Civic Engagement: Hurricane Katrina

The Bellows 14-passenger van was driven to New Orleans area several days after Hurricane Katrina swept through to provide transportation of evacuees, including, if possible, to bring back Katrina evacuees to Patagonia for housing and employment and a later return to New Orleans when things here stabilize.

This effort was organized by a number of civic groups in Patagonia, Arizona (population 900), doing its part to mitigate this widespread catastrophe. A written commentary of activities and lessons learned is included on separate pages available on the navigation bar above.

Here are photographs taken during our September 2005 visits to the Baton Rouge, Houston, San Antonio and El Paso Red Cross Shelters that took in Katrina evacuees.

Steve Boyle of The Bellows Foundation and Chuck Budd of the First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge heading out to visit three local Red Cross shelters in need of assistance in transporting evacuees.

We found the Delgado family at the America House, a private shelter, in need of a ride to Houston. Three staffers of the America House to the right.

They were reunited with friends in Houston. Mr. Delgado is from Nicaragua and Mrs. Delgado is from Guatemala. Their friends are also from Central America, including San Salvador.

Entrance to the biggest Red Cross shelter at the River Center complex in Baton Rouge during a lull.

A small portion of the Red Cross shelter inside the George R. Brown Conference Center in Houston.

Inside the Astrodome in Houston. At a high point last week, the three largest shelters in Houston contained 29,000 evacuees.

Inside one of the Red Cross shelters in San Antonio.