Disaster Relief Operation

On the 17th of October our boss asked us if we were "free for the next few days." On the 18th we followed orders to drive to Monroe, LA to help with a Disaster Relief Operation (or 'DR' in Red Cross lingo) in the northern part of the state. We have been on this DR ever since and have been moved down to Lake Charles, LA as of tonight (10/30). If you look at a Louisiana map you may notice that Monroe and Lake Charles are in opposite, diagonal corners of the state. Both the northeast corner and the southwest corner have had serious flooding in the last two weeks so it seems that water really enjoys hanging out in this state. It must feel comfortable here just stretching out and lying around for a spell. It has had enough running around in those mountains, so its just gonna chill for a while before heading out to sea. Lazy water.

When the water goes where it shouldn't, the Red Cross follows close behind. Megan and I were assigned to work in the Client Services aspect of this DR and were sent to the small town of Rayville, LA. I had no idea that giving away money could be so tremendously exhausting. As client services caseworkers, we were to meet with those affected by the floods and determine their immediate emergency needs. If it seems that a client or family does not have enough food, clothing, or proper shelter we are able to give them assistance to cover those needs. Simple enough.
But when poverty -the likes of which I have never seen in this country- is involved, one's whole frame of reference about 'needs' no longer applies. We were given a list of suggested dollar amounts for suggested items such as food, clothing, shoes, diapers, etc. Often I was left searching the list for 'new house to replace living space that was beyond repair before recieving a foot of water', but I did not find it on the list.

I could have found a reason to give most everyone there some money, but that is not allowed so I had to decide who really needs help. It is a position of power that I do not covet, and I fear that my insecurity about such power stems only from my desire to truly help those in need without discrimitating. So who can really do this job without internal conflict? A heartless stickler who deems everyone unworthy of assistance, or a naive and overtrusting sweetheart who gives money even to those who are trying to swindle the Red Cross. Alas I don't seem to fall in either category and I am stuck with difficult questions to ask myself. Did they really need that money to survive? Did they not?

It has been a long week and a half and it looks like we are in for another two weeks or so. There really have been many redeeming moments, but so far I have been working hard to think through the many difficult ones and that is all that seems to be on my mind right now. Hopefully things are refreshing here in Lake Charles. At the least we will be making time to go hear some zydeco and eat some gator, so I am sure everything will be just fine.