Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis, who served for nearly 16 years in the New Orleans western neighboring Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, received word from a Louisiana Red Cross official Sept. 2 that Thibodaux has become a "funnel" for evacuees.
"They are arriving by busloads in horrible condition and have not eaten in days," said Dr. Maria Cruise in an e-mail to Bishop Solis. "We have nothing from outside and are 'winging it.' FEMA has been totally overwhelmed…we are told we need to keep 'winging it' for a few more days until national help can arrive," e-mailed Cruise as soon as Internet service came online last Friday afternoon.
"Our shelter was supposed to be max 750 and we are over 2,000! Lafayette and Baton Rouge cannot take anymore and are in the same condition as us except they are receiving national supplies already," said Cruise. She added that the National Red Cross is planning to create a mini-city in Thibodaux and other nearby cities to house a few thousand of the estimated one million evacuees.
According to Cruise, lack of leadership and coordination as well as media reports of criminal activities are among the biggest obstacles to aiding the homeless victims of Katrina. "There have been no serious crimes in Thibodaux or Lafourche," declared Cruise, who requested prayers and implored the public to not be afraid of the hurricane victims. "Maybe we can all come together in a good way through all of this."
From phone calls received before phone lines went down for four days after Katrina hit, Bishop Solis learned Aug. 29 that damage to the Thibodaux region was minimal compared to the devastation in Gulf Coast cities to the east. "They felt so blessed," said the bishop, who was formerly pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux.
A parishioner from Bishop Solis' first Louisiana parish assignment at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Golden Meadow, approximately 35 miles from the Gulf, told Bishop Solis in a cell phone conversation last Friday that most Thibodaux evacuees had returned to their homes.
In a region where Catholics are a majority in the population --- as much as 60 percent --- Bishop Solis is confident that church members will rally to the support of the evacuees.
"I have no doubt that Catholics and other religious organizations will be able to help the victims," said Bishop Solis. "It's wonderful for people to know that the church is part of their integral lives." |