Filed under: Uncategorized
A lot of people have asked what it was like in New Orleans. It was, it is, so much more than I could ever hope to express.
These were my musings written on a FEMA computer on my last day in the city (Nov. 2005). The question format is from Dr. Jaffe, a very cool fellow volunteer I met on while on deployment.
SAHMSA experiences
Helen H. Hsu, Psy.D.
Oakland, CA
Deployed 16 days-including Thanksgiving
1. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO VOLUNTEER?
I fell in love with the City of New Orleans while on vacation here following a conference about a year ago. I truly wanted to see for myself what the situation here was. I knew that the media was failing to depict the whole story, but it was unclear what “the truth” was beyond that.
I also felt it was important that all minority groups were represented in the relief efforts, so I wanted to be here as an Asian American, multi-culturally skilled clinician. I work in Oakland, CA which has numerous similarities with New Orleans, so I felt that would prepare me to work with this unique community.
Truth be told I am also at a career/personal crossroads and I felt that I needed to push myself into something new and challenging and meaningful.
2. WHAT PERSONAL CHALLENGES DID YOU EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER ON YOUR DEPLOYMENT?
I anticipated being challenged to very rapidly improve my skill sets in areas where although I was experienced, I was not particularly WELL-experienced. I also wondered if I would have to prove my competence and worthiness to be on this team. These thoughts stem from both personal insecurity but also due to my relatively young age among my colleagues (which has presented challenges in the past).
It was also very difficult making the arrangements to skip town for 2 weeks. I have 7 graduate level interns, a client caseload, and other responsibilities which all needed to be covered while I was away. I also had to assure my family that I would stay safe, as everyone seemed convinced that packs of looters were still rampantly roaming the city and the police were MIA.
I actually expected to live and work in pretty rough conditions. I was ready to be sent to a shelter and had packed all sorts of gear/clothing suitable for backpacking/camping type situations, and I brought a huge stash of snack foods. As it turns out I wind up in Hilton and eating buffets most of the time!
3. WHAT GOALS DID YOU HAVE FOR YOUR DEPLOYMENT?
Goals for this deployment were simply to help out in any way that I could. While I was eager to utilize my clinical skills w/ First Responders, I was aware that things were chaotic. I had already resolved to pitch in anywhere I saw need whether that included serving meals, cleaning debris, talking to community members, spending $ in the N.O. economy etc.
I was also very interested in learning what I could from other professionals, both the volunteers as well as locals.
4. DID YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS?
And then some. As for surveying the situation for myself and getting to hear true stories, I was overwhelmed with the intensity and number of harrowing stories.
I agree with what Henry had said, that I could be satisfied if I managed to help even one person here. I believe I have helped several people here, and I do take pride in that.
I did learn a great deal from everyone here, and also grew quite fond of many of the other volunteers and some of the NOPD officers as well.
My entire team (the 4 of us on First responders) decided to stay for the Thanksgiving holiday so as not to abandon our charges. I was very glad we stayed, we had some very deep and meaningful interventions that day.
5. WHAT UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES DID YOU ENCOUNTER?
The sheer scope of the disorganization!! I was prepared to be flexible and adapatable yet the lack of structure at all levels (FEMA, SAMHSA,,Westover, LSU, NOPD, etc) was a source of frustration and confusion, and also impeded our ability to spend more time on direct services or creating inservice materials etc. Time was frittered away on political issues with LSU, vague Westover paperwork, inconsistent communication with police districts etc.
Resources were also poorly and unevenly distributed. Some stations had a lot of amenities and others lacked really fundamental things. Many of the volunteers including myself have wound up spending our own money to buy things we felt the officers needed, and we have had a difficult time securing safety equipment that was sitting unused in the FEMA warehouse. It was extremely frustrating to see the ass backwards way money is being spent. Workers are staying in hotel rooms costing more than 100 per night (with no room mate!) yet police officers can’t afford a warm jacket or materials for home re-building.
I also knew there would be few Asian or Latinos here in a professional role but I was still surprised that there were literally at any given time about 1.5 of us here! (Rosa, then overlapped a bit to me, I am overlapping a bit with Umapathy). I felt that the cultural gaps explained a great deal of unnecessary tension between cruise ship crew and residents.
I think I will be processing and making sense of this whole rather surreal experience for some months…
6. WHAT UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITIES DID YOU DISCIVER?
What an honor to spend days and days talking and assisting people who have quite literally saved lives.
I also feel that I have learned SO much, about life and kindness and integrity from those who showed such qualities in the face of the worst case situation; and from my fellow volunteers. I was indeed one of the younger volunteers, but I felt that I was treated with respect, and that I have benefited grandly from the breadth of wisdom shared with me (on topics professional and personal). Kind of like having an entire team of mentors.
Also of course I feel this has enriched my clinical skills and will provide me with very relevant knowledge I hope to pass on to my interns and colleagues at home.
On a more individual note, I continue to learn a great deal about the cultures here, and have learned to navigate the city and some surrounding areas well (which seemed an impossible feat when I arrived here).
7. HOW ARE YOU CHANGED BY YOUR EXPERIENCES?
Hmm. Well all my worst fears about the extent of government corruption in this country were more or less confirmed, which is kind of a downer!
Seeing the vast destruction here is definitely giving me more food for thought about the reality of my life on a major earthquake fault line. I think I will go home and seriously update all my emergency kits…and continue on my campaign to convince my husband to move out of the country.
I also feel inspired to share the positive stories I have heard, so that the distortions are not allowed to be how this country shall remember New Orleans in the wake of Katrina.
My confidence in my skills and myself overall are stronger then ever. I feel I did a lot in a short while and pushed myself into new terrain, and I feel very good about making a contribution to this great city.
8. ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS/PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF DEPLOYMENT?
Got together 3 other SAHMSA volunteers to take part in the 98th annual community “turkey day race”, so on Thanksgiving we ran 5 miles, and then visited and brought Whole Foods pies to 5 police stations. Harbor Police fed us “9th Ward gumbo” which was the best gumbo EVER.
Seeing Ellis Marsalis Trio was a real thrill, as was eating at Snug Harbor, and Muriel’s.
Eating on the cruise ships and FEMA tents and Hyatt EOC center was also pretty darn interesting if not exactly notable in a culinary way. Margaritaville food was mediocre but the company was fantastic!
No Comments so far
Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
