Disaster Relief - Texas

[Ele'ill]

There's a lot of buzz going on about helping out in Texas, myself and others were discussing the idea and reached out some time ago to others close to it for suggestions. What is everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone there or nearby? My biggest concern would be getting there and running out of resources, and getting there and not having the ability to actually help. Seeing pictures of people without mobility soaking in disgusting water until they die isn't really an acceptable thing. Neither is seeing people just standing outside of their destroyed homes with no next step, without anyone there for them. Jokes aside, I think some anarchists/communists through experience to some degree could come up with some pretty creative ways to help in situations like that, that others wouldn't think of, and take action in ways that others probably would shy away from.

Is there any communication from anarchists/communists in areas that have faced major conflicts and disasters, that would help give more of a bearing on what can or can't be done?


Feel free to move this to news and ongoing struggles if anyone sees that as being more appropriate.

[willowtooth]

https://www.revleft.space/vb/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia% 2FDIPyPY9WAAEDWyJ.jpg

[Sewer Socialist]

Are we discussing immediate things that can be done for people in the Houston area? Or longer term things?

For the latter, I'm actually going to school for nursing, I imagine I might drive down to a disaster area in the future.

Regarding the immediate situation, I'm not sure. Taking a small boat around to stranded people is an obvious one. I imagine the immediate needs are really the most basic - rescue, food, water, shelter, medical care.

But what about next month, when the water is gone, but the homes are still damaged / destroyed, the usual sources of income (and access to the means of fulfilling basic needs) aren't there?

What went right and what went wrong in the past? I recall hearing about anarchos heading down to New Orleans a decade ago, but I don't know much about it.

[BIXX]

Are we discussing immediate things that can be done for people in the Houston area? Or longer term things?

For the latter, I'm actually going to school for nursing, I imagine I might drive down to a disaster area in the future.

Regarding the immediate situation, I'm not sure. Taking a small boat around to stranded people is an obvious one. I imagine the immediate needs are really the most basic - rescue, food, water, shelter, medical care.

But what about next month, when the water is gone, but the homes are still damaged / destroyed, the usual sources of income (and access to the means of fulfilling basic needs) aren't there?

What went right and what went wrong in the past? I recall hearing about anarchos heading down to New Orleans a decade ago, but I don't know much about it.

You happen to know who scott crow and Brandon Darby are?

It's a pretty fascinating story. Fwiw there are anarchists already assisting in the disaster area, under the same name as scott crow's group.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

I think it's a fantastic idea, Ele'ill. I think if you're worried about resources etc, then it's best to get in contact with some local relief efforts, even non-revolutionary ones, to at least have a support structure in place to better help people. There was a brief article here that mentions some local organisations https://itsgoingdown.org/what-are-the-antifa-doing-after-harvey/ but the links are a bit botched so you might have to google them.

[Sewer Socialist]

You happen to know who scott crow and Brandon Darby are?

It's a pretty fascinating story. Fwiw there are anarchists already assisting in the disaster area, under the same name as scott crow's group.

Sort of, but do you have an answer to the question?

What went right and what went wrong in the past?

[BIXX]

Off the top of my head, no (other than Brandon Darby at some point becoming an informant, that's a big thing that went wrong).

In terms of what went right? It's my understanding that the common ground collective in New Orleans was able to assist many people, getting bedding, food, etc... While at various points protecting people from the white supremacists who were shooting "looters" (that is, according to scott crow). Its has been a while since I've gone over the story but that specific story is the one I think you're looking for in terms of answers.

[Ele'ill]

I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just wondering if there were already existing previous writings on the topic, or ideas that people had. Things like how to set up mobile triage despite not being formally qualified, water, food, etc..

[ckaihatsu]

He called the police on Hurricane Harvey victims looking for food.


They're not looters, Tom. They're looking for clean water and food.

Tell Tom Llamas to apologize to Texans now.

https://d11gn0ip9m46ig.cloudfront.net/images/Tom-Llamas.png (https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/tom-llamas-abc//?t=3&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB)

TAKE ACTION (https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/tom-llamas-abc/?t=4&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB)


Dear Chris,

He called the police on them for trying to get food.

ABC News anchor, Tom Llamas, in Houston to report on Hurricane Harvey, spotted Texans who had recently lost everything entering a grocery store. Instead of reporting on the desperate circumstances with compassion, he actually diverted first responder resources that could be used to save stranded families--and called the police.1 That's right. Houstonians desperately searching for uncontaminated food and water in order to survive were not only shamed and blasted on social media, but confronted with police as they fought for their lives.

And when we asked Tom Llamas to apologize for his biased and possibly dangerous treatment of Hurricane Harvey victims; instead of owning up to it, he blocked us on Twitter.

Tell ABC News and Tom Llamas to issue an apology now! (https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/tom-llamas-abc/?t=5&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB)

Tom Llamas didn’t only wrongfully criminalize disaster victims-- he put them in harm’s way. Local authorities recently announced that anyone found “looting” will be faced with mandatory jail time.2 And the District Attorney has escalated burglary charges all the way up to life imprisonment--of course this disproportionately affects poor and Black people who may not have had the money to purchase goods in advance, and will be on the hunt for clean water and food.3

In times of emergency and natural disaster, television news is often the only way that bystanders can ascertain what's happening. News media has the sacred duty of framing tragedies in an honest, unbiased, and compassionate manner. Unfortunately, we saw this same dishonest and biased reporting during Hurricane Katrina, when thousands of Black families were shamed and criminalized as "looters" while trying to feed their families. Meanwhile, white families were simply characterized as searching for food. And and we know that media representations can have a profoundly negative impact on the ways that people in positions of power and privilege interact with Black people. Research has shown that negative media portrayals can engender antagonism toward people of color and lead to higher tolerance for race-based societal disparities.

Tell ABC News, Tom Llamas to apologize now! (https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/tom-llamas-abc/?t=6&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB)

The victims of Hurricane Harvey need compassionate and unbiased reporting in the wake of this horrific natural disaster--not criminalization and unnecessary police intervention. It’s time for Tom Llamas and ABC to stop running and apologize.


Sign the petition. (https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/tom-llamas-abc/?t=7&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB)

Until justice is real,

-- Brandi, Arisha, Rashad, Anika, Jade, Evan, Corina, the rest of the Color Of Change team

References:

“ABC News reporter covering Hurricane Harvey gets slammed online after reporting alleged looters to police.” Business Insider, 28 August 2017. http://act.colorofchange.org/go/8690?t=9&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB
"In Houston, Authorities Are Toughening Penalties As Warning To Would-Be Looters.” NPR, August 2017. http://act.colorofchange.org/go/8691?t=11&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB
“Race and class are the biggest issues around Hurricane Harvey." The Root, 31 August 2017. http://act.colorofchange.org/go/8692?t=13&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB

Color Of Change (http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3829?t=1&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB) is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong. (https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7581?t=2&akid=7849%2E872082%2EVizoTB)

If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.

[Sewer Socialist]

can some mod split this off into its own thread? this is wildly off topic and there's already a thread where spam is discussed.

I guess I'm more familiar with Brandon Darby than Scott Crow. Brandon Darby & infiltration / intelligence is an interesting topic for sure, but maybe a little off topic imo.

Is Common Ground the collective you're talking about? Do you have anything I could read on their New Orleans work from an operational standpoint? Also what specifically are they up to in Houston?

[Nah Revisionism]

There's a lot of buzz going on about helping out in Texas, myself and others were discussing the idea and reached out some time ago to others close to it for suggestions. What is everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone there or nearby? My biggest concern would be getting there and running out of resources, and getting there and not having the ability to actually help. Seeing pictures of people without mobility soaking in disgusting water until they die isn't really an acceptable thing. Neither is seeing people just standing outside of their destroyed homes with no next step, without anyone there for them. Jokes aside, I think some anarchists/communists through experience to some degree could come up with some pretty creative ways to help in situations like that, that others wouldn't think of, and take action in ways that others probably would shy away from.

Is there any communication from anarchists/communists in areas that have faced major conflicts and disasters, that would help give more of a bearing on what can or can't be done?


Feel free to move this to news and ongoing struggles if anyone sees that as being more appropriate.

Is nobody going to talk about possible aid to Cuba and Puerto Rico? They are poorer countries and are severely affected by it. Us leftists should be donating to them more importantly as the impact has been higher.

[Ele'ill]

Is nobody going to talk about possible aid to Cuba and Puerto Rico? They are poorer countries and are severely affected by it. Us leftists should be donating to them more importantly as the impact has been higher.

I'm far more interested in direct support and the area brought up here is relatively accessible (to me) in comparison to Cuba and Puerto Rico. Charity and donations are not capable of the things that people themselves are when coming together to help others, and not everyone has the resources needed to participate in charity or donate things, let alone trust that it will be handled in a manner that actually ends up helping. Charity and donations can't clear rubble, can't rescue people, it can't set up shelters, kitchens, sanitation, water, establish communication centers, provide defense against fascists and cops who want to use their guns. It takes people to do those things, and emergency services have proven to be either incompetent, poorly managed, or malicious.

[Nah Revisionism]

You are correct now that I think about it, but can we not send human aid to Cuba or Puerto Rico?

[Ele'ill]

^ I think making contacts despite borders is great but there are consequences with that too

[redz]

"Like man-made disasters such as wars and global economic crashes, massive natural disasters expose the most glaring deficiencies of the capitalist system, prevalent within today’s human civilization."

Hurricane Trump and other appalling disasters
https://realityanalysisnotes.wordpress.com/2017/10/29/hurricane-trump-and-other-appalling-disasters/