9/27/05;  John (cape) is checking with wendell.

9/29/05;  Wendell has found a place in New Jersey

9/27/05;  no further word so we are closing this request out.

 

9/15/05;  A "village" of network members involved with Chris taking the lead from previous contact.  Chris was to check with Marion to see if he had resolved the issues regarding using his union license out of state and I/D before making a decision.

 

9/13/05; What follows is a diary (from my new friend Christine who is the point person)  of what has been going on with Marion and the delimma of what daily changes he is going through.  It is in cronological order from newest to earliest (although within the last few days).  By the way, if anyone has any insight on union let me know.  It is now 4:30 am and I am calling it a night to recharge the batteries and get ready for the next day's adventure and one can only imagine what the adventures for our fellow americans must be like). 

 

I just talked to Marion on the phone....He is rather insistent
he needs to clear up issues with his working license.....he had a license to operate heavy equipment and feels he can't chose where to go till he hears from his union and the government....Marion has been filling out forms to get this cleared up..he needs his license replaced which is also for driving a car.....I hear his frustration and since i am not familiar with licensing issues --perhaps someone in the forum does..

     He is currently in a shelter in Nashville...the first reference he
gave is his mother and  he asked people not  to call her till he decides which state he is going (As you know, i had already spoken to her) ....Marion is afraid he may be picked up if walking somewhere by the authorities and having no identification, may get into trouble.....I tried to tell him that would not happen and a number of families and churches  are working together to get him where he needs to go safely....I just can't put my finger on it--in his mind, he is a 6'3" African American that has a lot of tattoos so his style may make him stick out in a crowd so he needs his identification settled....Again, Dennis, does anyone understand more about his heavy equipment licensing issues?

     Marion also said there is a general fear by most of the families
about  coming to Massachusetts--it is just so different from what they are used too and so far away....but he will pass along our site to others...He strikes me as an honest, polite 29 yo man that has become overwhelmed.......He wanted to emphasize he is not looking for a handout and states very emphatically he wants to work, that he is a skilled laborer, educated, clean, hardworking

     I just wonder what these survivors have to process in there
minds....Marion needed to get off the phone because of the 75 year old woman he helps attend in the shelter needed him....

....Marion is going to call me by tues 9/12 to decide where he will go....He is licensed to operate heavy machinery but finding he may have trouble getting permission from the state union to work elsewhere so is trying to get his  records together....He wants to go back when possible to help rebuild Louisiana so this placement would be temporary....he also knows some sites that will help financially with temporary relocation and is going to get back to me with the exact spellings

....cell # of one of his relatives...after talking to her--i realized
the scope of this tragedy is a task that will take months/years to
unfurl...the closest computor she can use is 3 miles away in the school library....She as well as most her family walked away with only the clothes on their back.....

9/27/05; prefers to stay near  Nashville (his brothers live there)

9/27/05;  contact number no longer in service.  May repost if a new number is located.

9/27/05; no longer require housing, thanks Lynda

9/15/05 - Network Member Rick and Mary are doing the leg work on this request and it is looking that it come to fruition.

9/19/05 - Recieved an email from Mary that everything is proceeding fine.

9/20/05 - Update from a perspective member indicated that it did not appear that the McNairs would be relocating. 

Addendum from Mary:

I can help with resources - food, clothes, household furnishing, baby items,
monetary resources, assistance in paperwork and school enrollment/daycare
arrangements.  We just need a place for them to stay.  It's too many for my
house.

9/15/05 - One network member (Lynda) contacted the requestors and here is their assessment; We contacted Dixie and my husband asked her alot of important questions.  The most important bit of info we got as far as our family is concerned is that Daniel has a shoplifting charge against him and Dixie was arrested for domestic violence against her mom.  Unfortunately, we are unable to take them because of DSS (ed note: our network member has foster children in their care).  They seemed a bit aimless in the sense that they aren't married yet, they
have no plans, etc."

9/21/05 - 3 Network members have passed on providing assistance and Mary will work this placement outside of this website network.