HURRICANE KATRINA RELATED INFO--how to help, missing loved ones, more

[ducklite]

The title of this thread was changed to reflect the current situation with Hurricane Rita. A Rita specific thread will eb started in the next 24 hours or so.

FEMA To apply for federal disaster assistance by phone you can call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA)

Anyone that is in Texas because of Hurricane Katrina can file for their unemployment here in Texas and apply for emergency food stamps at DHS.
8-5 Monday-Friday (central time) Local # for unemployment is 972-329-1948

Houston area evacuees: State, county and city housing officials will work with evacuees to find local housing. Evacuees who received federal Section 8 housing benefits in New Orleans are qualified to move into more than 500 Section 8 apartments in Harris County. They can contact the Harris County Housing Authority at 713-578-2150.

Are you in the Houston area and want to help disaster victims coming to yoru area? Contact the Houston Red Cross for more info!

IF YOU ARE MISSING A LOVED ONE the Salvation Army can help locate your loved ones. Their web site has been innundated, please keep hitting "refresh" until you get through. You can also call the American Red Cross, 866.438.4636.

PET FRIENDLY SHELTER IN LAFAYETTE, LA Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, right next to the Cajundome. Evacuees may bring their pets their for housing. We have PLENTY of food, water, crates, cages, bedding and newspaper. BUT the owners are responsible for feeding, watering, walking and medicating their own pets. Interested parties may call Lafayette Parish Animal Control at 337-291-5644 for more information.

The Birmingham Humane Society is looking for homes for displaced animals
and for temporary foster care for family pets that have been left
homeless because of this disaster. If you are able to take in any four
legged refugees please call the Birmingham Humane Society to have your
name placed on their list to receive a rescued animal. They are leaving
today to start searching for these animals in New Orleans and Gulf Port
Mississippi. You can call (205) 942-1211 to register your home.

If you left the affected area and went to Dallas with a pet but can't keep it with you, Metroplex Animal Hosp. on 183 by the Cowboy stadium is offering kennel space for free!

CNN.com has a special area on their web site where people can post that they are OK. If you are looking for someone, look to see if they are OK. If you are in any of the affected areas and someone might be worried for you, take a moment to send an e-mail to let everyone know you're OK!

List of housing available for people displaced by Katrina Open Your Home another list. (Please use common sense when opening your home or accepting a housing invitation!)

The city of Slidell is asking for anyone who is a nurse and can present a valid license who can possibly get there to please do so. They have a lot of sick and injured people who need professional care, and no one to render it.

Please donate BLOOD Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) to find a donation center near you. The need is CRITICAL!

To help the victims of Katrina:

Donate to:
Habitat For Humanity
Second Harvest
The Humane Society of the United States
Emergency Animal Response System
New Orleans Musicians Clinic
Noah's Wish
American Red Cross 1-800-HELP-NOW
The Better Life Foundation
The Salvation Army 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
United Way 1-813-274-0900
Americares.org www.americares.org
FEMA Charity Tips www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm
Mercy Corps 1-888-256-1900
United Jewish Communities www.ujc.org
The Better Life Foundation www.thebetterlifefoundation.org
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency 1-800-222-MEMA (1-800-222-6362)
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster www.nvoad.org
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief 1-770-410-6133
HSUS Disaster Relief Fund for Animals 1-888-259-5431
Convoy of Hope 1-417-823-8998
Samaritan's Purse International 1-828-262-1980
Catholic Charities 1-800-919-9338
Alabama Emergency Management Agency www.ema.alabama.gov
America's Second Harvest 1-800-344-8070
World Emergency Relief 1-888-484-4543
Louisiana OHSEP www.ohsep.louisiana.gov
Florida Division of Emergency Management 1-800-342-3557
ASPCA Disaster Relief Fund 1-212-876-7700
Operation Blessing 1-800-436-6348


Thank you for your support of these very worthwhile organizations!

THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPLYING INFORMATION TO ME!

 

[arminnie]

Here's a message that I got:
Talking about area near LaSalle High School near Soniat and Dryades

"according to toppgraphical maps of new orleans, that area is about 2.8 to 3 ft above sea level. from photos, it's apparant that the water rose to just about 3 feet so any house built as much as 6 inches above ground level should be okay. the closer you get to the river uptown, the higher the ground. Tchoupitoulas is anywhere from 8 to 15 feet above sea level. The ground slopes off gradually but from Napoleon uptown to Carrollton and from Tchoupiitoulas to Freret should be mostly dry. Unfortunately, looting is an entirely different matter and lets all hope for massive military assistance with that issue."

My home is 3 blocks downtown from Napoleon (but I'm on the 6th floor anyway). My friends that I have been most concerned about that I had not heard from are on Napoleon closer to Tchoupitoulous so hopefully their home is okay.

That update was as of 9/1 so it's after the surge.

 

[pattyT]

here is a blog that might help someone:
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=15902809&postID=112541442427088135

 

[ophie]

If anyone would like to know. Here's the full list of the government response. My dad is on the FEMA listserv and he got an 8/31 email full of details.

Highlights of the federal response as of 11 a.m. include:

FEMA

* FEMA deployed 39 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams from all across the U.S. to staging areas in Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, and Louisiana and is now moving them into impacted areas.

* Eighteen Urban Search and Rescue task forces and two Incident Support Teams have been deployed and prepositioned in Shreveport, La., and Jackson, Miss., including teams from Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. An additional eight swift water rescue teams have been deployed.

* FEMA is moving supplies and equipment into the hardest hit areas as quickly as possible, especially water, ice, meals, medical supplies, generators, tents, and tarps. There are currently over 1,700 trucks which have been mobilized to move these supplies into position.​

Coast Guard

* The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) worked through the night and has rescued or assisted more than 1,250 people.

* Secretary Chertoff has authorized the recall to active duty of 550 Coast Guard Reservists to support response and recovery activities.

* USCG ships, boats, and aircraft continue to support FEMA and state and local authorities with rescue and recovery efforts. USCG has also activated three national strike teams to help in removal of hazardous materials; ships and boats continue to support the national relief efforts.​

National Guard

* The National Guard of the four most heavily impacted states are providing support to civil authorities. Guard units are also providing generators, medical assistance and shelters. Currently, more than 31,500 members from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are engaged and providing assistance.

* The National Guard is augmenting civilian law enforcement capacity, not acting in lieu of it.​

Department of Defense

As directed by the Secretary of Defense and in accordance with the National Response Plan, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) is supporting the FEMA disaster relief efforts. NORTHCOM, the lead Department of Defense (DOD) organization for Hurricane Katrina response, is moving and/or mobilizing the following resources to support FEMA's response and recovery efforts:

* NORTHCOM established Joint Task Force (JTF) Katrina to act as the military's on-scene command in support of FEMA. Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, commander of the First Army in Fort Gillem, Ga., is the JTF-Commander. JTF Katrina will be based out of Camp Shelby, Miss.

* U.S. Transportation Command is flying eight swift water rescue teams from California to Lafayette, La. These teams will provide approximately 14 highly trained personnel with vehicles and small rigid-hulled boats capable of rescuing stranded citizens from flooded areas.

* USS Bataan sailed to the waters off Louisiana to provide support. Currently, four helicopters from the Bataan are flying medical evacuation and search and rescue missions in Louisiana. Bataan's hospital may also be used for medical support.

* The Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) is preparing to sail from Norfolk, VA loaded with disaster response equipment. The ARG consists of four amphibious ships, and will be off the coast of Louisiana in the next five days.

* The hospital ship USNS Comfort is departing Baltimore to bring medical assistance capabilities to the Gulf region, and should arrive in seven days.​

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making available all of their capabilities to help state and local officials provide care and assistance to the victims of this storm. HHS efforts include:

*The first 250 mobile hospital beds and associated equipment have arrived at the Louisiana State University (LSU) facility in Baton Rouge. Thirty eight public health service officers are at the facility and along with disaster medical assistance teams and State health care professionals. As of this morning, 50 of the beds are operational.

* HHS has placed 415 Public Health Service officers on stand-by for deployment to support medical response in the affected states.

* The HHS Secretary's Operations Center mobile command post is en route to Baton Rouge and should arrive today. This bus provides office space along with computer and communications support for the HHS Secretary's Emergency Response Team (SERT).

* HHS is using the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to identify available hospital beds, and working with DOD, Veteran's Administration, and others to move patients to these facilities. At last count, there were 2,600 beds available in a 12 state area around the affected area. Nationwide, the NDMS has identified 40,000 available beds in participating hospitals.

* Louisiana state officials have received 27 pallets of requested medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile. These pallets include basic first aid material (such as bandages, pads, ice packs, etc), blankets and patient clothing, suture kits, sterile gloves, stethoscopes, blood pressure measuring kits, and portable oxygen tanks. This equipment is being used to set up the mobile hospital at LSU in Baton Rouge.

* Centers for Disease Control experts are now working with Louisiana state officials to implement a mosquito abatement program.​

Department of Transportation

The Department of Transportation (DOT) dispatched a team of 66
transportation experts to support state and local officials in the damage assessment of highways, railroads, airports, transit systems, ports, and pipelines. DOT is also supporting detour planning and critical transportation system repairs.

There are a number of key highways and important road bridges that have sustained significant damage, including the I-10 bridges between New Orleans and Slidell, La. I-10 is closed throughout much of Louisiana and all of Mississippi, while it is limited to one lane in each direction and around Mobile due to pump failure in one of the tunnels in Mobile. Other major highways, such as US 90, 98, and 49 in the affected areas are closed. I-59 is closed starting 20 miles south of Meridian to points further south.
​

Department of Agriculture

* The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending experienced emergency response personnel. To date, the Forest Service has assigned 10 management and logistical teams and seven crews of 20 people each to the affected areas and host communities. These resources are intended to assist in setting up logistics staging areas, the distribution of food products, and debris removal.

* USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is providing food at shelters and mass feeding sites, issuing emergency food stamps, infant formula, and food packages to households in need.

* USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is providing information pertaining to keeping food safe. Consumers can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 24 hours a day at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); for the hearing-impaired TTY 1-800-256-7072.​

Department of Labor

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continues to coordinate with the interagency community in providing support as outlined in the National Response Plan.

* Region VI has deployed its eight members Emergency Response Team to Baton Rouge to assess the situation and begin to provide technical assistance to recovery workers and utility employers engaged in power restoration. In addition, OSHA is contacting major power companies to the areas affected to provide safety briefings to employees at power restoration staging areas in affected communities.

* OSHA is releasing public service announcements to inform workers about hazards related to restoration and cleanup.​

Department of Treasury

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced special relief for
taxpayers in the Presidential Disaster Areas struck by the hurricane. These taxpayers generally will have until October 31 to file tax returns and submit tax payments. The IRS will stop interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would otherwise apply. This relief includes the September 15 due date for estimated taxes and for calendar-year corporate returns with automatic extensions.​

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will position loan officers in federal and state disaster recovery centers. SBA is also prepared to provide help in other states in the eastern half of the country where the storm may also lead to disaster area declarations.​

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is providing a safe haven for nearly 46,000 evacuees in more than 230 Red Cross shelters, from the panhandle of Florida, across Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas. The Red Cross is launching the largest mobilization of resources for a single natural disaster involving thousands of trained disaster relief workers, tons of supplies, and support. The American Red Cross is asking everyone in affected areas to remain safely in shelters until local officials have deemed it safe to leave.​

 

[happybratpack]

In Grapevine they are asking specifically for baby/toddler supplies and toys for the children that have evacuated to Grapevine. They are at:

Hilton DFW Lake Executive Conference Center - 1800 Hwy 26 East



I'm sure everyone has seen the list, but just in case, here is what the DMN has listed:

Note: The American Red Cross has asked that people NOT bring clothes, food or other items to Reunion Arena where the evacuees are being sheltered. The emergency shelter is designed to give equal treatment and donated items make that mission difficult.

From 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, WFAA-TV (Ch. 8) will host a drive-through to collect monetary donations in front of its studios at Young and Record Streets in downtown Dallas. All funds collected will go to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

The Coppell Football Boosters are sponsoring a Hurricane Katrina victim donation drive at their home football game against Southlake Carroll tonight. More than 12,000 fans are expected for this event, and the Boosters are reaching out for their support and help. If you would like to donate but cannot attend the game, please contact John Hart at 214-274-8427. All donations will be contributed to the American Red Cross to help local relief efforts.

New Vision Christian Academy in Oak Cliff is accepting donations of clothing, food and toiletries Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The school is located at 4710 West Illinois, Dallas, located inside Templo De Alabanza. Contact Juan Bell at 214-333-2147 for more information.

Jesuit College Preparatory School's Friday night football game between Jesuit and Bishop Lynch High School will be a benefit event. Proceeds from the game will help hurricane victims. The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. at Jesuit's Ranger Stadium. Tickets are $7 at the gate. Tickets purchased in advance are $5, and students are admitted for $3.

The Garland Downtown Business Association, working with the Garland Jaycees, will collect monetary donations as well as bottled water, Gatorade, juice boxes, nonperishable food and toiletries. Collections will be made between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday at the Square in Historic Downtown Garland during First Saturday Trade Days.

The Bedford Fire Department in conjunction with the Bedford Professional Firefighter Association will be "filling the boot" in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort from 2:30 to 7 p.m. through Saturday at Airport Freeway and Central Drive. Cash donations are requested, but checks may be made payable to the Bedford Professional Firefighter Association or "BPFFA"; please write "Hurricane Katrina" on the memo line. For more information, call Communications Manager Mirenda McQuaggee-Walden at 817-952-2107.

Collin County Community College will accept donations of bottled water, Gatorade, juice boxes, non-perishable foods, disposable diapers and wipes, new clothing, personal hygiene items and new books and crayons for children Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. Bring donations to Central Park Campus, Main Parking Lot, 2200 W. University Drive. Volunteers are needed to assist with collection and loading. Please come directly to the site to volunteer!

Christian Community Action is organizing a community food drive to benefit victims of the hurricane Katrina. Non-perishable food donations and bottled water may be dropped off:
—From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Old Town Western Days (look for the CCA truck in Old Town Lewisville, in front of City Hall.)
—From noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Christian Community Action Donation Drive Through, 128 South Mill St. in Lewisville.
—From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day (except Sunday) at Resale by CCA-Business 121 Lewisville, 2202 Business 121, and Resale by CCA-The Colony, 5000 Main St., Suite 270.
—For other locations, visit CCA online at www.ccahelps.org.

Vista Ridge Mall in Lewisville serves as a donation site for the American Red Cross and its efforts to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina. A collection canister is located at the mall's customer service center. Carter BloodCare will be at the mall from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday in an effort to help ease the blood shortage in the Gulf Coast area. Blood bank workers will be on the upper level, in the center court area near Bombay.

Wilshire Baptist Church has partnered with University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, La., to provide Hurricane Katrina refugees with resources. Donations of cash are preferred, but new bedding items and toiletry items also may be brought to the church at 4316 Abrams Road from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sunday. For more information, contact the church at 214-452-3100.

Sachse First United Methodist Church, 1520 Blackburn Road, is collecting items to help the victims. Bring donations to the Family Life Center located directly behind the main building from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday through Friday of the week of Sept. 5. For more information, call 972-530-1005 or e-mail preacherruss@yahoo.com .

Sleep Experts will accept donations of bottled water and non-perishable food at any of the 19 North Texas locations through the end of September. Items most needed: bottled water, hand-held snack items such as granola, energy or breakfast bars and protein items such as beef jerky, peanut butter and canned meals. Sleep Experts will arrange delivery to victims staying in North Texas. Monetary donations to the American Red Cross are also welcomed at the Sleep Experts stores. Checks should be made payable to the Red Cross.

The Dallas Park Central Residence Inn, 7642 LBJ Freeway, is having a free garage sale for victims staying at the hotel at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Please bring clothes, toys, food, blankets, pillows and other items from around the house to the hotel. Anyone attending the sale will have to present an out-of-state license. For information, call general manager Melissa Van Sickels at 972-503-1333.

Collin County will host a blood drive by Carter Blood Center to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Collin County Health Care Services office, 825 N. McDonald St. in McKinney. People from throughout the county are asked to participate. For those unable to give blood, cash and check donations will be accepted and delivered to the American Red Cross. Call 972-548-5532.

The Dallas-area chapter of the Louisiana State University alumni association will collect cash and checks for the American Red Cross at its football season kickoff party at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 . The event will be at Ben's Half Yard House, 7102 Greenville Ave. For information, call chapter president Stacey Little at 972-437-0310.

ONGOING DONATION OPPORTUNITIES

Allen Community Outreach: Accepting donations for flood victims who are in need of gas, food, clothing and shoes. The money will be used for basic needs as well as to provide emergency assistance (rent and utilities) for families relocating to Allen, Lucas or Fairview. Call the ACO office at 972-727-9131 or donate online at www.acocares.org with the designation "Hurricane/Flood Victim Relief." The ACO office, 301 W. Boyd, Ste. A, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Best Friends Animal Society: Hurricane Katrina relief fund will help the animal rescue groups and shelters of Louisiana and Mississippi provide fresh water, food, shelter and ongoing veterinary care for all of the animal victims. All money donated will go directly to the groups helping the animals. To donate online, go to https://www.bestfriends.org/donate/index.cfm?.

Catholic Charities USA: A collection will be taken throughout the United States. Gifts should be sent to 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund, Catholic Charities USA , P.O. Box 25168, Alexandria, VA 22313-9788.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service: Bring gently used or new clothing, shoes, socks, underwear, blankets, pillows, non-perishable food, water, personal care itemsor toys to the CCCS headquarters located at 901 North McDonald (Highway 5), Suite 600 in McKinney between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Dallas: The city has set up a hot line for those who wish to donate money and/or volunteer time. Call 214-670-4275.

Dining donations: Several restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are holding special events and donating portions of sales to hurricane relief efforts. Click for a basic list of locations holding specials; please call the restaurants for more details and to verify the information before dining.

Coppell Chamber of Commerce: Donate baby and children's supplies for about 700 hurricane victims newly arrived at the Hilton DFW in Grapevine. There is a need for diapers, disposable training pants, formula, cribs, playpens and toys. Items should be taken to Austin Ranch at 2009 Anderson Gibson Road in Grapevine (just north of the Hilton DFW). For more information, call Austin Ranch at 817-481-1536.

Council on American-Islamic Relations: has asked mosques and Islamic centers throughout the Untied States to hold special blood drives, prayers and fund-raising efforts for disaster relief. Muslim charities offering assistance to the victims include Islamic Relief and ICNA Relief.

Mesquite Championship Rodeo: F For the next two weekends, the rodeo will donate $1 to the American Red Cross with every paid admission. For more information call 972-285-8777.

North Texas Food Bank: Collecting ready-to-eat meals and water for hurricane victims but says money is needed most. For more information call 214-330-1396.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: Contributions may be sent through normal mission-giving channels by designating gifts for one of the following accounts: U.S. hurricane response, DR000169; pastoral care, DR000161; church damage, DR000163. Gifts by credit card can be made by calling PresbyTel at 1-00-872-3283 or online.

Razzoo's restaurants: Nine locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are taking donations for the Dallas chapter of the American Red Cross through Sept. 11. Diners will have the option to add a donation to their check or pay with cash.

Red Cross: The Dallas area chapter also is seeking donations to help hurricane victims at 1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the Dallas Area Chapter, 4800 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75235.

Resource One Credit Union is accepting donations at all nine of their Texas branches. All donations should be cash or check made out to The American Red Cross. All of these funds will be delivered to the local Red Cross offices weekly. Branch locations can be found on Resource One's Web site , which also includes a direct link for people wishing to donate directly to the Red Cross.

Salvation Army: Donations of money, industrial-sized cans of vegetables, diapers, hand sanitizers, personal toiletries, flashlights, socks, insect repellent, baby formula, work gloves and plastic gloves to help hurricane victims can be delivered to 9216 Harry Hines Blvd. in Dallas. For more information, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).

Tom Thumb Food & Pharmacy: Working jointly with WFAA-TV to raise funds for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. "Spirit of Texas Hurricane Relief Effort" scan cards are available in all North Texas Tom Thumb store locations. Donations can be made with the scan card.

United Methodist churches: Collecting donations via offering plates, online or by telephone. The United Methodist Committee on Relief also needs flood buckets filled with cleaning supplies that people can use to clean their homes after floods and hurricanes. For information, call 1-800-554-8583.

Verizon Wireless: Donate to the American Red Cross through text messaging. Simply text the word "help" to the phone number 2HELP (24357), and $5 will be donated. You can do this for up to $25. The donations will appear on your next monthly bill, and the entire amount of each donation will be provided to the American Red Cross to be used for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

WFAA-TV and The Dallas Morning News: Community relief fund with Chase and Bank One to benefit victims in all affected states through the American Red Cross. Donations can be made at Chase or Bank One locations in Texas. Checks should be made payable to the "Spirit of Texas Hurricane Relief Fund," with Hurricane Katrina Relief 2005 in the memo line.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES


HOSTING
Several North Texans have contacted DallasNews.com about opening their homes to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Following is a list of Web sites that indicate they are matching hosts with evacuees. We cannot verify their legitimacy:

Craig's List: http://dallas.craigslist.org/roo/

Katrina Home: http://www.katrinahome.com/

Meetup: http://hurricane.meetup.com/1/

MoveOn.org: www.hurricanehousing.org

Shelter for Katrina: www.ShelterForKatrina.org

Also, if you can take someone in, please call Linda White at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 214-887-3921. She is taking names and contact information.
__________________

 

[happybratpack]

just wanted to post this in case anyone was planning on making a donation. My sister is a teacher at Rugel Elementary in Mesquite, Texas...they are doing fund raisers for Katrina. Compass Bank in Mesquite has kindly offered to match their donations.

Just a good way to make your donation go further...if you are interested in helping the info is below. Please pass on to anyone you know interested.

Mail checks to:
Janice Robinson
c/o Rugel Elementary
2701 Sybil Drive
Mesquite, TX 75149

Checks payable to: Red Cross

on the memo write: Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund

 

[janette]

For those in the DFW area check with your schools also. Ours have already started doing some gathering of goods to distribute to people that need them. Many of the displaced will be all over the metroplex with family / friends or in apartments. They don't have much and that is a way to help on a smaller scale.

I'm sure the Salvation Army & Red Cross don't have the time to deal with goods distribution right now. They need goods from the stores etc so they can have a more equal distribution. If you want to donate goods try the churches and schools that will be distributing to a smaller group. I have a co-worker that will be getting 9 family members in over the weekend and they haven't heard from all of their family yet. They left NO with clothes for a couple of days and have lost everything. I'm sure there are many families like them that will need assistance in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Tina]

I just received the following from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary =================================================


Dear Members and Friends,
Hurricane Katrina has dealt a devastating blow to the Gulf Coast and it will
take years for the region to recover. The toll on the human victims is almost
beyond imagining. A toll has also been taken on the animal companions in the
devastation as well.

Many people were forced to leave their homes during and in the aftermath of
the hurricane and couldn’t bring their animal friends with them. We know and
understand the anguish these caregivers are going through and want to assist
in the rescue of these helpless victims.

Best Friends is asking that you contact any friends or relatives that you have
who were required to evacuate the disaster areas. If they have companion
animals that were left behind, please have them contact the Best Friends
Hurricane center:

hurricane@bestfriends.org
(435)644-3965 Ext. 4455

We are compiling a list of animals in need to distribute to people on the
ground rescuing stranded animals.

Please ask them to include:

Contact name
Contact phone numbers
Address where the animals are
Name(s) of animal(s)
Description of animal(s)

We hope that you can help us to ease the minds of those animal caregivers who have already lost so much. Please pass this message on to as many people as you can.

Thank you for caring about the animals and the people who love them.

Sincerely,

Kelly Koeller
Network Manager, Resources & Content
Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, Utah 84741
435-644-2001 ext 256
kelly@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

The Volunteer Houston website is regularly updating info on how and where to volunteer, including at the dome and the George R Brown. You might need to click "refresh" after you get to this link:

http://www.volunteercenter.us/rsvp6.htm

You can also participate in Operation Compassion, and interfaith effort to feed the evacuees. Second Baptist is heading it up, but many churches and groups are participating.

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

 

[mommystieg]

The Dallas Morning News site has this link for those looking for help as well as those looking to help:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...ries/083005dntexkatrinaresources.595bf94.html

 

[agnes!]

If anyone out there is looking for loved ones who are missing because of Katrina, try this website...

http://www.mirawebdesign.com/katrina-meta-search.html

You can do all sorts of searches on it, without having to go all over the Web.
agnes!

 

[magicmouse2]

I live thousands of miles from the disaster zone and have donated to the people via red cross. I am a huge animal lover and thankyou Ducklite for providing link to the resources to donate to the animals. I live in the UK and can not provide a home as much as I would love to though feel I can donate a little to help these for animals a little too. I have a lot of love to give, though it is tough for my heart to reach that far across the sea's and there are many barriers...... It s hard for me as many of my work colleagues in the uk have NOT acknowledged this disaster......

 

[agnes!]

If anyone out there is still looking for someone who is missing in the wake of Katrina, this resource went live on September 5th...
Missing Persons Hotline: 1-888-544-5475
You can also try their website: http://www.missingkids.com/

This service is operated by the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, but you don't have to be missing a child to use it.

agnes!

 

[solferino]

http://www.project800.org/


The dad of the girls who started project backpack has contacted me since donating to the program.
http://www.projectbackpack.org/

He's asked me to please spread the word about the need for call takers nationwide. By going to the project800 website you can learn more and possibly help those affected by the hurricane(s).


Please spread the word to any other boards you might visit, all help is appreciated!

 

[CutiestMonkey]

so sad when the hurricane Hit i prayed i live all the way in california so i couldn't do much at the time.

 

[bobbiwoz]

There's a wonderful collection of Rodrigue's Louisiana: Cajuns, Blue Dogs, and Beyond Katrina
at the New Orleans Museum of Art going on now.

http://www.noma.org/exhibitions.html

New Orleans IS looking better now, but still so much to do!

Bobbi

 

[forummansbj]

its amazing how much can get done when we all just do a little. I think the nation saw some of that with Katrina.

 

[forummansbj]

I could probably organize some sort of blanket gathering at my church and have that sent somewhere.

 

[HeyMickeyGirl]

Such a giving thread. Thank you all so much. You should all be proud.

 

[Phillygal12]

As a longtime Louisiana resident (now transplanted up north as a result of Katrina), I thank you all for your generosity and kindness. Disney lovers really are the best folks!