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10-24-2005

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 6 months ago

October 24, 2005

ROMNEY CLOSES CURTAIN ON OPERATION HELPING HAND

Last of the 235 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina is resettled today

 

The last Gulf Coast guest at Camp Edwards is moving into housing today, bringing the curtain down on the temporary safe haven established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for evacuees who fled the wrath of Hurricane Katrina.

 

“Operation Helping Hand was symbolic of the very best Massachusetts has to offer,” said Governor Mitt Romney. “Government, private non-profits, faith-based organizations and volunteers worked hand-in-hand to take in the displaced victims of Katrina, give them comfort and provide them with the resources to move on with their lives.”

 

In a little over six weeks, Operation Helping Hand hosted 235 people. One hundred and thirty-five relocated to other states closer to their original homes while 100 have decided to permanently or temporarily remain in Massachusetts. Among the key volunteer organizations were the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, NAACP, Housing Assistance Corp. of Cape Cod and the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department.

 

The last guest to leave Camp Edwards was Constance Essex, who is moving into an apartment on Cape Cod.

 

Essex, a 23-year-old deputy sheriff in New Orleans, plans to graduate on November 20 from the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Training Academy, and hopes to find work there as a corrections officer.

 

“Being the last person to leave Camp Edwards has given me the time to reflect and be thankful for the opportunities and services that have been given to me,” said Essex.

 

“I’d like the thank the State of Massachusetts, the NAACP, the many volunteers who assisted with Camp Edwards, and most importantly Barnstable County Sheriff James Cummings and all the administrative staff for enabling me to get back on track with my life after this tragedy. This kindness will never be forgotten,” she said.

 

Romney praised the Rev. Jeffrey Brown from the Union Baptist Church in Cambridge for his performance as the unofficial “mayor” of the Camp Edwards community. “Without the leadership of Rev. Brown and other members of the Interfaith Alliance, this effort would not have been possible.”

 

“We’re talking about people who were devastated by an act of nature,” said Reverend Brown. “Instead of just throwing them out to fend for themselves, we’ve helped them heal from this tragedy. This was really a test of the quality of this state’s soul.”

 

While at Camp Edwards, guests were able to access housing and job search services, as well as have their medical and emotional needs addressed. Nine placement counselors were assigned to work with each guest, family or group. The Executive Office of Public Safety coordinated the effort with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services providing necessary services with on-base personnel from many of its 16 agencies.

 

“Much of the success of Operation Helping Hand is due to the balance we struck between public safety and public service,” said Public Safety Secretary Edward Flynn. “That balance was the result of strong partnerships between dozens of public safety, health and human services and charitable agencies who worked together to make the Commonwealth’s desire to help Katrina victims a reality.”

 

“The devastation left in Katrina’s wake was a reminder how fragile everything in our lives can be, and that how but for the grace of God, it could have been us looking for help” said Health and Human Services Secretary Tim Murphy. “I want to thank everyone involved for their tireless commitment to help our fellow citizens through this trying ordeal.”

 

In addition to the 235 who temporarily called Camp Edwards home, the Commonwealth has been providing services for approximately 860 others who arrived here on their own. Children’s Services of Roxbury has been coordinating a full range of social services for them, including health, educational, housing placements and job assistance.

 

“While the Camp Edwards phase of our commitment to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees has come to an end, we are still there for many others still trying to put back together so many pieces of their lives,” said Romney.

 

The Governor’s Office is continuing to work with HHS, Children’s Services of Roxbury and a coordinated interfaith effort dubbed “MassFaithHelps,” spearheaded by the Black Ministerial Alliance.

 

 

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