Waiting.
It’s 11:36 am and I’m anxious. While I’ve gotten some good work done, it hasn’t been enough. Spent most of the morning integrating changes for our Bay St. Louis and Waveland area map, because the Hancock County Emergency Operation Center didn’t get their updated list of assistance locations to us until yesterday. As I’ve addressed before, things are in a definite state of flux. Last week, Bayou Talla Church’s distribution assistance was going full steam. Earlier this week, it closed down permanently. Yesterday, it opened back up. This is happening everywhere! No matter what, ours maps won’t be 100% accurate, and there are going to be some frustrated people out there who will go seeking help only to find the place closed. All we can hope for is that they go to the next place. That’s a difficult request though, because of nearly everyone’s financial situations down here. Gas is expensive; gas stations often don’t have gas, so a drive of a few extra miles isn’t as easy as it could be.
I’ve also been doing some research to assist the Dedeaux community. Not that they need much help. When we stopped by last night, I was thoroughly impressed. These people, the ones who have taken aid attainment into their own hands since the officials and aid organizations have failed them, are now creating a community map, paying special interest to the location of typically disenfranchised groups. This map will be used as proof to obtain the aid the community needs (and that these more at-risk groups need first), and to ensure that the people are checked in on: old ladies will be brought medication, infants diapers, food for the financial troubled, etc.
I walked into their school use that has been transformed into impromptu aid distribution point, medical triage unit, and shelter. On a table were spread a collection of maps of their area (Mrs. Nancy, one of the matriarchs of the community, went down to the EOC and demanded them), phone books, and piles of interview results. I had my doubts on if this project would be embraced by more than just one or two people, but those two had assembled a team of 10, with an age range of over 60 years. The youngest, by the end of the night, not only taught me about which country music stars she’d die for, but she was anxiously using my GIS software to locate addresses that the rest of her team weren’t sure about. Most college students can’t pick up the software that easily, let alone get excited about using it! She was a little disappointed that I wasn’t leaving my laptop with her so she could continue working! The rest of the group were busy working on deciphering the interview writing, confirming addresses and phone numbers by cross-referencing phonebooks, delineating the area of interest for the map (thus defining the “Dedeaux” which hasn’t yet been clearly defined), determining which roads are their primary access roads, which are secondary roads, and naming the unnamed roads on the map. On top of all this, they began creating the solutions the phase us out of the bulk of their work. This is actually wonderful, and what we want to have happen, but their progress has far exceeded our expectations and confidence. We’ll continue to play a role in their project, but solely as support, or technical expertise in special circumstances. One of the tasks I’m working on right now is to obtain the most recent satellite imagery of their community, so we can count the residences, thereby establishing a baseline for their interview returns.
Now, I’m anxious because I want to get back on the streets. Orleans Parish is slowly opening up, and we’ve been giving permission to go wherever we want, despite police or National Guard road blocks. I’m stuck waiting on my partner, who is dealing with some funding issues for Global MapAid. I don’t really want to wait anymore, because the sooner we can get out there, the sooner we can make the necessary connections with aid organizations, police, etc., to make our job easier, and to put more maps out there. I have less than a week left here, so if we want to achieve anything in New Orleans, it has to be done now.
I’m going to go and tell him if he’s not ready, he can stay here and I’ve got work to do. I have the car keys after all.
Oh, and I would like everyone to kmow that Bella, my niece, is much older than 7 and 8 months. She's 8 years old.
I’ve also been doing some research to assist the Dedeaux community. Not that they need much help. When we stopped by last night, I was thoroughly impressed. These people, the ones who have taken aid attainment into their own hands since the officials and aid organizations have failed them, are now creating a community map, paying special interest to the location of typically disenfranchised groups. This map will be used as proof to obtain the aid the community needs (and that these more at-risk groups need first), and to ensure that the people are checked in on: old ladies will be brought medication, infants diapers, food for the financial troubled, etc.
I walked into their school use that has been transformed into impromptu aid distribution point, medical triage unit, and shelter. On a table were spread a collection of maps of their area (Mrs. Nancy, one of the matriarchs of the community, went down to the EOC and demanded them), phone books, and piles of interview results. I had my doubts on if this project would be embraced by more than just one or two people, but those two had assembled a team of 10, with an age range of over 60 years. The youngest, by the end of the night, not only taught me about which country music stars she’d die for, but she was anxiously using my GIS software to locate addresses that the rest of her team weren’t sure about. Most college students can’t pick up the software that easily, let alone get excited about using it! She was a little disappointed that I wasn’t leaving my laptop with her so she could continue working! The rest of the group were busy working on deciphering the interview writing, confirming addresses and phone numbers by cross-referencing phonebooks, delineating the area of interest for the map (thus defining the “Dedeaux” which hasn’t yet been clearly defined), determining which roads are their primary access roads, which are secondary roads, and naming the unnamed roads on the map. On top of all this, they began creating the solutions the phase us out of the bulk of their work. This is actually wonderful, and what we want to have happen, but their progress has far exceeded our expectations and confidence. We’ll continue to play a role in their project, but solely as support, or technical expertise in special circumstances. One of the tasks I’m working on right now is to obtain the most recent satellite imagery of their community, so we can count the residences, thereby establishing a baseline for their interview returns.
Now, I’m anxious because I want to get back on the streets. Orleans Parish is slowly opening up, and we’ve been giving permission to go wherever we want, despite police or National Guard road blocks. I’m stuck waiting on my partner, who is dealing with some funding issues for Global MapAid. I don’t really want to wait anymore, because the sooner we can get out there, the sooner we can make the necessary connections with aid organizations, police, etc., to make our job easier, and to put more maps out there. I have less than a week left here, so if we want to achieve anything in New Orleans, it has to be done now.
I’m going to go and tell him if he’s not ready, he can stay here and I’ve got work to do. I have the car keys after all.
Oh, and I would like everyone to kmow that Bella, my niece, is much older than 7 and 8 months. She's 8 years old.
posted by B at
12:17 PM
