Spending the night as a storm evacuee - excellent article.

I learned a long time ago not to say the words "I know what you're going through" to people who are suffering because, in most cases, I don't.

So in an effort not to wear but maybe take a step in their shoes, I spent Wednesday night at the George R. Brown Convention Center with more than 1,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

My evening began at Intake, where volunteers asked me a list of questions such as "Do you have any immediate medical conditions?" "Are you seeking any family members?" and "Do you know your Social Security number?" and gave me an identification badge.

Another volunteer showed me around the center, which was divided into sections such as a "shopping area" for donated clothing, a medical area and color-coded sleeping areas.

I set up my cot to the left side of the Blue section, which was filled with comforter-covered air mattresses, bags of clothes and children throwing Nerf balls and playing double Dutch.

Around 8:30 p.m. I heard a thumping on the mattress in front of me. It was a boy, probably 8, pounding on a toy drum. His two brothers started a Dorito fight that left the smallest, Randall, screaming.

Wondering if the fight would end before bedtime, I walked to the shopping area.

"We're looking for school stuff," said 15-year-old India Palmer, who shopped with 12-year-old Myya Brown, whom she met when she arrived at the center this weekend.

I asked if it would be hard to start school under these circumstances.

"It's weird," Palmer said. "You just try not to think about it."

snip -----------

I'm glad I never told any of the evacuees I know how they're feeling.

I have no idea.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/special/05/katrina/3345755