Adrian's Blog: Support and Help for Hurricane Katrina Survivors and Family Members

LOST & FOUND

2005-09-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Comments posted by desperate family members searching for their lost family & Friends, please check here to see if anyone has tried to contact you:

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/laf/

For Photos of missing people, check to see if you are on here or if anyone looks familiar:

http://www.karmus.com/photo/100350

To post photos of missing loved ones please click here:

http://www.karmus.com/viewcard/100349

Karmus.com also put together an email list of missing and found people. If you would like them to send you this email, please email at: people@karmus.com.
In your subject line, please put: katrina people list

Superdome Evacuation Halted After Shots Fired

2005-09-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

The evacuation of the New Orleans Superdome was suspended Thursday after gunshots were fired at a military helicopter as thousands of National Guard troops poured into the Big Easy to boost security in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The first of nearly 25,000 refugees being sheltered at the New Orleans Superdome began to arrive in Houston, Texas, Thursday. But that process ground to a halt after shots were fired at the helicopter over the Superdome before daybreak, according to an ambulance official overseeing the operation.

"We have suspended operations until they gain control of the Superdome," said Richard Zeuschlag.

He said that military would not fly out of the Superdome either because of the gunfire and that the National Guard told him that it was sending 100 military police officers to gain control.

"That's not enough," Zeuschlag said. "We need a thousand."

He also said that during the night, when a medical evacuation helicopter tried to land at a hospital in the outlying town of Kenner, the pilot reported that 100 people were on the landing pad, and some of them had guns.

"He was frightened and would not land," Zeuschlag said.

He said medics were calling him and crying for help because they were so scared of people with guns at the Superdome.

Corporate Donations....Couldn't more companies give??

2005-09-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

In Indianapolis, drug maker Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) prepared to send 40,000 vials of refrigerated insulin to patients in the Southeast, along with at least $1 million in cash to the American Red Cross.

Drug maker Wyeth (WYE) of Madison, N.J., planned to donate antibiotics and nonprescription pain relievers, health care giant Johnson & Johnson provided $250,000 worth of kits containing toothbrushes, soap and shampoo, as well as pallets of pain relievers and wound care supplies.

Drug maker Merck & Co. (MRK) planned to send antibiotics and hepatitis A vaccines to protect those facing contaminated waters.

Illinois-based pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories Inc. is giving $2 million cash and at least $2 million in nutritional and medical products.

Donations Wednesday already had reached well into the millions and included $5 million from Chevron Corp., $3 million each from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup, $2 million from Pfizer and $1 million from insurer State Farm.
The Walt Disney Co. contributed $2.5 million, $1 million of which will go to the American Red Cross and the rest for rebuilding efforts and volunteer centers helping affected communities.

The contributions also included 50 trucks donated by Nissan North America to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, more than 825,000 cans of water supplied by Anheuser-Busch (BUD) in St. Louis and 3,000 walkie talkie-type phones for emergency personnel from Sprint Nextel Corp. (S)

Kellogg Co. (K) of Battle Creek, Mich., sent seven truckloads of crackers and cookies to hard-hit areas. General Motors Corp. (GM) also planned to donate 25 cars and trucks to the Red Cross.

Qwest Communications International Inc. will send 2,000 long-distance calling cards so those affected could call loved ones, said spokesman Michael Dunne. He said Denver-based Qwest also has given the Red Cross $230,000 to help train responders.

Home improvement companies Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (LOW) pledged cash and manpower, while Culligan International of Northbrook, Ill., sent five truckloads of water to residents in Alabama and Mississippi.

The water, part of a larger, 28-truck convoy organized by the Missouri-based Convoy of Hope, was traveling at 10 mph through Mississippi.

"It's very treacherous," said Mike Ennis, director of strategic initiatives at Convoy of Hope.

Office Depot (ODP) of Delray Beach, Fla., donated $1 million to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts. Officials announced Wednesday the company also would give the contents of its five New Orleans stores, valued at $4 million, to New Orleans officials to use as they recover from Hurricane Katrina.

Hank Goldstein, chairman of Giving USA (search) in Glenview, Ill., said individual and corporate donations combined could reach $1 billion.

But he predicted the corporate relief effort would be smaller than those recorded after the 2001 terrorist attacks and the tsunami that ravaged Asia in December.

"This kind of money comes quick and comes early and then falls off fast after that," Goldstein said. "It will abate along with the water."

Volunteer opportunities

2005-09-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/vol/

Can you provide temporary shelter for hurricane victims?

2005-09-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/hhh/

Fast Facts and Pictures of Katrina and her aftermath

2005-08-31T20:49:00.000-07:00

Fast Facts: Hurricane Katrina
(AP) — Hurricane Katrina's effects, at a glance:

LOUISIANA:
_Deaths: The mayor said the hurricane probably killed thousands of people in New Orleans — an estimate that, if accurate, would make the storm the nation's deadliest natural disaster since at least the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Relief crews put aside the counting of bodies to concentrate on rescuing the living, many trapped on rooftops and in attics.

_Estimated 80 percent of New Orleans under water, up to 20 feet deep in places. Water still rising as engineers struggle to plug two breached levees along Lake Pontchartrain with giant sandbags.

_Authorities drew up plans to clear out the tens of thousands of people left in the Big Easy and all but abandon the flooded-out city. Many of the evacuees — including thousands now staying in the Superdome — will be moved to the Astrodome in Houston, 350 miles away.

_Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu said 3,000 people rescued by boat and air.

_Sections of Interstate 10, only major freeway leading into New Orleans from the east, destroyed.

_At least 713,000 customers estimated without power.

_BellSouth Corp., the region's dominant local phone provider, estimated that about 750,000 lines may be out of service in the most heavily damaged areas.

_Looting broke out in some New Orleans neighborhoods. Thieves took guns from a Wal-Mart. One police officer shot in the head by looter but expected to recover. Looters also used a forklift to smash open a pharmacy. City officials themselves commandeered equipment from a looted Office Depot. During a state of emergency, authorities have broad powers to take private supplies and buildings for their use.

_Quote: "You know, it's not like people are just there because they want to be there. They're there because they're trapped in the city." — Gov. Kathleen Blanco on ABC "Good Morning America"

MISSISSIPPI:
_Deaths: At least 110.

_More than 236,000 customers without power.

_Hundreds of waterfront homes, businesses, community landmarks and condominiums obliterated.

_Casinos built on barges along the coast damaged or destroyed, some floated across beach onto land. Dozen casinos employed about 14,000 people, generated $2.7 billion in annual revenue.

_More than 1,600 Mississippi National Guardsmen activated.

_Major bridges damaged in three coastal counties, including those linking Biloxi with Ocean Springs and the connection to Bay St. Louis.

_Looters picked through casino slot machines for coins and ransacked other businesses.

_Quote: "It is indescribable — blocks and blocks and blocks of no houses. Ninety percent of the structures are gone. I saw Camille and the aftermath in 1969 and this is worst than Camille." Gov. Haley Barbour on NBC's "Today." Camille killed 143 and destroyed 6,000 homes.

ALABAMA:

_Deaths: Two.

_About 325,000 homes and businesses without power.

_Flooding reached 11 feet in Mobile, matching record set in 1917, according to National Weather Service. Water up to roofs of cars in downtown Mobile and bayou communities. Piers ransacked and grand homes flooded along Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay.

_Major bridge over the Mobile River partially reopened; it was struck by oil drilling platform that floated away from a shipyard.

FLORIDA:
_Deaths: 11.

_About 80,700 customers without power.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:

_Federal Emergency Management Agency sent medical teams, rescue squads and groups prepared to supply food and water into disaster areas.

_Navy sent four ships to the Gulf Coast with water, other supplies.

More Pictures - Katrina's Aftermath

2005-08-31T13:59:00.000-07:00

Complete and Total Devestation. A City Underwater, Homes Destroyed, Lives taken, 1,000's of People Missing...Worst is Feared, Tragedy Around Every Corner

Downtown New Orleans.....completely submerged.

A man takes a rest on his journey to the Superdome after losing his home to the flood waters.

People's homes half submerged, EOC say's it will only get worse.

Family's wading through the polluted water to get to Superdome. Reports of Water Moccasins, gasoline, dangerous debris, linger in these waters, but it's a chance these people are willing to take to save themselves.

The Army National Guard distributes water, food and supplies to those in the Superdome.

Websites with Info for Donations and Help

2005-08-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.redcross.org/

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Catholic Charities USA, 1-800-919-9338, Hurricane Katrina, P.O. Box 25168, Alexandria, VA 22313-9788. You can donate at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

Church World Service, 1-800-297-1516, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. You can donate at www.churchworldservice.org.

Episcopal Relief and Development/U.S. Hurricane Relief Fund, 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129, P.O. Box 12043, Newark, NJ, 07101-5043. You can donate at http://www.er-d.org/

Florida Baptist Convention, 1-800-226-8584, Attention: Baptist Men's Department, Hurricane Disaster Relief, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207.

Florida Conference United Church of Christ, 407-835-7501, 924 N. Magnolia Ave., Suite 250, Orlando, FL 32803.

Islamic Circle of North America, 166-26, 89th Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432. 718-658-7028. You can donate at http://www.icna.org/

Lutheran Disaster Response, 1-800-638-3522, 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. You can donate at http://www.elca.org/

Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210, 1018 Main St. Akron, PA 17501. You can donate at http://www.mds.mennonite.net/

Presbyterian Church, 1-800-872-3283, Attention: PCUSA, Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15624-3700. Write on check: #000169. You can donate at http://www.pcusa.org/

Salvation Army, 1-800-725-2769, Salvation Army Headquarters, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313. If you send a check, note "Katrina Disaster relief." You can donate at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, 770-410-6133, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543. If you send a check, make it payable to North American Mission Board. You can donate at http://www.namb.net/dr

United Way, Tampa Bay 813-274-0900 or 727-535-3545, 1000 N. Ashley Drive Suite 800, Tampa, FL, 33602. You can donate at http://www.uwtb.org/

Special Notice
Navy leadership is sincerely concerned for our Sailors and their family members in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. In light of the communication difficulties created by the hurricane, BUPERS has set up a 24 hour helpline for both Sailors and families to call for information regarding their loved ones.

The number is 1-877-414-5358

This line will be staffed 24 hours by active duty Navy volunteers and will have connectivity with Navy, FEMA and other government agencies. They will try their very best to answer questions regarding the status of Navy family members, but please be aware that communication in the region is still inconsistent.

If you are a Command Representative and your command is located in the New Orleans or Gulfport area, please call the helpline and provide us with a contact number so command members can call and muster.

I'm willing to help if I can...

2005-08-31T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'm all the way in Port St Lucie, FL and all I can do is watch the TV and wonder why more isn't being done for the survivors. I wonder how can I help.

At some moments I just want to get in the truck and drive to the disaster area. Offer those sleeping on the road or anywhere for that matter a ride and an open door to my home. But I know that isn't reality.

If I were asked to open my home to those who lost theirs, I would.

Would you?

What options do we have to help them? Obviously, we can send money, but not everyone has money to send. What's your thoughts or opinions or ideas?

Photos from Fox News.com