The Record

KATRINA IOWANS RESPOND
HURRICANE KATRINA'S DEVESTATION
(2005)

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION.

FIRST THE STORMDEVASTATED AN ENTIRE COASTAL REGION. THEN A FETIDAFTERMATH SURGED OVER A BATTERED POPULATION. AND NOWTHE NATION AND IOWANS RESPOND.

Mundt: TONIGHT WE'RE TAKING SOME TIME TOASSESS THE SITUATION THAT CONFRONTS AMERICAN CITIZENS OF THEGULF COAST AND WHAT THE RESPONSE WILL DEMAND FROM US, HEREIN IOWA. THE TOLL OF THE STORM IS ENORMOUS ANDMOUNTING. ESTIMATES ARE IT WILL COST MORE THAN $100BILLION FOR THE REGION TO REBUILD. THE HUMAN TOLL ISEVEN GREATER. THE DEATH TOLL CONTINUES TO MOUNT, AND THE DESPAIR ISEVERYWHERE. EARLIER TODAY THE FIRST "OFFICIAL" EVACUEES TOUCHEDDOWN IN DES MOINES. TWENTY PEOPLE, TWO CATS -- TWODOGS AND A CAT WERE HELPED FROM THE PLANE. THEY WEREPLACED ON BUSES AND TRANSPORTED TO THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS FORPROCESSING. TWO OF THE EVACUEES WERE SENT TO A LOCALHOSPITAL. THE OTHERS WILL BE HOUSED IN HOTELS AROUND THEAREA. AND IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT MORE EVACUEES WILLFOLLOW, PERHAPS MANY MORE. THERE ARE PHONE NUMBERS AND WEBSITES ON THE SCREEN TOWHICH YOU CAN DIRECT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TONIGHT. FOR THEIR PART, MANY IOWANS ARE ALREADY CONTRIBUTING. WELL-STOCKED NATIONAL GUARD TRUCKS AND TROOPS ARE HEADED FORTHE STRICKEN AREA. THOUSANDS HAVE CONTRIBUTED MONEY AND MATERIAL TOKATRINA VICTIMS. AND EVEN AS THE FLOODWATERS WERE RISING, IOWA HEALTH CAREAND ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS WERE MOBILIZING. LESS THAN A WEEK AGO, LABOR DAY WEEKEND, A TEAM OFMEDICAL PROFESSIONALS LEFT IOWA TO SET UP A MAKESHIFTHOSPITAL IN AN ABANDONED K-MART IN BATON ROGUE, LOUISIANA.

Nijoka: IT WAS PROBABLY 110 DEGREES IN HERE FRIDAYNIGHT WHEN WE GOT HERE AT 5:00, AND THERE WAS NO LIGHTS. YOU HAD TO LEAVE THE DOORS OPEN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU COULDSEE WHERE YOU WERE GOING. THE FLOORS WERE DIRTY. ITWASJUST AMAZING AND NOT A BIT OF ELECTRICITY.

Mundt: MONICA NIJOKA IS CHARGED WITH TRANSFORMING THE VACANTK-MART INTO A HOSPITAL. IN A MATTER OF HOURS,ELECTRICITY WAS RUN TO THE FACILITY, MASSIVE AIRCONDITIONING UNITS WERE ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING, ARMEDGUARDS WERE ASSIGNED TO PROTECT IT, AS TRUCKLOADS OF CLOTHESAND BABY SUPPLIES ARRIVED. THE RETAIL MISSION OF THE OLDK-MART WAS ALTERED TO SERVE SURVIVORS OF FLOODED NEWORLEANS. CORE TO THAT WAS THE ARRIVAL OF THEIOWANS.

Nijoka: THROUGH THE DOOR WALKS WHAT I CALL THEA-TEAM, AND THAT WAS THE EMAC TEAM FROM IOWA. THEY AREMY HEROES. THESE GUYS AND NURSES AND EMTs AND DOCTORSWALK THROUGH THIS DOOR, AND THEY LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,"WHAT CAN WE DO," AND THEY TOOK OVER. THE STATE OF IOWA SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEM BECAUSE THEY MADEA DIFFERENCE HERE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. THEY DID. AND THEY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MYLIFE.

Mundt: THAT ASSESSMENT IS ECHOED BY PATIENTS. ALICIALITTLETON, A NURSE HERSELF, WAS SEPARATED FROM HERFAMILY IN NEW ORLEANS FOR SEVEN DAYS. HER FAMILY FOUNDHER IN THE CARE OF THE IOWA HEALTH TEAM.

Littleton: IWANT TO THANK THE NURSES BECAUSE THEY WAS OVER - OVER ANDABOVE SYMPATHY: THEIR WARM HUGS; THERE'S "THAT'S ALLRIGHT, ALICIA." THEY DIDN'T WANT TO CALL ME MA'AM OR"WHAT IS YOUR NAME?" "ALICIA." THEY TREATED ME LIKEA PERSON, NOT A VICTIM, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW,THAT'S IMPORTANT. THEY BROUGHT ME INTO THEIR HEARTS, ANDTHAT MADE IT A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT. THEY MADE ADIFFERENCE. THEY REALLY DID. AND I WANT TO THANK THEPEOPLE OF IOWA BECAUSE WITHOUT YA'LL, IT WOULD HAVE BEENMUCH HARDER. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH HARDER.

Mundt: CLEARLY IOWANS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE RELIEF EFFORT. LONGER TERM, THOUGH, IS THE CHALLENGE OF HELPING TOREBUILD THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DECIMATED BY THISDISASTER. TO HELP US SIFT THROUGH SOME OF THE OPTIONSTO MEET THAT CHALLENGE, WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A KNOWLEDGEABLEPANEL. AMBASSADOR KEN QUINN IS CURRENTLY HEAD OF THE WORLDFOOD PRIZE. IN THE LATE 70s, AMBASSADOR QUINN WORKEDWITH THE RAY ADMINISTRATION TO RE-SETTLE THOUSANDS OF ASIANREFUGEES IN IOWA. BETTY ANDREWS IS THE CHAIR OF "I'LLMAKE ME A WORLD," A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS DESIGNED TOWELCOME NEWCOMERS TO THE STATE. DR. MARY HANSEN IS DIRECTOR OF THE IOWADEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AN AGENCY THAT OVERSEESTHE HEALTH OF ALLIOWANS, INCLUDING ITS NEWEST RESIDENTS. DAVIDMILLER IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF IOWA HOMELANDSECURITY. HIS DAYS ARE CURRENTLY FILLED WITHCONFERENCE CALLS COORDINATING IOWA'S CONTRIBUTION TORELIEF EFFORTS IN THE GULF AND PREPARATIONS TORECEIVE EVACUEES FROM THE AREA. NOW, DAVID, 20 EVACUEES CAME TODAY. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS THEY WENT THROUGH WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE DES MOINES AIRPORT.

Miller: WELL, WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT TODAY, OF COURSE WE WANTED TO RECEIVE AND WELCME THEM TO IOWA. PART OF THE CONFUSION WE HAD, THOUGH, WAS WE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE WE WERE GETTING OR WHAT KIND OF HELP THEY NEEDED IMMEDIATELY. SO WE HAD PUBLIC HEALTH PEOPLE THERE; THEY GREETED THEM. WE MADE SURE THAT WE HAD SECURITY THERE SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS GETTING AROUND AND GETTING TO WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE. AND WE WENT THROUGH THAT IMMEDIATE PROCESS. PLUS, THE MINISTERIAL FOLKS WERE THERE TO HELP RENDER AID, BECAUSE WE FIGURED WE'D HAVE SOME FOLKS IN DISTRESS. AND CLEARLY, AFTER GOING THROUGH THE ORDEAL THAT THEY WE WENT THROUGH, THERE WERE FOLKS THAT NEEDED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

Mundt: AND TWO OF THEM WENT TO THE HOSPITAL, AT LEAST BRIEFLY.

Miller: YEAH, THROUGH THE EVALUATION PROCESS. AND I THINK LATER IN THE FAIRGROUNDS, WE DID SOME PUBLIC HEALTH SCREENING WHEN THEY GOT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS TODAY. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS WAS THERE TO GIVE THEM ASSISTANCE. WE WORKED WITH HUMAN SERVICES, WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT. BUT AS WE WENT THROUGH THOSE SCREENINGS, THERE WERE A COUPLE FOLKS THAT NEEDED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE. I THINK A COUPLE FROM DEHYDRATION WENT TO AREA HOSPITALS, WERE TREATED, AND THEM CAME BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS.

Mundt: WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM? ARE THEY COMING FROM NEW ORLEANS, FROM LOUISIANA?

Miller: TODAY'S EVACUEES ARE FROM NEW ORLEANS, AND WE THINK IT'S FROM THE FINAL EVACUATION THAT'S GOING ON THERE NOW. WE'VE OFFERED TO RECEIVE EVACUEES FROM ACTUALLY ANY STATE, BUT TODAY'S FLIGHTS WERE OUT OF NEW ORLEANS.

Mundt: DO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EVACUATED HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHERE THEY GO, OR DID THESE INDIVIDUALS ASK TO COME TO IOWA SPECIFICALLY?

Miller: WELL, WE ASSUME THEY DID, BECAUSE IN THE SCHEDULE THAT THE FEDERAL FOLKS HAD SET UP, THEY SCHEDULED STATES ON DIFFERENT DAYS, AND TODAY WAS IOWA'S DAY FOR THE BEING ON SCHEDULE ALONG WITH MICHIGAN AND RHODE ISLAND, I BELIEVE. SO WE FIGURED FOLKS WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE COMING TO IOWA, BUT IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS TONIGHT, WE FIND OUT THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TOLD THE STATE THAT THEY WERE COMING TO.

Mundt: SO THEY'RE COMING TO BEGIN A NEW LIFE AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.

Miller: SOME IT WOULD BE A COMPLETE SURPRISE. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL WELCOME AND GET THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED.

Mundt: SOME OF THE -- IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PROCESS THAT IS ROLLING RIGHT NOW EVEN AS WE SPEAK IS ONE THAT WAS PLANNED SEVERAL DAYS AGO, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT. BUT WALK US THROUGH IT AGAIN. THEY'RE GOING TO THE FAIRGROUNDS. WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THAT?

Miller: WHEN THEY GO TO THE FAIRGROUNDS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MEET THEIR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE NEEDS. IF WE HAVE A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE LIKE WE HAD TODAY, THEN THE RED CROSS IS THERE TO OFFER THEIR ASSISTANCE. THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF THAT. ONE IS TO GIVE THEM A DEBIT CARD FOR IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL NEED, AND ANOTHER IS TO PAY THE COST OF ACTUALLY PUTTING THEM IN SOME COMFORT, IN A HOTEL ROOM. BUT BECAUSE THEY GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE HAD ACTUALLY PLANNED EARLIER IN THE WEEK TO RECEIVE UP TO 500 EVACUEES. AND IF THEY'D HAVE COME EN MASSE, THEN WE KNEW WE HAD THE SHELTER AT THE FAIRGROUNDS AND WE MADE PREPARATIONS FOR THAT. DR. HANSEN AND HER GROUP SET UP A MEDICAL FACILITY THERE. WE WERE ABLE TO FEED AND HOUSE THOSE FOLKS THERE AS THEY WENT THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES, AND HOTEL ROOMS WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THE COMMUNITY SO THEY HAD A PLACE TO STAY.

Mundt: BETTY, DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO SOME OF THEM AS THEY CAME IN TODAY?

Andrews: ACTUALLY I DID BUT I DO WANT TO JUST ADDRESS ONE THING. I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FIRST GROUP THAT HAVE COME THROUGH WITH FEMA AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN EVACUEES THAT HAVE BEEN COMING INTO THE CITY AND THE STATE FOR -- SINCE THE HURRICANE STARTED.

Mundt: DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM, OR IS THERE ANY WAY TO REALLY FIND OUT?

Andrews: I REALLY DON'T KNOW. I'M THINKING AROUND A HUNDRED IS WHAT THE ESTIMATE IS. I KNOW THAT RED CROSS HAD MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD PROCESSED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAD COME IN AS WELL. BUT, YES, I DID GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH SOME OF THE EVACUEES THAT CAME IN TODAY. AND, YES, MR. MILLER IS RIGHT; THEY WERE TOLD FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THEY HAD GOTTEN INTO THE AIR THAT THEY WERE COMING TO IOWA, WHICH I'M SURE WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS CULTURAL COMPETENCY, AND SO I WAS THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT ADDED A LOT MORE CULTURAL SHOCK TO THEM JUST COMING TO A STATE THAT MANY OF THEM WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH. AND WHEN THEY COME, THEY LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT LOOK LIKE THEM. IT JUST MAKES THE TRANSITION A LITTLE SMOOTHER. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE DIVERSE MAKEUP -- IT WAS A VERY DIVERSE GROUP: AFRICAN AMERICANS, CAUCASIANS, LATINOS ARRIVING. SO THEY WERE A WONDERFUL GROUP. AND I HAVE HEARD SOME GUT-WRENCHING STORIES TODAY, BUT IT WAS REALLY -- IT WAS REALLY A MOVING EXPERIENCE TO BE THERE TO RECEIVE THEM.

Miller: THE RED CROSS FIGURES THAT WE RECEIVED TONIGHT, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE COMING IN ALL WEEK, THEY ESTIMATE THEY HAVE 148 CASES AND ABOUT 516 PEOPLE IN THE STATE. AND THAT'S THE ONES THAT ARE REGISTERED WITH THE RED CROSS, SO THE REAL NUMBER MAY BE HIGHER.

Andrews: AND THAT IS THE NUMBER THAT HAVE REGISTERED THROUGH THE RED CROSS. I WANT TO ALSO ADD THAT THERE IS A GRASS-ROOTS EFFORT THAT IS TAKING PLACE. A NUMBER OF THE CHURCHES ARE BRINGING PEOPLE IN. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILY ARE BRINGING PEOPLE IN. AND SO THEY ARE ORGANIZING. AND ALONG WITH THE STATE ACTIVITY AND THE CITY ACTIVITY, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHURCH GROUPS AND SOME JUST COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT HAVE PULLED THINGS TOGETHER AND KIND OF HELPING PEOPLE GET TRANSITIONED.

Mundt: WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO MAKE THIS EASIER FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, MANY OF WHOM I ASSUME HAVE NEVER BEEN TO IOWA BEFORE, WHO ARE COMING TO A CULTURE THAT 97 PERCENT CAUCASIAN IS DIFFERENT FROM THE CULTURE IN WHICH THEY LIVED? AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.

Andrews: MM-HMM. AND IT MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT I THINK THE IOWANS ARE SUCH GOOD PEOPLE. AND THE GOVERNOR HAS CERTAINLY OPENED THE STATE -- THE WELCOME -- THE ARMS OF WELCOME WIDE. AND I THINK THAT WHAT IT TAKES, NUMBER ONE, IS JUST CONSIDERATION FOR THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND MAKING SURE, WHEN POSSIBLE, YOU CAN HAVE PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN IDENTIFY IN PLACE. THERE WERE SOME SITUATIONS TODAY WHERE PEOPLE WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM THAT THE STATE HAD SET UP BUT THEN CAME AND WHISPERED TO US CERTAIN PERSONAL NEEDS. AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC NEEDS CULTURALLY THAT SOMETIMES ARE NOT THOUGHT ABOUT: AFRICAN AMERICAN HAIR CARE IS DIFFERENT; THE NEED FOR THE MINISTERS. THERE WAS A SITUATION WHERE A MINISTER -- A CAUCASIAN MINISTER CALLED FOR SOME OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MINISTERS THAT WERE ON HAND BECAUSE OF A SITUATION, AND HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO BE AS EFFECTIVE. AND SO JUST WORKING TOGETHER AND ASSESSING THE NEEDS AND REALIZING WHAT WE CAN DO AND JUST DOING WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE IT MORE AN EASIER TRANSITION.

Mundt: AMBASSADOR QUINN, I WANT TO BRING YOU INTO THIS BECAUSE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE. FOR MANY OF US, IT'S A LONG TIME BACK WHEN THIS RESETTLEMENT EFFORT OCCURRED IN IOWA, BUT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE STATE'S PAST AND PRESENT AND A SIGNAL MOMENT I THINK IN TERMS OF US UNDERSTANDING OUR ROLE IN THE WORLD AND AN EXPANDING MOMENT FOR US HERE IN IOWA. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE LESSONS FROM THAT EXPERIENCE THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE GOOD FOR US AS WE MAYBE DO A SMALLER SCALE BUT STILL SIGNIFICANT RESETTLEMENT?

Quinn: WELL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES, OBVIOUSLY, TO BRINGING REFUGEES FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA TO BRINGING OUR FELLOW AMERICAN CITIZENS HERE. AND OF COURSE, THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE TIME BACK THEN. THE REFUGEES WERE STAGED AND THEN THEY WERE BROUGHT TO THE UNITED STATES IN SOME CAMPS WHERE THEY WERE PROCESSED IN AND THEN DIVIDED UP. AND I THINK -- AND SOME WERE PUT ON THE PLANE AND MAYBE HAD SOME OF THE SAME EXPERIENCE. YOU TALK TO THEM AND THEY'D SAY, "WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE GOING TO SHOW UP." THEY'D NEVER HEARD OF IOWA WHEN THEY GOT HERE. BUT THE CRUCIAL THING THAT I THINK, AND THE SIMILARITIES THAT CAN BE HELPFUL, IS THAT EVERY REFUGEE WHO CAME HERE HAD A SPONSOR. THERE WAS SOMEBODY WHO STEPPED FORWARD, A FAMILY. IT MIGHT BE A FAMILY IN A CHURCH DOING THIS IN TOWNS WHO REACHED OUT AND HELPED.

Mundt: THEY HAD A PLACE TO STAY.

Quinn: A PLACE TO STAY.

Mundt: WORK.

Quinn: THERE WAS SOME FOOD TO GET STARTED. AND THEN GOVERNOR RAY FOCUSED THE REFUGEE PROGRAM THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF JOB SERVICE. I KNOW IT'S NOT CALLED THAT NOW, BUT THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. IT WAS LET'S GET PEOPLE -- LET'S NOT HAVE THEM BE THERE WITH NOTHING TO DO AND NOWHERE TO GO. LET'S FIND SOME JOBS AND TAKE THEM OUT AND GET THEM STARTED, AND THAT'S THE WAY YOU GET SOMEBODY MOVING IN LIFE. AND I THINK IT WAS A GREAT PHILOSOPHY THAT HELPED THOSE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REFUGEES WHO CAME HERE. AND I'M SURE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. I THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING OUT OF THIS SITUATION WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO A POSITION AND FIND WORK AND BE DOING SOMETHING AND FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.

Mundt: WELL, WE HAD MORE TIME, AS YOU SAID, THEN TO PUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE. BUT IS THERE A KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IN PLACE NOW TO -- THROUGH LOCAL CHURCHES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILIES MAYBE TO HELP PEOPLE JUST GET USED TO THE NEW ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIND THEMSELVES IN?

Andrews: WELL, I MEAN KEEP IN MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS STILL VERY FRESH IN OUR MINDS, AND SO THERE ARE SOME RESOURCES AVAILABLE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS -- WE HAD A FORUM LAST EVENING THAT FOCUSED ON CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND CONNECTING THE RESOURCES. ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS TO KIND OF CONNECT THOSE GRASS-ROOTS EFFORTS THAT I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER TO THE KIND OF OFFICIAL RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN LINED UP SO THAT THERE COULD BE THAT CONNECTION. AND SO WE'RE CROSSING ALL OUR T'S AND DOTTING ALL OF OUR I'S AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN THROUGH OTHER WAYS ARE GETTING THE SAME SERVICES. AND IT'S TAXING ON FAMILIES JUST BECAUSE -- ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS AT OUR FORUM LAST EVENING HAD SEVERAL RELATIVES STAYING IN HER HOME AND WAS LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FOR GETTING MORE RELATIVES THAT WERE IN A SHELTER I BELIEVE IN SAN ANTONIO, TRYING TO GET THEM HERE, AND HER PHONE WAS RINGING CONSTANTLY. HER SIMPLE REQUESTS WERE: IS THERE A WAY THAT MAYBE I CAN TRANSFER MY PHONE TO SOMEONE ELSE, LIKE A MINISTER OR SOMETHING TO ANSWER. SO, YOU KNOW, IMMEDIATELY THE MINISTER STEPPED FORWARD TO HELP HER AND THAT KIND OF THING. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF UNMET OR UNFORESEEN NEEDS THAT COME UP.

Mundt: DR. HANSEN, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS HERE. BUT FIRST OF ALL, NOT KNOWING HOW MANY EVACUEES ARE GOING TO ARRIVE AND NOT KNOWING WHAT STATE THEY'RE NECESSARILY GOING TO BE IN, HOW HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS PREPARED FOR THIS?

Hansen: IT'S A GREAT STORY. WE LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT WE COULD RECEIVE ANYWHERE FROM 500 TO 1,000. WE HEARD MANY NUMBERS THROUGHOUT THAT TIME FRAME. SO WHAT WE DID AND WHAT WE ALWAYS DO IN PUBLIC HEALTH IS WE PREPARE FOR AS MANY AS WE CAN. SO WE STARTED OVER THE WEEKEND, AND I STARTED BY CALLING EXECUTIVES IN HOSPITALS AROUND THE DES MOINES AREA. I CALLED MERCY, METHODIST, LUTHERAN, AND THEN WE ALSO WENT OUT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA AND BROADLAWNS. AND I SAID TO PEOPLE, "WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE, BUT WE NEED TO SET UP A CLINIC AND AN URGENT CARE FACILITY OUT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS." WE STARTED WITH A BUILDING WITH BARE WALLS, AND WE ESSENTIALLY HAD TO BUILD A CLINIC AND AN URGENT CARE. EVERYONE THAT I CALLED, EVERY EXECUTIVE AT THE HOSPITAL THAT I CALLED, THEY DIDN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS: "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" THEY SAID, "WHAT DO YOU NEED AND WHAT CAN WE DO?" SO WE WERE ABLE, STARTING AT 10:00 TUESDAY, TO BUILD A CLINIC AND AN URGENT CARE HOSPITAL BY 2:00 THAT AFTERNOON AND HAVE IT STAFFED 24/7 WITH NURSES AND PHYSICIANS AND PARAMEDICS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

Mundt: AND WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT FACE AS THE EVACUEES COME IN, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT PLANE LOAD AFTER THAT? WHAT KIND OF PHYSICAL MALADIES MIGHT YOU SEE?

Hansen: WELL, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CALLED OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WE'VE SAID TO THEM -- THEY'VE ALREADY RECEIVED THE EVACUEES, AND WE SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?" WHAT WE FOUND WAS KIND OF SURPRISING TO US BECAUSE WHAT WE SAW WAS PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND STRESS. THEY'RE COMING HERE AFTER HOW MANY DAYS, ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS GONE, AND NOT KNOWING -- COMING TO A STRANGE STATE. SO IT WAS REALLY THE MENTAL HEALTH AND THE STRESS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE FOUND ACTUALLY WITH THE 20 WHO CAME. WE ALSO FOUND THE CUTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE TROUBLE BREATHING. SOME OF THE THINGS WE EXPECTED. BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH WAS REALLY AN AMAZING THING TO SEE.

Mundt: AND THAT'S HARDER TO TREAT. YOU CAN TREAT A CUT AND YOU SEE THE VISIBLE EVIDENCE THAT THE CUT HAS BEEN TREATED AND THE CUT IS HEALING.

Hansen: THAT'S CORRECT.

Mundt: THE HEALING FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS IS MORE DIFFICULT.

Hansen: VERY DIFFICULT AND SO WE MADE VERY SURE IN OUR PLAN -- THAT'S ONE GOOD THING THAT IOWA DOES REALLY WELL IS WE PLAN FOR ALL CONTINGENCIES. SO WE HAD -- AS BETTY TALKED ABOUT, WE HAD MINISTERS THERE BECAUSE THERE'S A SPIRITUAL ASPECT. WE HAVE A GREAT STORY. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DOGS AND THE CATS THAT CAME. AND WE HAD ONE PATIENT WHO CAME TO OUR MEDICAL FACILITY THERE ON THE FAIRGROUNDS WITH HER DOG, AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE DOG. AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF YOUR SPIRITUALITY TOO IS THE ANIMALS THAT YOU'RE -- I MEAN YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING. BUT YOU STILL HAVE A DOG WHO IS A COMPANION.

Andrews: HE'S PART OF HOME.

Hansen: EXACTLY. EXACTLY. THE DOG WAS PART OF YOUR FAMILY. AND SO WE ENDED UP CALLING ONE OF THE BLACK MINISTERS WHO WERE THERE, AND HE WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE HER THAT IT WOULD BE OKAY TO LET US TAKE CARE OF THE DOG FOR HER WHILE WE HELPED TREAT HER.

Mundt: DAVID, A SMALL NUMBER HAVE ARRIVED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT PERHAPS MORE, I WOULD ASSUME. THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID WE COULD ACCEPT AS MANY AS 500 -- 5,000. BUT HOW MANY DO YOU THINK MIGHT COME?

Miller: WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS STAY POISED TO RECEIVE THE EVACUEES AND SERVICE ANY NEEDS THAT THEY MAY HAVE. YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY GO IN LOCALLY, LIKE THOSE THAT HAVE SELF-EVACUATED, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY CONNECTED AND GET THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED AND AT THE SAME TIME BE READY TO RECEIVE THEM AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IF WE NEED TO. A COUPLE OF THINGS ARE GOING ON IN THAT DYNAMIC. WE LEARNED TODAY THERE ARE STORMS THREATENING THE EASTERN SEABOARD. STATES THAT WERE WILLING TO RECEIVE EVACUEES MAY NEED TO BACK AWAY FROM THAT. WELL, WE STAND READY TO RECEIVE EVACUEES. IN TALKING TO THE GOVERNOR EARLIER THIS EVENING, WE WANT TO KEEP IN THAT POSTURE THAT EVEN AT SHORT NOTICE WE COULD RECEIVE UP TO 500 EVACUEES HOWEVER THEY CAN GET HERE. WE CAN GET THEM THROUGH PROCESSES, GET THEM ASSISTANCE, GET THEM INTO HOTELS, AND GET THEM CONNECTED AND HELP THEM TO START RECOVERING THEIR LIVES.

Mundt: THIS -- I'M NOT SURE WHO THIS WOULD BE BEST SUITED FOR, BUT IT MUST BE A DIFFICULT SITUATION IN DETERMINING HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE RELIEF AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE WHEN THIS IS AN UNCERTAIN SITUATION. WE DON'T KNOW, AS WE DID IN 1978 AND '79 AND '80, THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO COME TO IOWA AND THEY WERE GOING TO STAY PERHAPS FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, PERHAPS MANY YEARS. THIS WAS GOING TO BE THEIR NEW HOME. IOWA, FOR THESE EVACUEES, MAY NOT BE THEIR NEW HOME. IT MAY BE A TEMPORARY HOME FOR THREE, FOUR, FIVE MONTHS, OR SIX MONTHS, OR THEY MAY STAY. DOESN'T THAT AFFECT THE KIND OF SERVICES THAT WE TRY TO OFFER THEM?

Hansen: ACTUALLY, FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE IT DOESN'T, BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME IN, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS LOOK AND SEE WHAT MAY BE SOME OF YOUR HEALTH ISSUES, WHETHER IT BE MENTAL HEALTH, IMMUNIZATIONS FOR THE CHILDREN AND ALL OF THAT. AND THEN WE CONNECT THEM FOR AS LONG AS THEY'RE HERE. WE HAVE OUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, POLK COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THEY'RE THEIR FIRST ENTRANCE INTO HERE. AND POLK COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH THEN CAN CONNECT THEM ONGOING TO SERVICES THAT THEY MAY NEED. SO I'M NOT NECESSARILY SURE FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE THAT IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO US.

Mundt: AMBASSADOR QUINN?

Quinn: WELL, I THINK THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW ARE PEOPLE GOING TO HAVE MONEY TO SURVIVE. THERE'S THAT FIRST STAGE OF WELCOMING THEM, FINDING A PLACE FOR A FEW DAYS OR A WEEK OR TWO, BUT THEN YOU GET INTO LONG TERM. ONE QUESTION: WHAT DO WE OWE OUR CITIZENS THAT HAVE LOST EVERYTHING? EVERYTHING IS WIPED OUT. ARE WE GOING TO SUSTAIN THEM BY PROVIDING THEM A STIPEND UNTIL THEY CAN GET SETTLED? IS IT GOING TO BE FOR A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS OR THREE MONTHS? BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT PEOPLE -- THE EVACUEES WHO HAVE COME HERE ARE WORRIED JUST ABOUT THAT. AND IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET SOMEBODY A JOB, THEN THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILY, PERHAPS. I IMAGINE FOR OTHERS, IT WILL BE --

Mundt: WELL, IF I CAME HERE, I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE A VICTIM FOR VERY LONG. I'D WANT TO RETURN TO BE A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY.

Andrews: WELL, ABSOLUTELY. AND IMMEDIATELY WE HAD A GENTLEMAN THAT ATTENDED THE FORUM LAST EVENING. HE HAD JUST DRIVEN IN.

Mundt: WHICH FORUM IS THIS?

Andrews: THIS IS THE FORUM LAST NIGHT THAT I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT ON CULTURAL COMPETENCY -- HELPING THE SURVIVORS WITH CULTURAL COMPETENCY. AND THIS GENTLEMAN HAD LOST HIS -- HE HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM HIS 18-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, AND IS STILL LOOKING FOR HER AND HER INFANT. BUT WHEN HE HAD A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE, THE MAIN THING HE SAID WAS, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FOR WORK. HE'D JUST GOTTEN OFF THE ROAD. "I'M LOOKING FOR WORK." HE KIND OF WENT THROUGH HIS QUALIFICATIONS AND ALL OF THAT. AND THEN EVEN TALKING TODAY, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE WANTING TO GET WORK AND GET STARTED AND, LIKE YOU SAID, NOT BE VICTIMS FOR LONG. I THINK THEY ARE SURVIVORS, AND SO THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE. AND NO MATTER HOW LONG THEY ARE HERE, THEY NEED TO BE WELCOME AND THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO FEEL WELCOME. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS CERTAINLY SHOW THEM THAT IOWA IS JUST A GREAT STATE AND DIRECT THEM TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. THERE WAS THE NEED FOR -- AND I KIND OF WANT TO JUST MENTION THIS AGAIN -- SPIRITUAL HELP. WE HAD PEOPLE REQUEST FOR GOING TO CHURCH TONIGHT. WE HAD REQUESTS FOR BIBLES. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT JUST CAME UP. AND THE BEST WAY TO KIND OF GET, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT INFORMATION IS JUST TO ASK.

Mundt: WE PLAN FOR SO MANY CONTINGENCIES --

Andrews: WE DO.

Mundt: -- AND WE THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NEED, AND WE ALWAYS SEEM DO FORGET SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE, THAT'S A SURPRISE TO ME, AND YET IT'S SO VITAL TO SO MANY PEOPLE, SOME FORM OF PLACE TO PUT YOUR TRUST.

Andrews: EXACTLY.

Mundt: AND FOR MANY PEOPLE, THAT IS THAT BOOK.

Andrews: EXACTLY. AND I MENTIONED HAIR CARE -- AFRICAN AMERICAN HAIR CARE. PEOPLE, YOU KNOW -- THERE ARE SOME HAIRDRESSERS THAT ARE GETTING TOGETHER TO ASSIST WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CULTURE.

Quinn: ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WILL COME UP IS WHATEVER ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED, IS IT GOING TO BE DONE NATIONALLY OR INDIVIDUALLY BY THE STATES. AND MY OWN FEELING IS THAT THE BEST THING IS TO DO IT NATIONALLY WITH THE SAME STANDARD, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE IN ONE STATE PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE OR DIFFERENT KIND OF BENEFITS THAN IN ANOTHER, THE WORD WILL GET AROUND AND PEOPLE WILL START MIGRATING BACK AND FORTH AND THERE WILL BECOME A SENSE OF KIND OF INJUSTICE OR ADVANTAGE OR WHY ARE THEY GETTING THIS. AND IT'S IMPORTANT I THINK -- IT'S IMPORTANT WE RESPOND AS A COUNTRY.

Mundt: IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT THOUGH, CAN YOU DO THAT, THOUGH, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE RIGHT NOW WHO HAVE QUESTIONS? I MEAN IS IT POSSIBLE TO PUT TOGETHER THAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE?

Quinn: I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE LONGER TERM. WHAT WE DID FOR PEOPLE -- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE IMMEDIATE IT'S INDIVIDUAL.

Andrews: THEY'RE NOT EVEN MOBILE.

Quinn: THAT'S RIGHT.

Andrews: I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN QUESTION AT THIS POINT. THEY'RE NOT MOBILE. THEY'RE HERE. THEY'RE STILL IN SHOCK, MANY OF THEM. GO HEAD.

Miller: I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW, FROM THE NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE IN WHAT WE'RE HEARING -- AND YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION -- WE WANT TO KEEP FOLKS CONNECTED TO THAT ASSISTANCE. THERE ARE -- THERE IS ASSISTANCE THEY CAN RECEIVE THROUGH THOSE FORUMS. AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ENCOURAGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO IS EMPOWER THE STATES TO HELP DELIVER THAT. INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, EMPOWER THE STATES TO DO IT. WHEN WE HAVE A DISASTER IN OUR OWN STATE, WE'RE EMPOWERED TO HELP ADMINISTER THOSE PROGRAMS. SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THE SAME KIND OF THING, IS HELP US CONNECT PEOPLE TO THAT ASSISTANCE. WE CAN HELP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN DOING THAT, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FIND THOSE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE. YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A LONG TIME ABOUT JOBS AVAILABILITY. WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT WAS OUT THERE TODAY. WE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING AVAILABILITY, AND THE IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY IS LOOKING AND ACTIVELY ASKING PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE NOT THEIR HOMES -- TO LIVE IN THEIR HOMES, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR RENTAL UNITS AND INCOME HOUSING TO HELP PAY FOR THAT HOUSING NEED. WE WANT TO MATCH UP THOSE NEEDS WITH FOLKS, GIVE THEM A SENSE OF PERMANENCE HERE. AND IF THEY WANT TO STAY, THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY AND WILL BE MORE THAN WELCOME. BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY MAY WANT TO GO BACK HOME AND HELP REBUILD THEIR COMMUNITIES AND GO BACK THERE. WE WANT TO -- WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THAT NEED TOO AND HELP MAKE SURE WE GET THEM BACK HOME IF THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO GO.

Quinn: THAT'S A TERRIFIC POINT. JUST TO FOLLOW ON DR. HANSEN IS THE MENTAL STRESS AND THE STRESS THAT COMES CAN LAST A LONG TIME, AND YOU CAN COME IN WAVES. AND WHAT WE'VE FOUND -- I'VE EVACUATED A THOUSAND AMERICANS OUT OF CAMBODIA. I REALIZE THAT'S A SMALL NUMBER, BUT WE DID IT QUICKLY. AND THEY HAD BEEN SHOT AT AND THERE HAD BEEN EXPLOSIONS AND THERE HAD BEEN FIGHTING IN THE STREETS. BUT THE THING THAT CAUSED THEM THE MOST STRESS IS FORCING THEM TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND TO GO BACK AND BECOME, IN FACT, SORT OF IN A SYSTEM AND FLOATING BACK THERE. PEOPLE DEPEND SO MUCH ON THEIR ROOTS TO THEIR HOME, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE OR WHERE IT IS. AND WHEN THEY GIVE THAT UP, IT HAS A TERRIBLE AND DRAMATIC IMPACT ON THEM. I KNOW DR. HANSEN IS SUCH A TERRIFIC PRO THAT SHE'S WELL AWARE OF THAT AND HER DEPARTMENT IS, BUT IT WAS AMAZING AND AN EYE-OPENER TO ME ABOUT HOW LONG THAT CAN LAST.

Hansen: ANOTHER EYE-OPENER THAT I HAD WAS ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH PEOPLE THAT WAS THERE TALKING TO PEOPLE GETTING OFF THE PLANE. WE WERE LOOKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH STRESS AND ALL OF THAT. AND SO SHE SAID TO THIS PERSON, "HOW ARE YOU FEELING? WHAT IS BOTHERING YOU?" AND HE SAID, "WELL, NOT A WHOLE LOT." AND SHE LOOKED AT HIM AND SHE SAID, "WELL, YOU'VE JUST LOST EVERYTHING AND YOU'VE COME THROUGH A VERY HARD TIME." AND HE LOOKED AT HER AND HE SAID, "I'M ALIVE." AND SO IT'S THE RESILIENCE OF THE SPIRIT I THINK -- AND ANOTHER ASPECT OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND HOW CAN WE HELP THEM HERE IN IOWA RIGHT NOW IS THAT -- I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF CALLS WE'VE HAD FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO SOMETHING, WHO WANT TO HELP. AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OFFERS. AND IOWA HAS SUCH A BIG HEART AND A BIG SPIRIT THAT I THINK THESE PEOPLE WILL BE EMBRACED -- WHETHER THEY WANT TO STAY OR NOT, THEY'LL BE EMBRACED AND FIND THAT IOWA COULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO START A NEW LIFE.

Mundt: DAVID, YOU MENTIONED SEARCHING FOR APARTMENTS THAT THESE PEOPLE COULD HAVE. WE'VE MENTIONED ALREADY IN THE COURSE OF THIS HALF HOUR SOME OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE COULD CONTRIBUTE. WHAT HAVE WE MISSED? WHAT ELSE CAN PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE BESIDES MONEY TO HELP OUT RIGHT HERE IN THIS STATE, EVEN AS WE'RE SENDING OUR DOLLARS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DOWN TO NEW ORLEANS AND THE GULF COAST.

Miller: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IF PEOPLE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE THAT THEY MATCH UP THAT CONTRIBUTION WITH NEED. I THINK ONE OF THE FRUSTRATING THINGS TO ANYBODY IS TO CONTRIBUTE AND KNOW THAT IT WENT WASTED. AND MAKING A CONTRIBUTION, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S NEEDED, MATCHING IT UP WITH A NEED IS IMPORTANT. AND PEOPLE OFTEN WONDER WHY DO WE JUST ASK FOR MONEY. IT'S BECAUSE WE CAN GIVE FOLKS MONEY TO GET WHAT THEY NEED, AND THAT'S WHY THOSE PROGRAMS ARE SO IMPORTANT. BUT WHEN WE WORK WITH MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATIONS, WHEN WE WORK WITH OTHER GROUPS, AND WE COULD REALLY MATCH CONTRIBUTIONS, WHETHER IT'S CLOTHING OR FOOD, WITH THE NEED, IT WORKS SO MUCH BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.

Mundt: WE NEED TO END THERE. OUR TIME IS UP. BUT THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR COMING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE INSIGHTS THAT YOU PROVIDED TONIGHT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS EVENING AND WILL REMIND YOU THAT YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE RELIEF EFFORT BY RESPONDING TO THE PHONE NUMBERS OR WEBSITES THAT ARE ON THE SCREEN. AND AS WE HAVE LEARNED, IOWANS RESPOND IN MYRIAD WAYS. I'M TODD MUNDT. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. GOOD NIGHT.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION.