more cruise ships may aid relief efforts

[Jason]

Other cruise ships could dock here

A federal contractor is in Mobile to determine the feasibility and logistics of docking multiple cruise ships here to house hurricane Katrina evacuees and, possibly, relief workers, said a top local cruise terminal official.

For now, Mobile is set to dock only the Holiday, the Carnival Cruise Lines ship that normally sails out of the city, said Al St. Clair, who directs terminal operations here. The Holiday returns to Mobile Thursday from a cruise and is scheduled to be out of normal operation until March 4.

Two other Carnival ships are set to dock as shelters in Galveston, Texas. St. Clair, declining to name his source, said he has been told that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is in discussions with other cruise lines about the possibility of using additional ships.

"I think that if one or more ships shakes out from some other cruise line ... I think then we've got a good chance to get those ships," St. Clair said.

Local officials also want to make sure that Mobile still is in a position to attract in-service cruise lines if that possibility arises.

St. Clair said he already has contacted Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line, both which operate cruises from New Orleans part of the year, to remind them that Mobile is available.

Carnival began operating year-round cruises to the western Caribbean last October from a new downtown terminal built on the Mobile River.

The Holiday can hold about 1,450 guests at two per cabin, according to Carnival. FEMA's charter of the Holiday also includes the staff, and meals will be cooked on the boat, said Irene Lui, a Carnival representative.

Lui referred questions to FEMA about day-to-day operations of using the ship for a shelter. Attempts Monday to reach a FEMA representative who could comment were unsuccessful.

St. Clair said the FEMA contractor was in town Monday and will be here today to work out the logistics of docking multiple cruise ships here. Also, Carnival Cruise Lines has reserved 15 hotel rooms downtown beginning Wednesday for their employees, who will help turn the Holiday into a shelter, St. Clair said.

He said he did not know where the people would be coming from who will stay on the Holiday.

Sewage currently is disposed by a private company, said St. Clair, who expects that will continue while the Holiday is used as a shelter.

Mayor Mike Dow, contacted at his office on Monday, said many specifics remained unknown.

"The fact is, effective today, one reason I'm working today, is to open the lines of communication and start the details," Dow said. "This week will be a week of details."

Mobile County schools Superintendent Harold Dodge said Monday that no one has contacted him about how or if the any children will be absorbed into the school system, already under demand from evacuees who are staying elsewhere in the county.

"I'm a little taken aback that nobody's put us in the front of the loop as to what these numbers look like," Dodge said.

Dodge said his system will be working this week to get a better handle on how many additional students from outside of the area will attend classes here.

Source: JEB SCHRENK, Staff Reporter

[GottaCruz]

I just read that the hurricane victims don't want to live on the ships. They don't want to be near water, first of all. And second, the ones that are in the Superdome don't want to leave for the ships because they are still hoping to find their relatives, friends and neighbors. They're afraid that if they go to the ships, noone will know where they are. I read that , for now, they're postponing using the ships for this purpose for these reasons.

[JoeyandDavid]

It would make more sense to use a couple of ships to house the temporary help that will be needed both short and long term.

New Orleans wont be livable for next few months..( actually I feel it will be years for it to be "safe")

These survivors need to think Long term.. back to what normalcy, there can be after something like this.

[Suzila]

I also think it's not months we're talking about...it's years. I'd be surprised if many of these people stick around in that area, especially once they've been re-located. I doubt they'd go back to New orleans.

I can understand their fear about being on or near the water. The good thing is the ship won't be going anywhere...it will just be docked.

As far as their family members finding them, if they moved to a ship...they have bulletin boards up at the shelters now. They can have bulletin boards showing that they've moved to a ship.

I think the people who have been uprooted are being rulled by fear right now. They certainly are entitled to those feelings. But, having a place to live, like a ship, where they have actual rooms, and aren't stuck in the middle of a floor of a convention center with thousands of others and no privacy, seems like a better alternative to me.

Just my thoughts.

[schatje]

I think if I were a victim of such desvasting circumstances I would take any help that I could get, and be grateful for it. Gods ways are not our ways and He may have a plan to move people around for a greater good. I believe that slavery was a terrible time for the Africans but look at the greater good they were blessed with over the generations after slavery was abolished. Had they stayed in Africa I don't think the blackman would be where they are today. God turned something bad into something good by allowing people to be moved.

Thats my two cents worth.

[Suzila]

I was watching the news this morning and I see two of the Carnival ships have arrived in New orleans to house the emergency workers. Now they need a few more to help house the people displaced.

Mary, I agree with you...if I were in this situation, I'd accept whatever help I could....maybe. I'd have a very hard time walking away from my home if my two pups were still here. The house I could give up in an emergency if absolutely necessary. I couldn't walk away from these two dogs, and I think that's what's happened in many of these cases.

I'm not sure I agree so much with your statement about African-Americans...there is always an undercurrent of prejudice here in America that I don't believe will ever change. We have two very good friends who attended a convention with us last year and truthfully, they were treated very poorly by people who lived in the south. It was shameful. Of course Black people are better off since slavery was abolished, but there are people in this country who will never understand that 'we are all created equal'.

Just my humble opinion.........

[JoeyandDavid]

"there is always an undercurrent of prejudice here in America that I don't believe will ever change." <]

I think possibly part of the problem is that as humans we tend have this "need" to feel superior to others. Whether its by owning a better car.. . taking a better vacation or straight up discrimination towards others that may be different for what ever reason.

Human nature is just that nature.. All we can do is try.. But as you put it Sue that’s just my humble opinion<]

[teacp]

You also have to kinda think like they are thinking. Regardless of race one rapper said that that area is a drug infested high crime area and you know any one that goes to NO to visit is told not to go out at night. DO NOT get me wrong but they are not thinking like we are thinking right now so it is going to take some prodding for some of the residents to realize that they can't stay there mainly because of health reasons because if they stay and die the government would also be blamed. I wouldn't want to be in office right now as they are between a rock and hard place with what they are dealing with.