September 8, 2005

Hurricane Katrina aftermath disperses refugees
to several US cities, including San Jose

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

San Jose is gearing up to receive at least 100 Hurricane Katrina evacuees within the next several days, but officials are keeping tight lipped about the arrangements.

While San Francisco has announced plans to shelter up to 300 people underneath St. Mary’s Cathedral under armed guard, San Jose officials have hinted at plans to place its evacuees in less intimidating environments and are pursuing options that may include shelters, hotels, motels—even affordable housing.

Meanwhile, San Jose residents are responding with offers of housing for evacuees who may end up in the area—generous offers according to mayoral spokesperson David Vossbrink, who warns that they may not be exactly what some of these people need right now. He anticipates many of them will need a lot of support and services that the city can provide. Some may even be sick or going through the emotional shock of losing their homes and communities—creating scenarios that may result in long term commitments.

“We don’t want to put them through another round of disruption if an arrangement didn’t work out or may require a whole different set of resources than a regular family might be equipped to handle,” he says. “At the same time, it’s a very generous and Ron respects the willingness of people to offer. It’s terrific.”

Vossbrink says they don’t know when the evacuees will be arriving or for that matter, how, but the city continues to work with Santa Clara County and the Red Cross to prepare for their arrival, with accommodations for both short-term and long-term housing.

Because conditions on the ground in New Orleans and the surrounding areas are still very chaotic, Vossbrink doesn’t expect to get much notice as to who they will be working with or how much time they have to place them.

“We also have to be ready to provide the support network, including medical and mental health needs, housing, job training and placement, schools, and social services that will be critical in helping them get back on their feet again,” he says. “We need to provide a way to either integrate into this community or prepare to return to their own, depending on what’s waiting for them back home.”

The sentiment is much the same throughout the country—a nation still trying to grasp the totality of Hurricane Katrina’s wrath and responding in what ever way they can to the victims of communities that cannot be repopulated.

“We are not taking this lightly,” Vossbrink adds. “It’s important that if they do land in San Jose, we are ready for them so that we can minimize future disruptions on their lives.”