As thousands of evacuees displaced by Hurricane Katrina filled relocation
centers and found shelter elsewhere in the state, a unique force with offices
in every county rallied to assist.
Providing food—even straight from the field—and other immediate needs
for victims of this natural disaster was a priority for employees and volunteers
from Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, officials
said.
In Amarillo, that meant fresh vegetables. Hundreds of pounds of cantaloupes, tomatoes and corn from field trial plots at the Texas A&M System Research and Extension Center were harvested by employees and used in meals served to evacuees, said John Sweeten, Experiment Station director at the facility.
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at Amarillo volunteers and faculty
harvested cantaloupes, tomatoes and corn from field test plots and delivered
them to the City Church, the primary meal preparation center for families
evacuated to Amarillo following Hurricane Katrina. (Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station photo by Nikola Hristov)
"We felt it was the best use of this produce at this time," Sweeten said. "What other agency in town could have brought in fresh vegetables in a moment's notice?"
The Experiment Station, with 13 facilities across Texas, has been conducting research to help farmers grow fruits and vegetables since 1888.
"Providing food and other basic needs is something we are well equipped to handle, so our employees were able to quickly assist in a number of ways throughout the state," said Elsa Murano, vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences in The Texas A&M University System. "For many of the evacuees the needs are still immediate. And we will continue helping as our new neighbors get farther down the road toward a normal life again."
The agencies were able to respond quickly because Extension has employees and volunteer programs in every county and Experiment Station has research plots in every region of the state, she noted.
In urban counties where thousands of evacuees were driven for shelter, Extension employees and volunteers assembled health kits containing personal hygiene items. More than 1,000 kits were assembled and distributed in Bexar, Andrews, Angelina, Travis and El Paso counties.
"We distributed more than 400 kits to evacuee centers at Kelly USA and Windsor Park Mall in San Antonio," said Rita Avendano of Extension's Better Living for Texans program for Bexar County. "Extension employees and program volunteers also provided assistance with data entry and missing person location."
In Harris County, Extension faculty developed a resource kit to help families rebuild their lives. The kit includes information on food safety, nutrition and household budgeting. A worksheet and checklist for recording important information—such as credit card and bank account numbers—was also included. These kits will be distributed through agencies already assisting families with relocation.
Ed Smith, Extension director, said evacuees may also benefit from the
agency's free programs that teach life skills, basic money management,
and health and nutrition.
"These programs can help people transition into new locations as they start
thinking more about managing a new household and budgeting financial resources," Smith
said, adding local Extension offices can provide free information or programs
on these topics.
Extension's youth program, 4-H, also played a key role in disaster relief, said Martha Couch, associate director of 4-H and youth development.
"In addition to helping displaced individuals, many 4-H clubs are involved in collecting and distributing food, veterinary medicine and supplies for thousands of horses and household pets left homeless due to this catastrophe," she said. "For example, Extension's Kendall County 4-H members are working with Lone Star Equine Rescue and several businesses in that county to organize the collection and delivery of veterinary medicine and other supplies to horse relocation centers in Louisiana and Mississippi."
Grayson County 4-H members also assisted the horse rescue effort by donating halters, lead ropes and a variety of horse first aid supplies.
Couch added that children who have been relocated to Texas may wish to consider joining 4-H in their vicinity.
"It's an excellent way for young people to make new friends and learn practical life skills," she said.
As the extent of Hurricane Katrina damage became known, Murano and Smith
announced that all employees of the agencies were allowed emergency leave
to assist with relief efforts.
Extension information technology specialists from Lubbock and Stephenville
headed to Louisiana shortly after the disaster, taking satellite communication
equipment, computers and a generator in mobile-office trailer, since communication
needs were urgent.
"We’re hoping that what's been done so far is just the beginning," Murano added. "We're here to provide information and resources for the long haul and want to do a lot more to help those whose lives have been disrupted by this catastrophe."
Additional Hurricane Katrina relief efforts involving Extension, Experiment Station and associated programs throughout Texas include: