2008 Woodie Awards
Hurricane aftermath still felt
FEMA continues to assist in disaster relief efforts
Brady Pedigo
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: The Weekly
The end of the summer's hurricane season brings much tension among Gulf Coast residents. With the recent passing of Louisiana's Gustav and Texas' Ike, many refugee families struggle to rebuild their foundations lost to the hurricanes.
A delayed reaction from the government with Hurricane Katrina has brought much skepticism with the urgency to act upon 2008's hurricane arrivals.
FEMA's actions toward Ike and Gustav have prompted much media awareness toward the federal organization. With 67 deaths nationally from the recent Ike destruction, warnings to evacuate were not taken lightly.
Gustav hit the coast of Louisiana at 8 a.m. CDT Sept. 1 before weakening to a Category 2 storm just before landfall.
Ike hit Galveston Island Sept. 13 as a Category 2 system; its large size brought a storm surge of more than 12 feet from East Galveston Island into southern Louisiana.
Disaster relief efforts stretched all the way home, with Amarillo contributing its share.
Martha Riddlespurger of the Amarillo Red Cross affiliate said, "Some people returned home a few days ago from Baton Rouge for Gustav efforts, and two people return tonight from South Texas in Angleton."
Relief efforts in Angleton consisted of ERV (emergency rescue vehicle) operations and multiple deployments of food and help among multiple routes.
Furthermore, a long-term recovery plan is under way throughout Galveston and other coastal cities.
The $525 million to $625 million in damages this year has brought much support from FEMA and Coast Guard with the supplies, search and rescue operations, and other life-saving and life-preserving acts accompanied them.
FEMA continues to aid Texas and Louisiana residents with millions of meals, millions of bottles of water, hundreds of generators, hundreds of thousands of blankets and cots, 25,000 rolls of plastic sheeting and 18,000 tarps.
With hurricane damage felt far south, Amarillo College student Khury Lamkin, a psychology major, said she feels different.
Her aunt and uncle both were in the path of Gustav in Baton Rouge.
Although his family suffered only minor damage from the storm, Khury expressed concern for her family and other victims.
Anyone can help with the relief and recovery efforts.
Corporations and individuals can offer their support through the American Red Cross center or www.fema.gov.
A delayed reaction from the government with Hurricane Katrina has brought much skepticism with the urgency to act upon 2008's hurricane arrivals.
FEMA's actions toward Ike and Gustav have prompted much media awareness toward the federal organization. With 67 deaths nationally from the recent Ike destruction, warnings to evacuate were not taken lightly.
Gustav hit the coast of Louisiana at 8 a.m. CDT Sept. 1 before weakening to a Category 2 storm just before landfall.
Ike hit Galveston Island Sept. 13 as a Category 2 system; its large size brought a storm surge of more than 12 feet from East Galveston Island into southern Louisiana.
Disaster relief efforts stretched all the way home, with Amarillo contributing its share.
Martha Riddlespurger of the Amarillo Red Cross affiliate said, "Some people returned home a few days ago from Baton Rouge for Gustav efforts, and two people return tonight from South Texas in Angleton."
Relief efforts in Angleton consisted of ERV (emergency rescue vehicle) operations and multiple deployments of food and help among multiple routes.
Furthermore, a long-term recovery plan is under way throughout Galveston and other coastal cities.
The $525 million to $625 million in damages this year has brought much support from FEMA and Coast Guard with the supplies, search and rescue operations, and other life-saving and life-preserving acts accompanied them.
FEMA continues to aid Texas and Louisiana residents with millions of meals, millions of bottles of water, hundreds of generators, hundreds of thousands of blankets and cots, 25,000 rolls of plastic sheeting and 18,000 tarps.
With hurricane damage felt far south, Amarillo College student Khury Lamkin, a psychology major, said she feels different.
Her aunt and uncle both were in the path of Gustav in Baton Rouge.
Although his family suffered only minor damage from the storm, Khury expressed concern for her family and other victims.
Anyone can help with the relief and recovery efforts.
Corporations and individuals can offer their support through the American Red Cross center or www.fema.gov.
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