Author List | All Tags
Popular Tags
Hurricane Ike (52)
Galveston (15)
Relief (13)
Media (7)
Community (5)
AISD (4)
Benefit (3)
Hurricane Gustav (2)
Red Cross (2)
Event (2)
Courts (1)
Corruption (1)
Governor's Office (1)
Prisons (1)
FEMA (1)
Transportation (1)
Texas Two-Step (1)
Capital Metro (1)
Stop Domain Subsidies (1)
City Services (1)
Galveston (15)
Relief (13)
Media (7)
Community (5)
AISD (4)
Benefit (3)
Hurricane Gustav (2)
Red Cross (2)
Event (2)
Courts (1)
Corruption (1)
Governor's Office (1)
Prisons (1)
FEMA (1)
Transportation (1)
Texas Two-Step (1)
Capital Metro (1)
Stop Domain Subsidies (1)
City Services (1)
All Chronicle blogs, all the time
Politics, opinion, and other news staples
The scene turned inside art
Getting in bed with books
Come on in the kitchen
Sizing up screens big and small
Get the wax out
Your base on balls
Elements of style
Steer here, queers
Check back here for Chronicle alerts!
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Richard Whittaker
Thu Oct 30, 1:22pm
, 2008
The Red Cross doesn't have the easiest or best-funded job in the world (as its staff keep having to remind everyone, it's a volunteer operation, not the government. Feel free to donate to either the Red Cross of Central Texas or the national Disaster Relief Fund. Or both). But as they continue to assist in the post-Hurricane Ike clean-up (see our coverage of the ongoing activities here), they're still having to deal with allegations that what they did was too little, too late.
Hope
Kate X Messer
Thu Sep 25, 11:51pm
, 2008
Houston TV station KHOU's website reports that people returning home to the Bolivar Peninsula should prepare for the worst. Yet, as we experienced with so many storm survivors we met these last two weeks, the lofty ideal of 'hope' is sometimes the only thing that keeps one grounded. For Gilchrist resident Jack Nyman, hope seems to be keeping him afloat:
Sunday in Pictures: Galveston
Kate X Messer
Wed Sep 24, 11:21pm
, 2008
Made immortal by Jimmy Webb's classic love song (a hit for Glen Campbell), Galveston is not immortal. She is, however, resilient as all get out. She's survived worse than Ike, and stands as home to so many Texas firsts: first post office, first newspaper, first insurance company, first telephone, etc.
Five Loaves & Two Fish
Kate X Messer
Wed Sep 24, 1:34pm
, 2008
This weekend's trip began Saturday morning at 6am at the Mobile Loaves & Fishes Commissary where dozens of volunteers, including an energetic group of young people from Concordia Academy, gathered to break into the 10 or so vehicles to make their way to the gulf coast.
Saturday in Pictures: Bayou Vista
Kate X Messer
Tue Sep 23, 9:06pm
, 2008
On Saturday, we joined Mobile Loaves & Fishes as they set up shop to feed the folks of Bayou Vista. Dacia and I got out into the neighborhoods on one of the catering trucks handing out sandwiches, cold drinks, and needed provisions. Click the gallery to see the Saturday's pictures and read the captions that tell the story of the day.
This Is Not Kansas
Kate X Messer
Mon Sep 22, 10:09am
, 2008
We volunteered our asses off Saturday in Bayou Vista, Texas and shot what we saw. Keep an eye out for more posts, photos, video, and details from the weekend's trip to BV and Galveston Island, over the next few days. (Or, if you are seeing this on Chronic or Gay Place, click over to our In Case of Emergency blog for much more.)
The Young Ones
Kate X Messer
Sat Sep 20, 11:28am
, 2008
A sneak preview of some of the young volunteers gettin' pumped up before the MLF weekend relief trip and a sneak peek clip of our upcoming video (look for it over the next few days).
Rollin' Out
Kate X Messer
Sat Sep 20, 11:10am
, 2008
Like a well-oiled ant hill (hey, it's early… cut me some metaphor slack), the Mobile Loaves & Fishes commissary served as the staging point for an early morning roll out. Like last week's trip, the NGO has loaded up catering trucks, trailers full of ice, water, and fuel, but this time, the size of the caravan is monster truck. We are rolling out with 10 vehicles and 40 or so eager volunteers ready to spread the gospel of MLF's "happiness business," supplying sustenance and emotional substance for the folks affected by Hurricane Ike.
Haynes Headlines Hills Hurricane Hullabaloo
Kate X Messer
Fri Sep 19, 8:44pm
, 2008
What's a good Texan do when he's down and wants to feel better? Why, play the blues, son.
The Grand Dame
Kate X Messer
Fri Sep 19, 2:47pm
, 2008
We received this from the staff of Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House. It includes an update about the grand old structure as well as a first-person account from the island from someone who fared better than many, though still suffered significant heartbreaking loss.
Major Ursa
Kate X Messer
Fri Sep 19, 1:00am
, 2008
Oh, you knew this dude had legs. Furry, furry legs.
Well, now, Hurricane Bear's got a MySpace Page, his own website, some Cafe Press goodies, and his very own profile in WSJ.
Somewhere, Beer Looter Dude is shedding a little tear. And Stephen Colbert (col-BEAR) is shuddering in his size America shoes.
Be Our Guest
Kate X Messer
Thu Sep 18, 11:58pm
, 2008
If you're here in Austin because of Ike, or you know someone who is, check this out. This in from Austintexas.org:
A Second Relief Trip to the Coast
Kate X Messer
Thu Sep 18, 1:42pm
, 2008
Friends,
Austin Evacuee Services Continue
Kate X Messer
Wed Sep 17, 2:01pm
, 2008
As of today, around 1,500 evacuees were staying at five shelters in the Austin area at the Austin Convention Center (1,196), Delco Center (144), Burger Center (79), University of Texas J.J. Pickle Research Center (44 medical special needs), and the former Bowie Elementary School in San Marcos (between 118).
HEB Techridge Is Collecting for Ike Relief
Kate X Messer
Wed Sep 17, 12:19pm
, 2008
Your Hurricane Emergency Buddies, the HEB at I-35 & Parmer, 500 Canyon Ridge Drive (Techridge Plaza) is currently accepting donations.
Watermarked
Kate X Messer
Wed Sep 17, 9:18am
, 2008
At one point during the Mobile Loaves & Fishes trip to Bayou Vista, the sight of piled-up debris leading out along the highways toward the gulf was too compelling to not explore. I felt the strange need to see it up close. I crossed the cops' vehicle traffic barrier and began walking south.
Down on the Bayou
Kate X Messer
Tue Sep 16, 11:57pm
, 2008
We pulled into the next police checkpoint with no plan but to find a safe, visible place to set up shop and distribute the sustenance we had packed on four trucks and various trailers. The police checkpoint is positioned at a juncture very familiar to anyone who goes down to Galveston: the junction where Hwy 6 from Alvin, Hwy 3 from La Marque, and Loop 197 from Texas City all braid together into I-45 as it heads to the causeway bridge to Galveston.
Destination Unknown
Kate X Messer
Tue Sep 16, 4:48pm
, 2008
"We're about at the point of having to make a choice," said Alan Graham, the leader of the MLF caravan of trucks headed to the Texas Gulf Coast. We were crossing east on 59, between Hwy 36 in Richmond/Rosenberg and the road that leads to the gulf: Hwy 6. We had to choose: North or South? We could either cross through Houston and aim for some Catholic parishes in the north part of town, an area that experienced significant wind sheer, with many pockets still without power, or turn and "begin plowing our way toward the coast."
Blogriffic Crap
Kate X Messer
Tue Sep 16, 1:13pm
, 2008
Sorry for the radio silence, folks. Yesterday was intense. Got home around midnight, fully intending to blog and fully needing to crash. Plus (mini-rant alert): I have crap equipment. My crap Mac battery no longer holds a crap 6-hour charge, and in my realm, despite the nature of my work, replacement is a luxury item. Crap.
Mobile Loaves Reaches Bayou Vista
Richard Whittaker
Mon Sep 15, 3:44pm
, 2008
Tags: Hurricane Ike
Our own editor Kate Messer, who is traveling with Mobile Loaves and Fishes to the coast, just called in to say that the charity convoy has set up camp with the Red Cross at Bayou Vista and is now handing out food at the junction of State Highway 6 and I-45.
Road to Somewhere: Eastbound & Down
Kate X Messer
Mon Sep 15, 1:10pm
, 2008
Traffic on I-10 is definitely an easterly surge of first responders and returning evacuees. Hruska's was packed, especially for a Monday. We've seen National Guard, a dozen-truck-deep ATT caravan, and lots of folks moving all their earthly possessions and kids in trucks with Labs in the cabs.
Onward to Hruska's!
Kate X Messer
Mon Sep 15, 10:30am
, 2008
The hive of activity that is Mobile Loaves & Fishes began to buzz around 7am. Volunteers and gear mostly from St. John Neumann Catholic and Lakehills Babtist prepped for a 9am rollout. We are pretty much on time.
On the Road
Kate X Messer
Mon Sep 15, 9:12am
, 2008
It's been tough sitting by watching the goings on from the comfort of home. Ike made his move, now, so must I. So I've hopped aboard the Mobile Loaves & Fishes express. (Hit that link and donate!) We are hitting the road with a convoy of four trucks loaded with basic relief supplies to distribute to whomever we find, wherever we go.
AISD and Ike
Richard Whittaker
Sun Sep 14, 11:45pm
, 2008
With the post-Hurricane Ike clean-up looking like a long job, Austin ISD is preparing for the complex job of being both a school system and temporary refugee agency.
Outlets of Info
Steve Rivas
Sun Sep 14, 7:56pm
, 2008
Whether people are waiting in their cars to get back to southeast Texas or standing in line to get food, ice, or kitty litter... they can find key information at the websites for KHOU-TV and The Houston Chronicle.
