How can I donate?
Gifts totaling more than $54,000 were received during a
coordinated collection for hurricane relief in connection
with the South Carolina at UGA football game on Saturday,
Sept. 10. Checks will be accepted made to the "UGA Katrina
Relief Fund." Individual contributions also may be made
at the Tate Center business office, where debit and credit
cards are accepted. Donations also may be made to the Arch
Foundation, earmarked to the Academic Affairs Assistance
Support Fund, to provide support to students with financial
hardships due to the hurricane. Volunteer UGA is coordinating
a fund raising effort on campus. For further information,
call 706/542-6396. Donations also may be made directly to
the Red Cross at www.redcross.org.
How many students have you accepted (enrolled) from the
impacted area?
The university received inquiries from some 300 students
seeking enrollment and offered admission to about 130. Many
of these have made other plans, but many others are on campus
and in class. Some have attended classes and then left as
conditions changed at their home institutions. It has been
a very fluid situation, but the work of the admissions office,
faculty and others to accommodate these students is ongoing.
What will be your approach to spring semester regarding
admissions?
Most of these students are here on transient status, which
is for one semester only. We hope that students' home schools
will be up and running and that they will be able to enroll
for spring term there. Transient students desiring to stay
at UGA past this semester will have to apply for transfer.
How long does the University anticipate operating the shelters
at Rock Eagle and the Ramsey Center?
The Ramsey Center shelter was made ready but never called
upon. As of Sept. 13, it had been released from standby by
the American Red Cross and returned to its normal uses. The
Rock Eagle shelter has been operating since Sept. 4 with
an initial contingent of 609 evacuees. As of Sept. 15, the
number in the camp had been reduced to fewer than 400 as
evacuees locate relatives or other housing. Officials will
the American Red Cross have expressed optimism that the Rock
Eagle shelter will be empty of evacuees by Sept. 23.
How can UGA students/faculty/staff assist with the evacuees?
Student groups and individual students should contact the
Red Cross to volunteer. An on-campus database of persons
desiring to volunteer is being developed. To sign up, go
to www.uga.edu/katrina/volunteer.html. Most of our volunteer
needs have been for mental health counselors and a number
of UGA faculty and staff trained in this area have filled
this role admirably. Clearly, as the numbers of evacuees
housed in UGA facilities winds down, demand for volunteers
has decreased. As some of these persons relocate into the
local community, the American Red Cross will continue to
utilize volunteers to provide support.
FEMA is asking that citizens please donate money rather
than goods. They are also requesting that volunteers not "self-dispatch" to
any affected area, but instead coordinate with volunteer
organizations. Please be cautious and always work through
established charities.
See www.uga.edu/katrina/ for more information.
What are the main needs you are anticipating?
Most physical needs have been met. The charity agencies
need cash donations to help cover their direct costs and
to provide vouchers to those in need.
How are you handling security?
Security at Rock Eagle is under the direction of the Putnam
County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the
Georgia State Patrol and the state Department of Natural
Resources. A full security check for weapons and drugs is
being conducted on each individual before their admission
to the site.
Do we expect more evacuees after the first group?
There have been fewer evacuees than initially anticipated
and shelters across Georgia are winding down to a close over
the coming week of Sept. 18.
In total, how many evacuees did UGA anticipate serving?
There were at least 609 evacuees registered at Rock Eagle
at its peak. It is possible there were more evacuees than
that in the facility, however. The university community also
has been involved in local efforts coordinated by the American
Red Cross to serve the several hundred evacuees who have
made their way into Athens on their own.
Will the university try to place some evacuees in jobs at
the university?
In fairness to all, evacuees will be allowed to apply for
jobs at UGA as any other individual may, but they will not
be given a hiring preference over any other qualified candidate.
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