I mentioned on Saturday about watching all the water being sucked out of the pool at the Driscoll Hotel. Yesterday, I came across this "after" photo which shows the damage. As you can see, there was almost no glass left in any of the hotel's windows.
Honey reminded me that the Driscoll was one more reason we love and respect the Red Cross so much.
When she got to our studios on the day Celia hit, Honey called her dad at the hospital in Houston. She assured him that we were safe and would be riding out the storm in the hotel. That night, Channel 2 in Houston reported that the Driscoll had suffered over $2 million in damage. Of course, by then there was no telephone service. We didn't know about the TV report, but we did know they would be worried.
The Red Cross had announced that they were coordinating with HAM radio operators, and offering to send emergency messages. We went by their office, and Honey filled out the message form which they assured us would be delivered. Days later, when phone service was restored and we finally got through, we learned that the message was never delivered.
One last bit about the Red Cross and Celia:
Power was still out in much of the area - ours was out for 19 days - when the movie theater reopened downtown. Honey could tell you what was playing, but I really don't remember - I was mainly there to cool off and relax for a couple hours. What I do remember - will never forget - is that at intermission the Red Cross ran a film saying "We helped you, now it's time for you to pay back." and sent ushers down the aisles with collection boxes.
The ushers escaped with their lives (barely) and some remarkably novel suggestions about where to put those boxes.
I'm sure that somewhere, at some time, the Red Cross has done something good, but Celia showed me that there are other agencies - the Salvation Army, for one - that do more and ask for less in return.
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