Open Arms Policy
East Tennessee, the destination. We sit within 500 miles of 2/3 of the population of the United States. Gatlinburg and The Great Smoky Mountains are often mentioned in the same breath but are as different as tourists and naturalists. The shores of our TVA lakes are gradually being discovered by PFO’s (People From Ohio) looking for that vacation home only 5 hours away. Florida retirees who tire of heat, lack of 4 seasons, and hurricanes are bouncing back half way to the north. Welcome all.
East Tennesseans have arms wide open for Katrina Survivors. I imagine the scene is being repeated all over America. We are expecting 4 plane loads of evacuees today. There were already some in our area who arrived by private conveyance. Elementary schools have seen new enrollments. Churches are mobilizing legions of volunteers. It was said that 2500 volunteers showed up to one of the larger Methodist churches. I went to the American Red Cross (ARC) Mental Health Volunteer orientation and it was standing room only. About 300 Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Nurses and Social workers will have had the necessary training by week’s end.
We were pleased with the turnout. We have little idea what to expect. We were given a few guidelines which I will report here:
1. We are to calm and defuse tension and avoid increasing distress. People have been displaced not only from their homes but their comfort zone, their routine, their established support system. Many have been without their medications for a number of major illnesses.
2. We are not, under any circumstances, to encourage discussions of politics or religion. (These tend to violate guideline number 1 above.)
3. Don’t send anyone on “wild goose” hunts. If you don’t know the answer or location or solution to a request, say “I don’t know” or personally find someone who does know.
4. Have very good boundaries. We are strongly discouraged from providing any private shelter, sharing phone numbers, or personal access.
5. No money is to exchange hands. That leads to unwise bartering and disorder. Vouchers come directly from the ARC help keep order and provide capital for purchases.
6. Expect the unexpected. We will have to figure much of this out “on the fly” since little will be known in advance.
7. Follow the 4 R’s:
· Respect- Do not patronize or give throw away comments such as, “It’s a beautiful day” or “At least you’re alive.
· Routine- Needs to be established quickly. Familiarity.
· Rules- There is something reassuring about having rules. The “frame” of our existence.
· Rumors are to be avoided. They can spread like wild fire and tend to violate guideline number 1 above.
To our new guests: Welcome. We will try to help. This song had something to do with Volunteers and helping New Orleans.--James
East Tennesseans have arms wide open for Katrina Survivors. I imagine the scene is being repeated all over America. We are expecting 4 plane loads of evacuees today. There were already some in our area who arrived by private conveyance. Elementary schools have seen new enrollments. Churches are mobilizing legions of volunteers. It was said that 2500 volunteers showed up to one of the larger Methodist churches. I went to the American Red Cross (ARC) Mental Health Volunteer orientation and it was standing room only. About 300 Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Nurses and Social workers will have had the necessary training by week’s end.
We were pleased with the turnout. We have little idea what to expect. We were given a few guidelines which I will report here:
1. We are to calm and defuse tension and avoid increasing distress. People have been displaced not only from their homes but their comfort zone, their routine, their established support system. Many have been without their medications for a number of major illnesses.
2. We are not, under any circumstances, to encourage discussions of politics or religion. (These tend to violate guideline number 1 above.)
3. Don’t send anyone on “wild goose” hunts. If you don’t know the answer or location or solution to a request, say “I don’t know” or personally find someone who does know.
4. Have very good boundaries. We are strongly discouraged from providing any private shelter, sharing phone numbers, or personal access.
5. No money is to exchange hands. That leads to unwise bartering and disorder. Vouchers come directly from the ARC help keep order and provide capital for purchases.
6. Expect the unexpected. We will have to figure much of this out “on the fly” since little will be known in advance.
7. Follow the 4 R’s:
· Respect- Do not patronize or give throw away comments such as, “It’s a beautiful day” or “At least you’re alive.
· Routine- Needs to be established quickly. Familiarity.
· Rules- There is something reassuring about having rules. The “frame” of our existence.
· Rumors are to be avoided. They can spread like wild fire and tend to violate guideline number 1 above.
To our new guests: Welcome. We will try to help. This song had something to do with Volunteers and helping New Orleans.--James
posted by James at 7:16 AM
1 Comments:
Smiles From a Summer Wine
More than a week after Katrina devastated New Orleans, estimates of the human toll have been based on little more than sketchy math and wild guesses.
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