A column in the SF Chronicle, taking FEMA to task

No, this one’s a little different:

Immediately after the hurricane, there were only two secular organizations to which FEMA’s Web site urged that contributions be made; all the others were faith-based. What’s worse, in at least some instances, FEMA relied on faith-based charities to spearhead the emergency-relief effort, regardless of whether they had expertise. Case in point: Tulsa, Okla.

Years before Katrina, a coalition of public agencies and nonprofit groups in Tulsa, led by the Red Cross, had devised a disaster plan. In the wake of Katrina, the coalition quickly developed a detailed strategy to aid the survivors who, it was anticipated, would be sent to Tulsa — to provide help not just in the immediate aftermath but for the days and weeks ahead.

An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 hurricane survivors were indeed bused from New Orleans via Houston to Camp Gruber, a nearby National Guard facility. But in deciding which Tulsa agency to turn to, FEMA chose Catholic Charities — which wasn’t part of the coalition, had no relevant experience with long-term placement of disaster victims and whose mission is "bringing Christ’s merciful love to people who suffer in our midst."

FEMA was so intent on relying on a faith-based group that it neglected to look at the state map: it initially contacted Catholic Charities in Oklahoma City, 123 miles away from where the storm victims were being housed. FEMA also shipped hurricane survivors to a youth camp for Southern Baptists in a remote corner of the state, a site described by the faithful as "the most prayed place." Meanwhile in Tulsa, because Catholic Charities lacked the necessary personnel for the assignment, local fire departments were enlisted to help in doing the job. While firefighters are trained to do many things, they don’t know how to help victims of natural disaster start a new life.

This lack of expertise made the resulting failures entirely predictable. Because the wrong organization was placed in charge, there was no effective long-term plan for the survivors. Consequently, no one knows for sure how many people were brought to Camp Gruber or where they’ve gone to. Check out the Tulsa Catholic Charities’ Web site and you’ll read instead about the bishop’s visit and the "active pastoral presence" at the camp.

Points:

1) Surely it seems as if FEMA erred in turning to a group not in its original coalition to spearhead this.

2) But the swipes at Catholic Charities are just wrong. First, the comment about only two secular agencies being recommended for donations strikes me as about right, considering the largest assistance groups in this country, aside from the Red Cross, are almost all faith-based, from Catholic Charities, to the Baptist group, to Samaritan’s Purse to, yes, Habitat for Humanity.

3) Catholic Charities has no experience with long-term assistance to disaster victims? Sorry,bub, but in these situations, that’s their specialty. Take a look at their list of affiliated agencies and what they’re doing. News flash: articulation of an intention to share Christ’s love is not incompatible with effective, long term efforts.

4) From what the prof says, yes, there was a screw-up (FEMA? No way). The decision to contact Tulsa rather than OKC is odd, given what he says about the situation. But in no way does that justify mischaracterizing the work of Catholic Charities, which has probably given more long-term assistance to victims of Katrina in the time you’ve been reading this than this professor has done in the past three weeks, or ever will.

Oh, and what he says about the Tulsa website is wrong, too. take a look. He says all it’s about is the bishop’s visit to the camp. Really?

Catholic Charities will be coordinating the long term case management for evacuees present in the Diocese. Many requests for service have already been received and approximately 1,000 cases will likely be opened by Catholic Charities. There are many evacuees Catholic Charities will help who are not staying at Camp Gruber but are living in neighborhoods in your communities. Please direct them to Catholic Charities at 918-585-8167.