Stevens in the States

Driving around this afternoon, some of the matrix signs over the DFW highways were giving directions for New Orleans evacuees to the Dallas Convention Center. According to the Dallas Morning News, some centers here are already full.

And it's not a short drive. To come from New Orleans to here is the same as driving from London to Stutgart. That's a long way to get away from bad weather... which shows quite how dramatic the weather might be.

Listening to KVIL this afternoon, the presenter was asking us to welcome the evacuees with Texan hospitality. And based on the last hurricane three years ago, the Texans will no doubt set up food and shelter collection points, and will put many Brits to shame in their approach to things. I was really, really impressed last time.

The whole scenario reminds me of when I was first in Dallas; around the time of the Katrina disaster. The hotel/motel place I was staying in took lots of evacuees in, as did many other places around Texas. I remember walking past people whose faces were just so blank - as I'm sure mine would be if I'd suddenly been forced to leave everything behind.

The juxtaposition was quite jarring. I was there with three suitcases of stuff, starting a really exciting adventure, full of opportunities. They were there with a few suitcases, because that's all they'd been able to rescue.

A sobering thought. It's worth counting your blessings sometimes.