I have had several people from out of state ask me about the drastic increase in crime since the influx of those displaced by Katrina. I guess this is what is passing off as news in some parts of the country but it simply is not true. They have imposed a curfew on Reliant City (11pm) because people were congregating in the surrounding areas (neighborhoods) late into the night. Last night was the first night the curfew was in effect and I heard that many people ignored it and could not get back into the shelter until this morning. Lesson learned, I hope.

The other lesson we need to learn is that hyperbole is spreading like wildfire. Please take what you hear with a grain of salt. Rumors are causing all kinds of problems and even costing lives as Matt Welch points out here. Additional debunked rumors can be found here. (If you have heard stories about FEMA turning away supplies, you need to read item 2 on that link.)

UPDATE: Austin Bay points out a very interesting NYT article printed in Eurpoe which paints Houston in a completely different light. Very interesting perspective but different than mine. All I have seen so far is people volunteering their time and corporations donating millions of dollars worth of equipment and food. The city has basically turned down all convention money and visitors in order to house those in need. Pretty selfish, indeed.