posted on Sep, 12 2005 @ 12:11 AM
I picked up a story about the 'Falls Creek' Oklahoma FEMA camp from -- I think -- an Alternet link. Unfortunately, I couldn't print the story from
the original posting, which included photos. The gist of the story is that Falls Creek is a Southern Baptist Association of Oklahoma youth camp
consisting of cabins that "range from small and humble to large and grandiose" depending on how rich the church that owns the cabin is. The camp
holds +/- 5000, and is normally used about three months a year. It was offered to FEMA to house Katrina 'refugees.'
The writer went with her family to the camp to take clothing, food, hygiene supplies, etc. to the cabin owned by her church. At the gate to the camp,
they were stopped by Oklahome Highway Police troopers, who questioned them before they were allowed to enter. At their church's cabin, they were
told that FEMA would not accept the clothing they'd brought, and that the cabin had been designated as a 'male only' cabin. They sorted out the
men's hygiene products and put them in the cabin. Then they started to bring in the food, but were told that, despite the cabin having a
fully-equipped kitchen capable of serving as many diners as the cabin would hold, FEMA would not allow those staying there to use the kitchen.
Instead, FEMA would provide two meals a day, to be delivered to the cabin. The FEMA 'host' employee who delivered this information volunteered that
FEMA had already told several churches that had inquired about having volunteers come the their cabins on weekends to cook for their inhabitants that
they would not be allowed to do that. FEMA justified this on the grounds that some churches might serve hot dogs, while others might serve steak,
which would be unfair and might cause a riot...!
Churches had also inquired about sending a van or bus to the camp to pick up folks who'd like to go to church. FEMA informed them that this would
not be allowed and that any camp occupantwho left the camp would not be allowed to return. The FEMA 'host' then said that the camp occupants would
be given a FEMA ID, 'a small sum of money,' and would remain in the camp for five months.
The writer's mother then asked if their church could come to their cabin and conduct services if residents wished to attend. The 'host's' answer
was,"No ma'am. You don't understand. Your church no longer owns this building. This building is now owned by FEMA and the Oklahoma Highway
Patrol. They have it for the next five months."
The 'host' then allowed the writer and her mother to leave some snack items "to tide people over between the two meals a day," but when the mother
tried to leave some cereal, she was told not to. When she asked why, she was told there would not be any milk available. When the mother pointed to
the industrial sized refrigerator/freezer in the kitchen, the 'host' told her, "Ma'am, you don't understand. It could cause a riot." He then
told her that she would have to take back the vegetables and fruit they'd brought, saying, "You'll have to take that back as well. It looks like
you have about 10 apples there. I'm about to bring in 40 men. What would we do then?"
The writer's mother said, "Quarter them?"
He answered, "No, ma'am. FEMA said no. It could cause a riot. You don't understand the type of people who are about to come here."
As the group prepared to leave, the 'host' asked how they had gotten into the camp. He said that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol should not have let
them in without FEMA IDs, and that starting that morning NO-ONE [his emphasis] would be allowed in.
The writer includes more, similar experiences at a 'female only' cabin before they left through the front gate. Inside the gate, there was a long
line of OHP patrol cars on the side of the road, plus three fire trucks and 6-8 ambulances. The gate itself was blocked by OHP vehicles with more
parked outside, and the nearby Durant First Baptist Church had been taken over to house troops (not known whether regulars, reservists or national
guard).
I will try to find the original link and post it here, and verify that the camp actually exists.