September 05, 2005 12:00am
Victoria Givens Visits Katrina Victims
Source: Treasure Coast Media
by: Company Press Release
(HOUSTON, TX) -- in an effort to learn what Hurricane Katrina victims need most first hand, Victoria Givens hits the road, visiting survivors across the southern part of the country.
"I was on tour anyway," states Givens, " but decided to change the tour to visit hurricane survivors after watching some of the stories on the news." The adult film entrepreneur and starlet started in Atlanta to visit survivors there. "I couldn't get into New Orleans so I went more north to some towns in Mississippi and Louisiana. Gas was in very short supply as thousands flooded the gas stations in the northern part of the states, filling up 55 gallon drums to carry back to survivors in the hardest hit areas."
The next stop was in Houston, Texas where Givens spent a couple days donating needed supplies to survivors in the city's hotels. "I couldn't get into the dome or the shelters but thousands are in the hotels. I've learned that some of the hotels are donating several floors as well as the Government picking up some other tabs."
Givens plans to stop in San Antonio next. "I've spent a lot of time just sitting and talking with a lot of people here. What I hear most is that we're not getting the half of it from the news."
Givens writes in several stories told first hand from some of the victims. " Seems that on the second day, the city turned off the water trying to get everyone out of the downtown area hotels. Some, like one woman I talked to, were tourists caught in the city during the storm. They wanted them to leave the area for buses that were not there yet and couldn't tell them when they would be there. They just wanted everyone outside."
She continues, "One of the remaining police officers explained to them that the water had been shut off on purpose but that it was not safe to go out. That same officer looted some stores to bring those people water, food and other much needed items. He and another officer stayed to protect them. She was there for 6 days before being escorted to a bus waiting to bring them to Houston."
Givens also reports that the danger and deaths reported on the news is only half of it according to survivors. "Everyone I've talked to just arriving are telling me that only a fraction of the reported relief troops are actually there and that there is still vast lawlessness in the area." Givens has been making trips to local grocery stores purchasing needs for infants as well as hygiene products for the adults.
"I wish I could do more and had the money to help each and every person," says Givens. "I do feel better about helping with needs heard from the victims themselves instead of donating to charities where I'm not sure where those donations will end up. Especially after hearing over and over again how reports that we're getting from outside sources are not nearly accurate."
Givens states that she will be visiting New Orleans when it is safe and rebuilding begins. "There are a lot of people helping right now," she adds. "I just can't help but feeling that this could happen to anyone and that anything any of us have today could be gone tomorrow."
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