Author: Dick

Well, I don’t know if I’d call it a Sally Field Oscar moment, but apparently some of the members in our world community have offered to help us with our disaster down South.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said today these nations have offered assistance with the hurricane recovery effort:

“Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, the Organization of American States, Jamaica, NATO, Australia, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”

Venezuela, whose leader evangelist Pat Robertson wants assassinated (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), has even offered us oil. Apparently, Saudi Arabia, our great Middle Eastern ally who has more oil than you can shake a drilling stem at, has not offered us oil. Nor has Kuwait (remember the time they were invaded by Iraq and we went to war?) I don’t know if Iraq will give us oil or whether they are in a position to do so. Meaning, I don’t know if we can just take it from them since we really are occupying their nation right now.

But yes, it seems like we need food, water, ice, beds, some Gatorade, lots of oil and about half of our National Guard back stateside right now. Oh well, Honduras and Jamaica will watch our backs.

As if the world isn’t continuing to go to hell rather quickly in New Orleans, this article tells that legendary R & B star Fats Domino is missing in the floodwaters.

He had long been a star with songs like “Blueberry Hill” and “I’m Walking” when I heard him play at the Texas Pelican Club in Vinton, La., back in the mid-1970s. But it was a thrill to hear him bang that piano and to sing, nonetheless. There was always just something so unique about the man and his music. I hope he is safe.

My friend Bruce in North Texas says what’s on his mind about Katrina in our comments blog.

A press release by Texas Gov. Rick Perry (whose hair was perfect)says the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is allowing refugees from the hurricane to camp for free in our state parks. Maps and descriptions of the state parks can be found here.

Navy landing craft such as the one pictured are among the three larger ships headed from Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico to assist with disaster recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Meanwhile, Interstate 10 which is only 7 or so blocks from where I live, should be getting pretty busy later. About 25,000 refugees from New Orleans are being bused to Texas. The primary shelter is the Astrodome in Houston, although I understand Jefferson County and Texas state officials are discussing the possibility of housing longer-term refugees here in Beaumont at Ford Park. Speaking of, I hope the 1,000 or more refugees at Ford Park and others to come like country music. The free Labor Day concert which is actually Sunday evening at Ford Park will be going on as planned. Beaumont-area natives Clay Walker, Mark Chestnut and Zona Jones will be performing.

Refugees from Louisiana, Mississippi and, I imagine, Alabama are scattered all over Southeast Texas as well as throughout other parts of the state. I read where a shelter is being set up at a church in Waco, which is about a 5 1/2-hour drive northwest from the state line on I-10.

Information on Southeast Texas relief efforts for those hit by Katrina, including needs of local shelters, can be found on KFDM-TV Channel 6’s Web site.