First, the county agreed to house evacuees, ply them with school supplies and help them navigate the Bay Area. Unfortunately the announcement came after the other counties were told that nobody really wanted to travel all the way to California. Nonetheless, the county announced it was ready, willing and able to be a savior for those who want to give the Joads a run for their money. In a slow trickle, the displaced began to show up.

Then came the pets, the cutest evacuees in the world. Nobody questioned the pit bulls that came to town despite the recently adopted dangerous dog ordinance and pending statewide bill allowing bans on certain breeds. Worries about the health and safety of county residents halted in the wake of a natural catastrophe. As the fuzzy critters lined up for a place on the chartered airplane who was going to be cold-hearted enough to turn away a dog simply because of its reputation? Compassion beats out concern, at least for creatures with big eyes and floppy ears. Maybe the humans in limbo need a frisky tail and oversized paws.

In states like Utah, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, the tired and bedraggled evacuees are undergoing background checks prior to receiving core services or even a bed. Officials want to ensure shelter isn’t offered to convicts, particularly sex offenders. In fact, state police in Massachusetts arrested a Louisiana man wanted for rape and more than 50 evacuees in Colorado have felony records. San Mateo County leaders have taken note and are considering similar measures.

Ironically, the San Mateo County adoptees will likely be shipped to Moffett Field in Santa Clara. However, the outside site hasn’t squelched worries about giving a helping hand to the unsavory folk setting up camp nearby. Safety, as always, should be a top priority. Second, is quelling the distasteful fear that the unwanted may arrive looking for help and decide never again to leave.

Counties are willing to take the poor and huddled masses, just not uniformly. But the thing about playing hero is that the role doesn’t always allow the picking and choosing of just who gets three hots and a cot and the promise of a better future. The American Civil Liberties Union has already raised concern that background checks are establishing a climate of fear and suspicion even among those that pass with flying colors. When all you have to your name is a paper bag full of belongings, the last thing you want to worry about is the possible smearing of that name — because, as Megan’s Law and other databases have shown, nothing is full-proof.

Also, if we deny services to people based on criminal histories, who is next on the list of groups we don’t want coming into the state? Gays and lesbians? Illegal immigrants? Communists? The illiterate? Conservatives? Liberals? The uneducated? Those with misdemeanors? Those without religion?

There is nothing nefarious about worrying over who is invited and taking steps to keep safe those who already call San Mateo County and California home. Leaders and residents alike have a responsibility not to make life worse for themselves in the name of helping out the afflicted.

The truth of the matter, though, is that the catastrophe known as Hurricane Katrina didn’t just affect the decent and humane. Even the unsavory were hit hard and they have to go somewhere. Refusing help to certain segments of the population based on fear and classification is just another way the catastrophe continues.

Michelle Durand’s column “Off the Beat” runs every Monday and Thursday. She can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102. What do you think of this column? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.