RSS100 Million and counting
With all the finger pointing, politicizing and nay saying, I would rather look to the glass being half full than empty and see what Americans are doing to help during the crisis that followed Hurricane Katrina. Contributions are nearing $100,000,000.00 has been raised by charitable organizations in the wake of this tragedy.
Less than a week after Hurricane Katrina, American giving to help storm victims has surged past the level raised for South Asia tsunami relief in the same period, nearing the $100 million mark, according to charities and experts. But relief groups and federal officials worked to keep the donations flowing from Americans worried about oil prices and the economy.
Charitable organizations across the country said that while the windfall was beyond anything they had experienced, it represents only a fraction of what will be needed for a rebuilding effort expected to last years.
“We are going to restore order in the city of New Orleans.”
These words were spoken today by President George W. Bush en route to the Gulf Coast area, “We are going to restore order in the city of New Orleans.”
President Bush, facing scathing criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina, conceded on Friday it had been unacceptable as he visited the ravaged Gulf Coast and flooded New Orleans.
“Where it’s not working right, we’re going to make it right,” Bush said. “We are going to restore order in the city of New Orleans.”
Katrina’s aftermath presents Bush with his greatest emergency since the September 11, 2001, attacks. He has already been struggling with the lowest approval ratings of his presidency amid rising discontent with the Iraq war.
Before leaving the White House for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to view damage, Bush was blunt in his appraisal of what had been done in the four full days since the deadly storm struck on Monday morning.
“The results are not acceptable,” Bush said.
Post Hurricane Katrina; More Resources to Help Find Loved Ones
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has left many without any contact or idea as to the location or welfare of their family friends and loved ones. This crisis has affected so, so many. Become part of the solution. The following are great resources in the location and reporting of Missing Persons in the Gulf Coast area following Hurricane Katrina:
NOLA.com’s missing persons board.
NIUSR Missing Persons Center (NIUSR web site launched)
According to Michelle Malkin’s web site there is also a missing persons helpline to report lost relatives/loved ones: 225-925-6626. She also has other contact registry info lists.
Go to Wombat Nation for a list of extensive Katrina Missing Person and Survivor Registries.
Also another site set up to help find victims, KatrinaFinder.
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A Good Start for the Gulf Coast; Let the Relief Begin
President Asks Bush and Clinton to Assist in Hurricane Relief Efforts Reminiscent of George W. Bush’s request of help from former Presidents George H. Bush and Bill Clinton with Tsunami Relief, GWB called upon the two once again to assist in the Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts. President George W. Bush said the following: (video of speech)
This recovery is going to be a long process. It’s going to take a lot of hard
work and patience and resolve. It’s also going to require a lot of money. And the federal government will do its part. But the private sector needs to do its part, as well. And that’s why I’ve asked Presidents Bush and Clinton to lead a nationwide fund raising effort to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In the days ahead, the former Presidents will ask Americans to open their hearts and their wallets to help those in need. And they’re going to talk to large corporations and small businesses and individual citizens across the nation. The contributions will benefit the relief organizations that are doing vital work on the ground. We’re going to take a look and make sure that the money raised is money needed. Right now if our fellow citizens want to help, they ought to give a cash donation to the Red Cross, which they can find at phone number 1-800-HELP-NOW.
The Chaos before the Calm
The evacuation of New Orleans has now met with what everyone figured would occur but most hoped would not. The chaos that develops for many reason has now spread though
New Orleans in the form of desperation, looting and crime. As reported by MSNBC, “Cries for help spread across New Orleans Desperation at Superdome, convention center; safety fears halt some work”.
Thousands of desperate, stranded residents begged for help Thursday as conditions deteriorated here, with heavy rain compounding a tense situation that led to fights, fires and fears for the safety of emergency responders.
Doctors at two desperately crippled hospitals with 360 patients called The Associated Press pleading for rescue, saying they were nearly out of food and power and had been forced to move patients to higher floors to escape looters.
It has now unfortunately gotten to the point because of the break down of civil authority that the search and rescue efforts and evacuation of the citizens of New Orleans are being hampered by the looters and the crime. As reported by Reuters, New Orleans evacuation slows as shooting, chaos erupt. Make no mistake about it, some individuals I am sure are just trying to survive; however, there is another element that is taking advantage of the horrendous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and causing more harm. There is bad element in every society no matter what country. I think some American are maybe beginning to realize what and how looting occurred in Iraq after the fall of Baghdad as they see their own citizens doing the same in the United States.
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