American Tsunami: Help Information For Hurricane Katrina Victims (with updated Katrina info) :: Human Interest

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August 30, 2005

American Tsunami: Help Information For Hurricane Katrina Victims (with updated Katrina info)

Topics: Human Interest

[Waters Rise In New Orleans As Levees Break (AP via FoxNews)]

Dan at California Yankee has posted information for helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina, which we are all learning this morning is a catastrophic disaster in which hundreds if not thousands might be dead, injured, and/or displaced. Dan plans to update his post as additional "help" information becomes available.

Government agencies and private relief organizations are mounting what the Washington Times reports is the largest mobilization ever for a natural disaster after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.

You can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina by making a financial donation to any of the following charities:

For a complete list of charitable agencies recommended by FEMA, visit http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm.

The American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is launching the largest mobilization of resources in its history for a single natural disaster. More than two hundred Red Cross shelters are housing thousands of residents who fled Katrina's wrath. More than 200 emergency response vehicles and countless other Red Cross resources are en route or on the scene to provide hot meals, snacks, bottled water and distribute other much-needed relief supplies.

You can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina by making a financial donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

You can make a secure online contribution by visiting the Red Cross Online Donation Page.

You can also donate by phone:

1-800-HELP-NOW
(1-800-435-7669)
English speaking

1-800-257-7575
Spanish Speaking

Catholic Charities USA
1-800-919-9338, or online at http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/

Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY, or online at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583, or online at http://gbgm-umc.org/

Hat tip - Dan at California Yankee

Update: Michelle Malkin writes via Drudge and the NYDailyNews, that the Pentagon is sending help:

The Pentagon...is sending doctors, nurses and rescue specialists along with baby formula, generators, water and ice to the hard-hit areas.
Background on the role of the military during natural disasters here.

Martial law has been declared in New Orleans.

More than, 1,600 Mississippi Natonal Guardsmen have been called up to help with cleanup efforts and to deter looting.

For those seeking information on missing persons that are related to Katrina, try the public service website NowPublic.

The Times Picayune has "CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE SWAMPS 9TH WARD, ST. BERNARD LAKEVIEW LEVEE BREACH THREATENS TO INUNDATE CITY..."

A large section of the vital 17th Street Canal levee, where it connects to the brand new .hurricane proof. Old Hammond Highway bridge, gave way late Monday morning in Bucktown after Katrina's fiercest winds were well north. The breach sent a churning sea of water from Lake Pontchartrain coursing across Lakeview and into Mid-City, Carrollton, Gentilly, City Park and neighborhoods farther south and east.

As night fell on a devastated region, the water was still rising in the city, and nobody was willing to predict when it would stop. After the destruction already apparent in the wake of Katrina, the American Red Cross was mobilizing for what regional officials were calling the largest recovery operation in the organization's history.

On the lakefront, pleasure boats were stacked on top of each other like cordwood in the municipal marina and yacht harbor. The Robert E. Lee shopping center was under 7 feet of water. Plantation Coffeehouse on Canal Boulevard was the same. Hynes Elementary School had 8 feet of water inside. Indeed, the entire business district along Harrison Avenue had water to the rooflines in many places.

Hat tip - Michele Malken

New Update From California Yankee:

Episcopal Relief & Development:

1-800-334-7626 or http://www.er-d.org/

Archdiocese of Miami-Dade

Monetary donations are being accepted by the Archdiocese of Miami, Catholic Charities, Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, 9401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Shores, FL 33138.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Monetary donations are being accepted by The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 4200 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33179.
Or visit www.jewishmiami.org/pledge.cfm and make a notation in the comment box for Hurricane Katrina Relief. For more information, call 305-576-4000.
Operation Helping Hand
The Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald and the United Way of Miami-Dade have activated Operation Helping Hands to help hurricane victims:

Make a donation to Operation Helping Hands c/o United Way of Miami-Dade, P.O. Box 459007, Miami, Florida 33245-9007.