(Columbia) Sept. 12, 2005 - Katrina evacuees
have had a few days to rest and take care of
basic needs. Now, some hurricane victims are
starting to consider their futures. For many,
that means looking for work.
A few weeks ago, Archana Soni could not have
imagined she'd be in Columbia looking for a job.
Soni was a high school teacher in Mandeville,
Louisiana on the north side of Lake
Ponchartrain.
Soni says Katrina changed all that, "I had a
good job there. We were doing fine. We had a
strong community, church. We had a family there.
And in one night, we lost everything."
Monday, Soni brought her two daughters to the
Evacuee Resource Center on the USC campus. They
waited while she talked to the State Employment
Security Commission.
Most evacuees have only been in South
Carolina few days. For them, unemployment
insurance is top priority. Some though, are
already leaning toward or planning to stay in
South Carolina. And state officials say there
are jobs available.
Marvin Jackson runs the One Stop Job Center
on Taylor Street, "We've had a pretty good
response from the employer community thus far.
Even at the Naval Reserve Center on the USC
campus, we've had employers come down and drop
off flyers and leaflets concerning employment
opportunities."
Jackson says those employers have openings
for nurses, construction and electrical workers,
in fast food and hotels, and even for teachers.
In fact, the state's education superintendent
has already waived the certification fee for
evacuees with teaching experience.
Soni, who grew up in Greenwood, says she'd be
willing to consider a job in one of South
Carolina's rural districts, "Children are
children. If they need teachers there I'll be
willing to go there."
In this case, Katrina's ill winds might blow
some good to the Palmetto State.
Reported by Jack
Kuenzie
Posted 5:40pm by Chantelle
Janelle
