Big relief effort meets Katrina

Christian Science Monitor ^ | August 30, 2005 | Kris Axtman

[WestTexasWend]

How to contribute to relief:

American Red Cross: PO Box 37243, Washington, DC, 20013, or online at www.redcross.org.

Salvation Army: Online at www.salvationarmyusa.org.

Early deployment of rescue teams and aid may prove key to the response.

HOUSTON - Even before hurricane Katrina made landfall Monday, a massive relief brigade - one that officials hoped would be an equal match for a huge Category 4 storm - was being deployed to help residents along Louisiana's low-lying coast.

Among them: The Red Cross called upon some 5,000 volunteers, including some who drove in from Washington State. Members of Fark.com, an online discussion board, offered to host fellow forum participants who were fleeing Katrina. And FEMA, the federal disaster-response agency, moved its search-and-rescue teams - as well as stockpiles of ice, water, and food - as close as safety would permit.

The outpouring of aid, possibly the largest the US has ever seen to cope with a domestic natural disaster, stems from Katrina's imposing size as well as its destination so near the major population center of New Orleans.

Such early deployment of relief is unusual in disaster-aid work. But damage projections had been so severe - and New Orleans deemed so vulnerable in its dependence on a network of levees, canals, and pumps to keep dry - that President Bush on Saturday went ahead and declared an emergency in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to mobilize ahead of the storm.

Forecasters, scientists, and government officials have long worried that a hurricane could swamp the Big Easy, parts of which are 10 feet below sea level, and cause months of misery. As a result, relief agencies - public and private - moved with urgency once Katrina, which led to nine fatalities when it hit Florida Thursday as a much weaker storm, turned toward Louisiana.

"This storm is so large ... that it's like all the storms from last year rolled together and probably [those were] still not as bad," says Margaret O'Brien-Molina, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross in its southwest region. "So our coordinated efforts have to be huge."

Last year, the Red Cross mobilized 7,000 volunteers total to handle the aftermath from four major hurricanes. For Katrina alone, it is working on sending upwards of 5,000. Staging areas set up at both Houston airports allowed arriving volunteers to get off their planes and onto the road as quickly as possible.

Red Cross emergency response vehicles, or ERVs, are crucial in a situation like this, says Ms. O'Brien-Molina, because many skeptical New Orleans residents didn't take the mandatory evacuation seriously enough and then were unable to get far enough away because of jammed evacuation routes. In addition, the Red Cross warehouse in Baton Rouge is filled with key supplies, and 283,000 heater meals are on their way to the state.

Hot meals are also on their way - 80,000 per day - thanks to the Texas Baptist Men, a ministry with a history of disaster response. It plans to have available more than a dozen kitchens in Louisiana that can serve "one-pot meals," such as stew, chili, or chicken and rice. The kitchens are self-sufficient, with generators, water purifiers, and propane. To get to the most devastated areas, the group's members bring their own chain-saw units, along with chaplains and portable showers for those in need.

The Red Cross typically pays for the food, and the Texas Baptist Men prepare it. The Texas chapter alone has 18 mobile units. Seven are on their way, and the rest are on standby, says Gary Smith, disaster relief coordinator for the Texas Baptist Men in Dallas. "Earlier this year we mobilized for hurricane Emily," he says, "but it was nothing like this."

FEMA, meanwhile, had moved generators, ice, water, and food into the region for deployment after the storm. FEMA also brought in urban search and rescue teams from Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas, and set them up in Shreveport, La. Similar teams from Indiana and Ohio were staged in Meridian, Miss.

FEMA also deployed 18 disaster medical assistance teams to staging areas in Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Louisiana deployed 3,500 Army National Guardsmen to help hurricane victims, and another 3,000 were on standby as of Monday morning, according to a Guard spokesman.

Statewide, 48 Red Cross shelters opened to residents in the storm's projected path. Hotels were packed as far away as Houston and Jackson, Miss. For New Orleans residents who couldn't - or didn't - leave, the city opened the Superdome. Katrina's 145-m.p.h. winds ripped away part of its roof Monday but as of press time had not forced an evacuation.

Other private and public aid - as well as volunteers - have been pouring into Louisiana over the past 48 hours. Office Depot says it will donate $1 million to the Red Cross, while Anheuser-Busch shipped 300,000 cans of drinking water to relief agencies in Louisiana and Mississippi. Wayne Elsey, president of Kodiak-Terra, a footwear company that donated thousands of pairs of shoes to South Asia after last year's tsunami, is setting up a "Katrina Relief Effort" fund.

The US Coast Guard shut down and evacuated its Gulf coast facilities, even as it sent more than 40 aircraft from the Eastern seaboard, and at least 30 small vessels, to the surrounding area. The units will be used for search-and-rescue operations and repairs of damaged waterways.

Though New Orleans has not taken a major direct hit from a hurricane since Betsy, a Category 3 in 1965, Katrina is being likened more to hurricane Camille in 1969, says Frank Lepore of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Before making landfall, the storm's winds exceed 200 m.p.h. but weakened to less than 150 by the time it hit just east of New Orleans.

How to contribute to relief:

American Red Cross: PO Box 37243, Washington, DC, 20013, or online at www.redcross.org.

Salvation Army: Online at www.salvationarmyusa.org.

[cll]

Thanks. Another Freeper pointed me their way. I collected over $1,500.00 from employees and company matching funds at work (we're not a big company) and express-mailed the checks yesterday.

FYI, I posted the following in another thread:

What we're doing about it:

* The Puerto Rico National Guard has dispatched 1,122 troops to the disaster area, to include a Military Police battalion (minus a company that's deployed elsewhere), 22 water purification specialists and five C-130 airplanes.

* The Puerto Rico State Emergency Management Office is sending 60 disaster recovery specialists to MS.

* The following island universities will grant late admissions to NO area students displaced by the storm so they can complete their semester: Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, The University of Puerto Rico, Sacred Heart University, Pontifical Catholic University, Metropolitan University and Turabo College. They're saying they will try and comp it.

* Puerto Rico residents stranded on the mainland by the storm may call toll free at 1-866-280-4357 for assistance.

* The company I work for has adopted the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief organization and have raise $1,500.00+ so far, mainly from employees and company matching funds (we're not a big company).

[hocndoc]

http://www.sbc.net/

Home page with articles on the relief and a link for donations at the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Fund.

[cll]

Thanks.

[HOYA97]

For those in the Atlanta area this may be of interest to you:

TOMORROW (9/3/05)...from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. items will be accepted at the DoubleTree Hotel in Roswell (behind the hotel). Volunteers are also needed to assist.

Due to the recent damages in Louisiana caused my Hurricane Katrina, Coastal Moving & Storage has volunteered to dispatch their Trucks to transport donated items such as those listed below for the victims who have either had major damages to their homes or have completely lost their homes. These trucks will be met in Louisiana by the Red Cross.

Water, Non Perishable Food Items, Baby Items, OTC Drugs, Cleaning Supplies, Toiletries, Feminine Supplies, Paper Products, Linen Items, First Aid Supplies, Batteries, Flashlights, etc.

Any donations that you can make to help those in need would be greatly appreciated. DoubleTree Hotel Atlanta/Roswell, located at 1075 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, has agreed to be a drop location for this effort. The Coastal Moving truck will pick up donations behind the hotel on Friday, 9/2/05 from 8am-10am and Saturday from 4p-6p. Volunteers are also needed to help load the trucks.

[HOYA97]

I am assuming you are a Knight yourself? So am I. I just completed my third degree.

[sitetest]

Dear HOYA97,

Well congratulations, Brother Knight!

I'm a Fourth Degree Knight, myself.

Be active with your Council! I've found over the years that I always got a lot more out then I put in with Council activities.

Again, congratulations!


sitetest

[cfo]

2 excellent Christian relief organizations:

Southern Baptist's NAMB: http://www.namb.net/

Samaritan's Purse: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

[dirtboy]

Early deployment of rescue teams and aid may prove key to the response.

I would say developing plans to get everyone out of harm's way would be even MORE KEY.

[sitetest]

I've just learned that the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus is donating $2.5 million to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

This is over and above the donations received by the Knights of Columbus Charities earmarked for hurricane relief.

[EveningStar]

Dennis Prager: Astrodome inadequate. Take the Katrina victims into your home

[omega4412]

My mistake. There is a link there, and the form lets you designate gifts to Texas Baptist Men. Donate Online Now for Katrina Relief

[LibertyRocks]

Hurricane Katrina HOUSING thread here at Free Republic is #1 google return when searching for "Hurricane Katrina Housing". I will cross-reference post the URL you supplied on that thread. I'm sure it will help many...

[antonia]

http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.224451/k.7BDB/Disaster_Relief_Homepage.htm

 

Disaster Relief Update September 1, 2005 “Who can say, but that you have been chosen for such as time as this" (Esther 4:14b). Hurricane Katrina Response Donations Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Fund Toll-Free: 1 888 571-5895 Mail: PO Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543 (make checks payable to North American Mission Board) Online: www.namb.net/disasterrelief Louisiana Disaster Relief Fund c/o Louisiana Baptist Convention PO Box 311 Alexandria, LA 71309 Mississippi Disaster Relief Fund c/o Mississippi Baptist Convention Board 515 Mississippi St. PO Box 530 Jackson, MS 39205-0530 Alabama Disaster Relief Fund Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions 2001 East South Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36116 At this time, in-kind donations (e.g. food, clothing, etc.) are not being received due to logistical issues.  Please continue to check back, as we are working on a process to accommodate your donations.   Feeding Units Activated in Partnership with American Red Cross and Salvation Army Louisiana Baton Rouge      Rolling Hills unit (LA), Oak Crest Baptist Church      TN state unit, Jefferson Baptist Church      OK state unit, Florida Blvd. Baptist Church      TX, SBCT unit, site undetermined Alexandria      Top of Texas, Horseshoe Drive Baptist Church Lafayette      Texas state unit, Cajun Dome Bogalusa      Illinois state unit, FBC Bogalusa Covington      Louisiana state and Taminy unit, FBC Covington      Spirit of America, Taminy Parrish Fairgrounds Hammond      Texas Tarrant unit, Woodland Park Church Prairieville      Arkansas Forrest City unit, Fellowship Baptist Church Kenner      Arkansas Independence, Veterans Parkway Mississippi Biloxi      Mississippi state unit, FBC Biloxi Pascagoula      Georgia 11F unit, FBC Pascagoula Hattiesburg      Florida state unit, Main Street Baptist Church      Kentucky unit, site undetermined McComb      Missouri state unit, FBC McComb Meridian      North Carolina state unit, FBC Meridian Clinton (Jackson)      Kentucky state unit, Camp Garraway Laurel      Arkansas state unit, FBC Laurel Lucedale      Georgia 9, FBC Lucedale Columbia      South Carolina unit, FBC Columbia Tylertown      Michigan unit, FBC Tylertown Picayune      VBMB unit, FBC Picayune Columbia      South Carolina unit, FBC Columbia Prentiss      SBCV unit, FBC Prentiss Wiggins      Henry's Kitchen Alabama Mobile—Alabama state unit, Moffett Baptist Church Georgia Carrollton—Georgia associational unit There are approximately 110 Southern Baptist units (feeding, recovery, shower, communication) activated at this time.   American Red Cross Report, 9/1/2005 As of Thursday morning, September 1st, the American Red Cross is continuing to absorb the full impact of this event and mobilizing human and material resources in mass to support relief operations.  As authorities clear the affected areas and rescue stranded citizens, Red Cross efforts are focused on sheltering and feeding thousands of evacuees.  Efforts to evacuate the New Orleans Superdome, moving residents to the Astrodome in Houston, were suspended due to reports of violence and guns fired at emergency crews attempting to help with the evacuation.  Relief efforts have further been hampered by massive infrastructure failure as roadways are damaged or blocked, and electricity is expected to remain out for several weeks. In Louisiana, Entergy reports as of 6:30 AM that 643,146 customers remain without electrical service. Mississippi Power reports, after assessing three-fourths of the company's 8,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines, that approximately 70 percent will need to be rebuilt or repaired. They estimate it may be as long as four weeks to restore service in the worst hit areas to all customers who can receive it.  (SOURCES: The Weather Channel/National Weather Service/CNN/ Houston Chronicle/DOT)   National Leadership There are two incident command teams—a Mississippi team and a Louisiana team. The Mississippi IC team is set up at Camp Garraway in Clinton, Miss. (for now). The Louisiana IC team will operate out of the Louisiana Baptist Convention in Alexandria. Team members include Terry Henderson, David Abernathy, Donald Kimbell , Eddie Blackmon, Mike Morgan, John Dillender, Carl Russell, Kevin Kite, Gary Smith, and Harold Moore. Donna Swarts and Don Gann are the Mississippi White Hats. Tommy Puckett is Alabama Disaster Relief State Director. Loy Seal is Louisiana Disaster Relief State Director. Mickey Caison is the NAMB Disaster Operations Center (DOC) manager. Fred Kinsey is the SBC liaison at American Red Cross National Headquarters (ARC NHQ) in Washington, D.C. Randy Creamer is the SBC member of an ARC mass-care coordination group convening at ARC NHQ in Washington, D.C. Harold Johnson is SBC liaison at ARC HQ in Baton Rouge, La. Don Hargis is SBC liaison at ARC HQ in Montgomery. Mike Overcash is SBC liaison at Salvation Army HQ in Jackson, Miss. To contact the Disaster Operations Center, call 1 800 462-8657, ext. 6133 or e-mail dr_offsite@namb.net.

Related Links Disaster Relief Fund American Red Cross Salvation Army International Mission Board FEMA NVOAD   2004 Hurricane Season Rebuild Opportunities

Click here for the Disaster Relief Archive

 

[antonia]

from the FEMA website:

Hurricane Katrina Recovery

On This Page

Finding Loved Ones Help for Victims How You Can Help

Health and Safety Government Agencies and Recovery Response

How You Can Help

• How the Public Can Help: USA Freedom Corps
  Donations of money is the most immediate need. Volunteers should not report directly to the affected areas unless directed by a voluntary agency.
• Temporary Housing
  Post temporary housing you have to share on Craig's List. Victims can find temporary housing options here.

[pure_capitalist]

Houston’s Second Baptist Church has begun organizing donations and shelters for refugees and hurricane victims.

http://www.second.org/global/operation_compassion.aspx

[cll]

Gracias.

[WestTexasWend]

Thanks, again, for the help on TBM donations!

When I first tried on Tuesday there was no working link at all...maybe overwhelmed...then a webpage but no link for online gifts. Glad they were somehow able to fix that along with getting their massive relief effort underway.

Good people. God bless them and protect them as they help.

[antonia]

http://www.housingkatrina.com/

Medium-Term Housing for victims of Katrina

In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, scores of people have been left temporarily homeless.

While the Red Cross and other organizations are working feverishly to find immediate, short-term shelter for those in need, there is a medium-term housing crisis looming.

These people need your help. We are building a list of volunteers who are willing to use the spare room in their homes to host individuals and families in need.

This list will be made available to the organizations who have people working directly with the hurricane victims.

So far, HousingKatrina.com has gennerated offers to house a total of 180 victims of the hurricane. This is a live running total. Please help spread the word so that we can make this number grow!

September 2, 2005

Sign Up Here

We are not currently accepting donations.

We recommend that you make any financial contributions directly to the Red Cross.

Red Cross

Contact Us

[antonia]

http://www.housingkatrina.com/

Medium-Term Housing for victims of Katrina

In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, scores of people have been left temporarily homeless.

While the Red Cross and other organizations are working feverishly to find immediate, short-term shelter for those in need, there is a medium-term housing crisis looming.

These people need your help. We are building a list of volunteers who are willing to use the spare room in their homes to host individuals and families in need.

This list will be made available to the organizations who have people working directly with the hurricane victims.

So far, HousingKatrina.com has gennerated offers to house a total of 180 victims of the hurricane. This is a live running total. Please help spread the word so that we can make this number grow!

September 2, 2005

Sign Up Here

We are not currently accepting donations.

We recommend that you make any financial contributions directly to the Red Cross.

Red Cross

Contact Us