I swear that I bring drama wherever I go. When I flew home for winter break (a short two weeks compared to the month-long excursion enjoyed as an undergraduate) I came in at the height of a major snowstorm. Whereas I left New Orleans in weather appropriate for pink shorts and flip-flops, I arrived in Boston to driving snow and biting winds; over two feet fell within a few short hours of my arrival.

My greeting upon arriving in New Orleans the other day was no less dramatic. Though I managed to arrive to clear skies, it was not long until black clouds rolled in, bringing torrential downpours and brilliant lightning displays. After listening to the drum of the rain on the roof, I opened the kitchen door which faces the backyard and sat on the sill, watching as the sky illuminated in great bursts and the rain fell in a staccato strobe. As the gutters began to spill over and the water pooled around the house, I was brought back to summer camp in Maine.

My favorite year there I lived in a cabin adjacent to a large and somewhat inclined field. One July day we sat inside as the forces of nature raged outside. Once the lightning had passed and we received a tentative all-clear from our counselors, we all rushed out into the field and proceeded to play a game of football, quickly becoming drenched and muddy. Word spread, more came, and the game soon became a free-for-all; but we did not care, ours was a divine kind of dirty.

Back to the present the water courses down, down, and I can not help but wonder where its eddies might take me if I would only let them.

Have original minds and great drive for implementing their ideas and achieving their goals. Quickly see patterns in external events and develop long-range explanatory perspectives. When committed, organize a job and carry it through. Skeptical and independent, have high standards of competence and performance – for themselves and others.

More

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What are you?

I felt like being a Trin Trin today for some reason, so I wore an outfit of blue and gold. My most Trin-like article of clothing is a C.K. Bradley belt with the “Hall T” embroidered around it. Anyway, so I’m at this networking event for multicultural and GLBT grad students at Tulane when the host suggests everyone in the room introduce him/herself. After the requisite groan the introductions began, and a few minutes later one guy introduces himself as a grad student at the school of public health. Since he mentioned that he was from Portland, ME, I decided to go say hello after the program had finished. Before I could say much anything, he commented that he was surprised to see another Trinity guy in the group, and slightly lifted up his shirt, revealing a belt embroidered with little bantams. Turns out he graduated in ‘08 and is hoping to join the Peace Corps after obtaining his graduate degree. I left the program, in my cute outfit, reflecting upon the fact that perhaps my random desire was really a part of something much larger, something about which I have but limited and fitful insight.

How do you cultivate happiness in your life? I ask because I have not been terribly happy of late. A lot of things have me stressed out: law school, new environment, new people, social pressures, lack of funds and a broken computer… I have been thinking about when the last time was that I was truly happy. In answering this, I am reminded of the reactions I got to some pictures of me with my host family in Uzbekistan. People commented that I looked really happy; I guess that a genuine smile is really quite different than a staged one. I don’t walk around with a sour face, but I’m not the smiley chatty type - I find that very difficult. Am I driving myself nuts trying to be someone I’m not? Am I too worried about how others perceive me or am I right to focus on improving my outward demeanor? At what point does the effort become counterproductive? All these things have me a little topsy turvy. I miss the familiar, both places and people. I like to be on my own but need a network to keep me going. I feel insular despite my grand travels. I am contradiction, hesitation. So tell me, do you relate?

The President has declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Gustav beginning on August 27, 2008, and continuing.

The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all parishes within the State.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael J. Hall as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

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Here is my understanding of Title V of the Stafford Act:

Sec 501 - Declaration of Emergency
a) Governor must make request. Can make request when scope of disaster exceeds the resources of state and local concerns. Request must be specific and clearly state assets available. “Based on such a request, President may declare that a state of emergency exists.”

b) President may also declare such a state of emergency (minus the governor’s ask,) should he feel that responsibility for a response lies with the Federal government…

Sec 502 - Provision of assistance

President may:

a) order all Federal agencies to utilize all available resources (including labor) to support state/local efforts.

b) coordinate all efforts

c) provide assistance (this one is worth expanding… references another section of act - see footnote)

d) remove debris (I wonder if this is an oldie here)

e) provide aid

Sec 503 - Let’s talk $$$

“Federal share - The Federal share for assistance provided under this title shall be equal to not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs. 5 Million dollar limit which may be exceeded if President sees fit and reports to Congress

** That pesky but important footnote on what kind of aid to individuals may be provided

President may provide assistance to those unable to help themselves. May not discriminate against person / household with a loan out from the Small Business Administration or any other federal administration.

Housing Assistance:

financial - temporary housing stipends can be paid based on fair market value. Will also pay for utilities (except telephone service ?)

direct - President may buy or lease housing units and provide them to displaced individuals / 18 month limit excepting extraordinary circumstances / after 18 months, fair marked value can be charged for temporary housing units/relocation

owner occupied private residences eligible for repair and hazard mitigation services.

“may not waive any provision of Federal law requiring the purchase of flood insurance as a condition of the receipt of Federal disaster assistance”

Medical Assistance:

provide dental / medical / funeral assistance to affected individuals

Costs:

IMPT: Federal share here 100%

approx max $25,000 per person / household

at the very end, a bit about verification of use of funds (fraud avoidance.)