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Clinton, Blanco Visit Red Cross Shelter
Former President Bill Clinton and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco Meet with Hurricane Survivors in Baton Rouge
Written by
Shannon Rolf
, Special to Redcross.org
Tuesday, October 11, 2005 — BATON ROUGE, La. – Former President Bill Clinton and Louisiana State Governor Kathleen Blanco paid a special visit to the American Red Cross shelter at River Center in downtown Baton Rouge on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, to meet with more than 20 of the hurricane survivors who had been staying at the shelter since early September.
Residents of the River Center American Red Cross shelter in Baton Rouge, La., get their photo taken with former Pres. Bill Clinton, Oct. 6, 2005, during a visit by the former president and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco.
(Photo Credit: Ed Porter/American Red Cross)
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Clinton and Blanco attended the informal session where individuals shared their unique experiences before, during and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the United States.
“The victims were able to share their personal experiences face-to-face with the [former] president,” said Deneen Cooper of the American Red Cross. “They voiced their fears for the future and had the undivided attention of President Clinton and Governor Blanco.”
Robert Warner was among the survivors sharing their stories. After being evacuated from New Orleans to Lake Charles, La., when Hurricane Katrina hit, Warner was then evacuated from Lake Charles as well due to Rita.
“The more we’ve been talking about what needs to be done, the blinder and deafer people have become,” said Warner, who seemed to sum up everyone’s frustration.
Other survivors, a broad cross-section of those affected that included a retired physician, a school teacher, a single mother, a grandmother and an engineer, voiced similar dissatisfaction.
“We are not looking for a handout. I always pay taxes, now I need help,” said one woman who received nods of agreement from the group.
“My car, my home – everything is gone,” said another woman. “Where do I go from here? Who is going to help me?”
After listening to their concerns, Blanco shared her idea for a program that would be funded with money from the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, an effort led by Clinton and former President George Bush. Blanco’s proposed program involves pairing families affected by the hurricanes with people in non-affected areas who would assist them with needs such as those shared by these evacuees. The family liaisons would help the survivors manage the paperwork and processes to receive federal assistance as well as handling special needs, such as obtaining medication for diabetic family members or inhalers for those with asthma.
President Clinton endorsed Blanco’s plan, acknowledging the need for neighbors to help neighbors rather than relying solely on computers and toll-free numbers.
“People’s specific needs are very different,” said President Clinton, who listened to each story and asked questions throughout the meeting.
Blanco and Clinton toured the facility, which had at one time housed almost 5,000 evacuees and was still providing shelter and food to more than 800 people. They greeted families as Red Cross volunteers showed them the sleeping quarters, kitchen and a school housed inside the facility. The Red Cross school, which is accredited by the State of Louisiana, is open to the children staying at the shelter and run by teachers – both volunteers and evacuees staying at the shelter.
After the tour, the two met with state and local dignitaries to discuss the concerns and suggestions they heard. The three-hour visit concluded with Clinton and Blanco shaking hands with Red Cross volunteers, expressing their thanks before heading to their next destination.
Shannon Rolf is a public affairs volunteer with the Palo Alto Chapter of the American Red Cross.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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