation zones in Houston.

"People don't necessarily want to move," Gov. Tom Vilsack told reporters
Tuesday evening. "They are tired. They are frustrated. They want to stay
where they are. So, we're going to give them a breather, and we are going to
see where we are (today)."

Vilsack said evacuees still may come. He and other governors will
participate in a conference call with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff and learn more about the evacuation plans.

"We stand ready and prepared if the call should come," Vilsack said.

It's not just Iowa. Evacuees have rejected accommodations on cruise ships,
for example.

"The folks in Texas are having some difficulty encouraging folks to get on
airplanes and travel to other locations. It's understandable. These people
have been through a lot," Vilsack said. "This is a day-by-day, hour-by-hour
situation."

State officials waited by the phone all day. They had expected a call from
the federal government that evacuees were on their way early Tuesday, state
officials said. It never came.

Nevertheless, Iowa stands ready. The Varied Industries Building at the
fairgrounds has been turned into the main hub for evacuees, who would then
be moved into hotels and homes around the community.
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--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"