In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, I have been doing everything I can to get information about Prescott College parents, alumni or students in the New Orleans area. So far, we have heard back from two individuals. I will be updating the alumni webpage with any information I receive about members of the Prescott College community facing this immense crisis.
If you have any questions or information about alumni, alumni parents or friendsin the Gulf Coast area, please contact us at alumni@prescott.edu or at (928) 350-4502. If you are aware in ways that the college or individuals can
Leslie Gerwin ('72) writes:
I am writing from Cambridge, MA (having been fortunate enough to avoid boarding the plane to New Orleans on Sat...although my suitcase was not as lucky) My husband and son evacuated to Houston from where my son left for his sophomore year at Princeton (a week early).
Thus, at present, only my husband, Bruce Leslie, is stranded trying to determine where to go next. As a doctor on faculty at LSU he's wanted in Baton Rouge but has no place to stay and cannot reach anyone for directions where to go...chaos reigns.
We're thankful to be safe and are learning from most of our friends that they too are safe, including the newborn who remained hospitalized when the mom was forced to evacuate and then could not locate her son for 48 hours...still doesn't know where he is only that he is out of NO and safe.
We don't have reason to be very optimistic about the condition of our home, given the potential for storm, water and looting damage, but we continue to remind ourselves that those are just things. Even the drowning of momentos don't erase the memories...and I can't even recall if I knew where my Prescott College diploma was.
I had been planning to spend the coming academic year at Harvard's Kennedy School, so have a small apt. in Cambridge that avoids feeling totally homeless.
At present, we are thankfully personally not in need of much, especially compared to the many folks who didn't evacuate for whatever reason and those whose jobs, and uninsured homes, etc. have been obliterated.
David Farmer, father of John Farmer ('93) writes from Shreveport, LA:
We here in Shreveport are fine. We are more than 200 miles from the coast and Katrina passed almost 200 miles east of us. We got only a little wind and no damage. However, almost everybody here has friends or relatives from the Gulf Coast. We have unknown thousands of refugees in the city -- some in homes of their friends or relatives, some in ARC (American Red Cross) shelters which have sprung up all over town. So far, the community has responded very generously to the needs of these victims but time is going to change these people's situation as they have to face the probability that they will not be going home for months, that their jobs in many cases will be gone, and that they receive the confirmation of deaths of ones they know and love. And, there will be thousands of fatalities eventually.
The ARC is asking that money is the most appropriate donation right now. Salvation Army is a very responsible and trusted avenue for donations. Refugees seem now to have enough mattresses, food and water. Prescott College may want to consider some field trips later in the year -- October or November, probably. There will be a need for months to get rid of debris and clean up. While there the students could probably work in some kind of study on the effects of such a natural disaster as this, whether it be environmental, psychological, financial or spiritual. But in all cases I would suggest that everybody offer prayers for the relief of these victims and the many thousands of volunteers, workers, security personnel, counselors, etc. who are working their hearts out to provide comfort and healing.
Peace and grace to you all.
Dave Farmer
