Evacuations Raise Topic of Personal Responsibility
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Updated: 8:30 AM Sep 5, 2008
Evacuations Raise Topic of Personal Responsibility
Meridian, Miss.
The cost of evacuating for Hurricane Gustav has resulted in generosity, but also some ill feelings.
Posted: 6:45 PM Sep 4, 2008
Reporter: Lindsey Brown
Email Address: lindsey.brown@wtok.com
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It isn't just a local issue. Evacuees across the region say they are low on funds and need more help than many relief agencies are able to provide.

"We took what money, which wasn't much, it was bill money. Now we're going back and we ain't got money to pay bills," said James Pratt, Sr., an evacuee in Texas.

But for some in the community, the requests for more, more, more has them saying, enough is enough. The Rev. John Sweeney, founder of Victory Outreach Center, which operates a bargain store and a food kitchen, says he hears that often.

"Once people feel burned, when they give to help someone and they feel unappreciated, they are hesitant to help again," said Sweeney.

Sweeney has worked with people in need for decades. While many requests for help are legitimate, he says he has found that there are people more than happy to take as much as they can get.

"We have the needy, but sadly we also have the greedy," said Sweeney. "And sometimes they work the system; they go from church to church, agency to agency, and we try to put them through a screening process. Sometimes we get criticized for that, but we feel that the best way to help someone is to really help them."

One of the things stressed at Victory Outreach is personal responsibility, making the choice to help yourself if you can.

Dr. Susan Eaves, a behavioral specialist with Weems Community Mental Health, says some of the evacuees could be feeling the same panic they felt during Katrina, even if from the outside the situation is viewed differently.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Sam Location: Dallas on Sep 13, 2008 at 03:35 AM

I have the ability to shelter an Ike evacuee....
Posted by: Maurice L Location: Meridian on Sep 6, 2008 at 09:42 AM

How many vehicles was really needed to get here? How many of these people above age 12 have a personal cell phone? When the TV station came by how many asked for short term job to pay their way back home? I would have gladly paid them $100.00 to cut my yard, about a two hour job,and more than it's worth. This would be my way of helping.
Posted by: ANITA Location: COLLINSVILLE on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:58 PM

I FEEL SORRY,FOR THE NEEDY.I CAN'T IMAGINEHAVING TO LEAVE MY HOME.NOT KNOWING WHAT CONDITION-(OR IF IT WILL BE THERE WHEN I RETURN.I WORK IN TOWN.MY HUSBAND & I BOTH WORK FULL TIME JOBS,I SEAL WITH CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY THAT WANT SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.AND THEY KNOW HOW TO WORK EVERY SYSTEM.I ALSO DO NOT AGREE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP TAKING CARE OF WELFARE MOMS-AND THEY KEEP HAVING MORE KIDS FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF.I THINK THE GOVERMENT SHOULD LIMIT THOSE ON THE WELFARE RIDE TO 2 KIDS/HAVE THEM MANDORTORY-HAVE TUBES TIED.THAT WOULD COST LESS THEN THE WORKING FOLKS TAKING CARE OF 4 & 5 KIDS TILL THEY LIVE THE SAME WAY AS ADULTS.GET A JOB & A LIFE!!!HELP THE NEEDY-NOT THE GREEDY...