Officials worry that Memphis relief efforts are uncoordinated

More than 20 faith-based groups and others have been distributing aid and offering housing without consulting the Memphis Shelby County Emergency Management Agency or American Red Cross, officials said. That could mean resources and aid to refugees is fragmented or incomplete.

“Our greatest issue right now is coordination,” Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton told county commissioners in a meeting on relief efforts. “In a way, it’s a good problem to have because there’s so many people and so much to be given.”

The EMA opened a relief office to serve as a clearinghouse last week, but officials said that many of the organizations in the area have not used it.

“I think some people have gotten upset with me because I’m pushing that they should go through the official process,” EMA director Claude Talford said. “But if we don’t bring some sanity to this thing, it’s never going to correct itself. It could snowball.”

For example, officials said many groups across the city have been preparing meals for hundreds, but most of the sites are not being filled to capacity and food is being wasted.

The head of one organization said they need to be careful to conserve their resources for the long haul.

“It’s sort of like people are falling all over themselves to help. I just hope that energy is still there in November,” said Margaret Craddock, executive director of the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association. MIFA has been coordinating with the EMA.

Mayor Willie Herenton issued a statement to aid groups on Tuesday asking them to direct all housing inquiries to EMA, so that official shelters can be filled.

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Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.commercialappeal.com