Scientology celebrates its disaster response in Florida, but struggles in Puerto Rico and Mexico

 
Rod Keller keeps an eye on how Scientology’s “Volunteer Ministers” capers are turning out during this remarkably bad spate of natural disasters…

Scientology’s hurricane and earthquake response continued this week, but in Clearwater, Florida it’s all over but the congratulations. A banquet was held at the Fort Harrison Hotel to thank the Volunteer Ministers (VMs) who helped the downtown district prepare for Hurricane Irma, as well as for clearing fallen trees and brush following the storm. It appears that not all VMs in Clearwater were Sea Org members, many were public Scientologists.

 
Store owners were similarly grateful for the VMs, and organized a thank you stroll along Cleveland St., the main shopping street in the city. Many owners are Scientologists, but this event is being supported by non-Scientologists as well.

Puerto Rico was hit by the same hurricane as Clearwater, but the situation there is much different, after the island was hit with a second major storm, Hurricane Maria. A few VMs have come to the island in a true humanitarian crisis, in urgent need of food and water, but they have brought only chainsaws.

The People of Puerto Rico NEED VMs! Most people know the dire situation on the island:
– no power except emergency generators
– little to no phone or internet service
– no drinkable water
– roads blocked
– thousands in over 500 shelters
– gas shortages
and more…

Funding has been secured for hundreds of VMs to be sent to help. The first team has just left to help pave the way for more. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED N-O-W!!! Please spread the word.

Contact the LA VM office 1-800-xxx-xxxx
or John Franzack in New York 646-xxx-xxxx

 
Hundreds of VMs have not arrived yet, and fuel for the chainsaws is scarce. The VMs’ plea for supplies is difficult to answer, as poor administration at the ports and airports is preventing food and water from reaching the population.

We arrived yesterday night and stayed in one of the harder hit areas, Dorato. We are now in the Puerto Rico org and setting up the logistics necessary to allow 100 Volunteer Ministers to come down and help.

Sometimes the tankers come and sometimes they do not. Each person is not allowed more than $20 in gas. This is probably the largest issue we are working on as VMs. In order to use chain saws, transport VMs, transport supplies, run generators to charge phones to be able to communicate, etc, you need gas. Food is not currently a major issue and there are sporadic restaurants open on generators. Water is also fairly available in the cities but cannot be bought in large quantities. Further out, I’m sure it’s an issue due to lack of gas.

The current Puerto Rico Church of Scientology was not damaged. It has no power and no running water and currently the VMs are sleeping in an enclosed Terrace area on the top floor. The staff are all safe and well. We know of no injuries in the Scientology field. The new building is also not damaged.

We have not been able to take showers, you have to use baby wipes to clean off. We are using ocean water to flush toilets and can only drink bottled water. The ocean water is contaminated with sewage. Puerto Rico is incredibly hot and humid and there is no air conditioning anywhere. You have to think long and hard about how important something is before you use any cars in order to preserve as much gas as possible. We have about 5-6 local VMs and 6 external VMs working here. We need supplies first and foremost.

In Texas, Scientology VMs arranged for eight truckloads of donated building supplies to be brought to Rockport, Texas, which was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. Listeners of the Bonneville Radio Network in Salt Lake City, Utah donated money to purchase the supplies, and radio personality Kerri Kasem was part of the team that transported them to Texas. TV station KIII in Texas reported that the convoy delivered the materials to Aransas Airport where they will be distributed to residents to repair their damaged homes and businesses.

 
In Mexico City enthusiasm is fading for the earthquake relief effort. There are fewer volunteers this week and the donated supplies have all been distributed. The VMs have been transporting the few remaining supplies to the Xochimilco district, known for its system of canals and artificial islands known as chinampas. Much of the area is reachable only by small boats.

We are already left with nothing in the collection center! We have received and delivered more than 40 tons of food, water, food, hygiene, medicine and tools but requests for help come from everywhere. I ask you for your help. We need:

– Water Individual bottled and water bottles
– Ready to eat food – for brigades and shelters
– Food for eating – Tuna cans, instant soups, grains, seeds, sugar, oil, salt, milk, eggs, pasta soups, cereals, cookies, sweets
– Baby food – Milk formula, nipples, clothes, toys and diapers
– Cosmetics for children: Sweets, clothes, toys
– Medicines: Alcohol, bandages, gauze, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, etc.
– Hygiene supplies: Toilet paper, feminine towels, alcohol gel, shampoo, soaps
– Tools and equipment: Shovels, spikes, helmets, safety vests, protective glasses, gloves
– Cardboard boxes

Bring everything you can to help more people !!!
COLLECTION CENTER
Scientology México
Located at Balderas 27 esq Juárez
Col. Centro
Ciudad de México

There has been no public update on the VM team that was heading to the island of St. Maarten. Communication on the island has not been restored following the hurricane.

 
— Rod Keller

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 1, 2017 at 07:00

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