Operation Golden Rule

[shipperx]

Actually, I've never been the biggest fan of our governor. He hasn't always appeared to be the sharpest tool in the drawer. However, I'm having to give him higher marks than I previously would have.

I remember sort of mocking him during Hurricane Ivan when he called for mandatory evacuations of everything south of Montgomery three days before the storm hit -- and reversed the Interstate so that all lanes travelled north in the two days prior. (He wasn't as quick to call for mandatory evacuations this time, but we were never in danger of being hit by the eye of the storm this time). Over the weekend, I heard on CNN that it had long been established that it would take at least 72 hours to evacuate New Orleans but that Louisiana and New Orleans didn't order manadatory evacuations until about 24 hours before (And,I realize that even had they called for mandatory evacuations three days ahead of time, there were people who still wouldn't have had transportation). My point isn't about the mistakes made with Katrina, just that I take back my mocking of our governor for 'jumping the gun' in the past. Apparently, he was right to call for evacuations three days ahead of time and deserved more credit for his actions than I had thought.

Anyway, he has again risen in my estimation with his establishing (on Sept. 1st, so I'm  bit behind times):

September 01, 2005 Governor Riley Announces Operation Golden Rule to House Victims and Raise Disaster Assistance Funds MONTGOMERY – After touring possible sites to house evacuees, Governor Bob Riley today announced he is forming Operation Golden Rule to help find long-term housing for people who lost their home due to Hurricane Katrina and to raise funds to cover the unmet needs of victims. “Even though Alabama has suffered, we’re going to take the lead in reaching out to others in need. Obviously our first priority is serving the needs of our own citizens – and we will, but this is a catastrophe that stretches beyond borders and hundreds of thousands are searching for a place to call home,” Governor Riley said. “My goal with Operation Golden Rule is to find housing for 10,000 hurricane victims. That’s why our state government is looking to mobilize every available space for those who are suffering.” Governor Riley has tasked all agencies and his cabinet members to seek out possible solutions to this horrific problem. Governor Riley toured two former military installations, Fort McClellan in Anniston and Mobile Middle Bay Port, to look at former military housing that could possibly be used to house hurricane victims on a long-term basis. The Governor is also considering opening closed mental health facilities as part of the effort to assist neighboring states. {...} “Under this program I hope we see more communities step forward to help those in need like Ozark, which adopted Bayou La Batre and is sending citizens over to help,” Governor Riley said. “Alabamians are already coming together to help storm victims at short-term assistance communities. Now with Operation Golden Rule we will help with their long-term needs.” On Wednesday, Governor Riley announced that evacuees will be able to stay at hotels, cottages and trailer sites in Alabama’s 22 state parks. {...} The second component to Operation Golden Rule is the creation of the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund to help meet the needs of Alabama citizens who are not covered by insurance or Federal Emergency Management Agency claims resulting from a disaster or emergency. Governor Riley said the fund will, “help give citizens the extra help they need to get their lives back to normal and cover unmet costs.”

 

So, turns out, our governor isn't quite the dunderhead that I had thought he was.