[Mercedes-Lackey] Larry Dixon's note re: Hurricane Katrina refugees

[Melanie Dymond Harper]

>From http://www.gryphonking.com/ :

Sept. 1
I'm an experienced emergency worker (7 yrs volunteer firefighter, 2 yrs 
stormspotter & CERT (Civilian Emergency Response Team)). Mercedes Lackey 
and I have an existing charitable foundation we are turning towards the 
effort of helping the fantasy, scifi, and roleplaying games fans hit by 
Katrina.

When Katrina was coming in, I packed up my rescue gear for activation, 
and began putting together a civilian relief convoy to help out the Gulf 
Coast fandom. The high-level dispatch I saw today is, in as many words, 
"Nobody Goes In" during the continued, and perhaps complete, evacuation 
of the Gulf Coast. The only aid people that are being specifically asked 
for at the moment, through my channels, are fast water rescue teams.

So, the angle of the fan/pro/gamer aid effort I've been assembling is 
now shifting on the fly---from one of going in with supplies for those 
who stayed and pulling out those left homeless, to instead, locating the 
fans who HAVE evacuated, and relocating them to places they can get back 
on their feet. We'll be taking some in ourselves up here in Oklahoma. We 
have room and resources in house for six or so people and our contractor 
is readying to rebuild the garage into a bunkhouse to accomodate up to 
22 at any one time.

Email will ALWAYS work best for sending information to me. Studio number 
phone number is 918-343-9462. IMs/SMS: gryphongryn at Y!M, 31317565 on 
ICQ, gryphgryphgryph on AIM. If you can get word in directly to any 
fans/pros/gamers in need, get this info to them. If they can make no 
other contact, tell them that if they can make it to Exit 255 on I-44 in 
Oklahoma, they're ten minutes from us and we have space ready. And if 
they can only get partway, we will make sure someone can rendezvous and 
bring them in. Let NO ONE be bashful or selfconscious right now---this 
is not a situation of either pride or pity. If someone needs a roof, 
get'em to tell us. If someone has a roof, tell us. Share this whole 
message with whoever you think will be interested.

The website may angle, as it develops, towards a "placement service 
forum" system where we try to unite people who need a home with 
households that they'd fit in with. And prevent unfortunate matches, 
such as the realistic situation of someone who has good intentions but 
isn't really economically able to take someone in---so they both sink. 
Fandom is a VERY tight-knit group, and in this case, that could be a 
vital advantage, if contact info can travel at the usual speed of rumor.

We are all family because of our passions. Possibly the most valuable 
thing that gamers, fans and pros can give each other in these times is a 
gift beyond price: the knowledge that in tragedy as much as in joy, 
their fellows are there for them with open hearts and open arms.

I'll get more info to you as soon as I can.

Yours,
Larry Dixon