ricki
09-11-2005, 10:03 AM
The waters are receding in most areas revealing incredible devastation following the passage of Hurricane Katrina. A massive quantity of buildings, homes have been shredded from the landscape and fragments washed inland while other areas have been complete flooded out in portions of three Gulf States, Louisiana, Missippi and Alabama. There is no power in large portions of these states, no potable water, no food, no communications, ready assistance and in many cases no way to even move without a boat. It is a dire, developing situation.
http://a1022.g.akamai.net/f/1022/8165/5m/images.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2005-08/19220892.jpg
It is unusual to have ANY buildings still standing and not blasted into fragments in some areas unlike what is shown above.
Waters are currently rising in New Orleans given serious breaches in the dikes around the city. It may rise to 15 to 20 feet above surface grade in large areas of New Orleans in a fairly short time. Severe flood damage is to come to this major city even to areas that were spared flood/storm surge impact before now. This is the first major city in the USA to have a manditory evacuation of all people in 140 years. These people may not be able to return for many weeks perhaps longer. In many cases there may be nothing standing to return to. An estimate of ONE MILLION PEOPLE HOMELESS as a result of this natural disaster has been given by the governor of Louisiana. The toll of lost souls is rising. People are trapped inside homes by water in attics and are invisible to rescuers for all practical purposes while water continues to rise. Current priorities focus on securing the lives and safety of survivors.
http://a1022.g.akamai.net/f/1022/8165/5m/images.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2005-08/19220932.jpg
Help is going to be needed not only now in the immediate response after this horrific storm but also into the future. Our help, no matter how small will make a difference.
*** H O W T O H E L P ***
In time there will no doubt be hundreds of organizations devoted to relief. For now there is the American Red Cross who has mobilized to the area ACCEPTING DONATIONS ONLINE AT:
https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp
and the UNITED WAY ACCEPTING DONATIONS ONLINE AT:
https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/hurricane-katrina/donate/
and the SALVATION ARMY IS ACCEPTING DONATIONS ONLINE AT:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf/vw-sublinks/85256DDC007274DF80256B80003C388B?openDocument
all three organizations list information for mailing in checks on their websites along with other ways to help.
Blood donations are also being requested. Substantial loss of supplies have obviously occurred in areas directly hit and demand is likely to be high for a while. Local blood drives will likely start in many areas. One such drive is described at:
http://www.floridasbloodcenters.org/PressReleases.html
The https://www.redcross.org/ will also no doubt coordinate other blood drives.
Images of the damage appear on most news services including:
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/ts/080304tropicalweathe;_ylt=AkMDFJlE.EmE58PxJ9t.fNOs 0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTBidXVxMjQyBHNlYwNhbHNvLXlu
A shocking video of aerial coverage of some of the damage at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
Vaguelyswami appears to have captured some video images that show the horrific extent of thedestruction at:
http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2319509
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.wlox.com
http://www.nola.com/hurricane/photos/
http://today.reuters.com/news/default.aspx
http://media.bonnint.net/slc/0/29/2922.jpg
Coastal portions of three states may resemble the scene shown above.
You help is needed and would be very much appreciated.
http://a1022.g.akamai.net/f/1022/8165/5m/images.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2005-08/19220892.jpg
It is unusual to have ANY buildings still standing and not blasted into fragments in some areas unlike what is shown above.
Waters are currently rising in New Orleans given serious breaches in the dikes around the city. It may rise to 15 to 20 feet above surface grade in large areas of New Orleans in a fairly short time. Severe flood damage is to come to this major city even to areas that were spared flood/storm surge impact before now. This is the first major city in the USA to have a manditory evacuation of all people in 140 years. These people may not be able to return for many weeks perhaps longer. In many cases there may be nothing standing to return to. An estimate of ONE MILLION PEOPLE HOMELESS as a result of this natural disaster has been given by the governor of Louisiana. The toll of lost souls is rising. People are trapped inside homes by water in attics and are invisible to rescuers for all practical purposes while water continues to rise. Current priorities focus on securing the lives and safety of survivors.
http://a1022.g.akamai.net/f/1022/8165/5m/images.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2005-08/19220932.jpg
Help is going to be needed not only now in the immediate response after this horrific storm but also into the future. Our help, no matter how small will make a difference.
*** H O W T O H E L P ***
In time there will no doubt be hundreds of organizations devoted to relief. For now there is the American Red Cross who has mobilized to the area ACCEPTING DONATIONS ONLINE AT:
https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp
and the UNITED WAY ACCEPTING DONATIONS ONLINE AT:
https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/hurricane-katrina/donate/
and the SALVATION ARMY IS ACCEPTING DONATIONS ONLINE AT:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf/vw-sublinks/85256DDC007274DF80256B80003C388B?openDocument
all three organizations list information for mailing in checks on their websites along with other ways to help.
Blood donations are also being requested. Substantial loss of supplies have obviously occurred in areas directly hit and demand is likely to be high for a while. Local blood drives will likely start in many areas. One such drive is described at:
http://www.floridasbloodcenters.org/PressReleases.html
The https://www.redcross.org/ will also no doubt coordinate other blood drives.
Images of the damage appear on most news services including:
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/ts/080304tropicalweathe;_ylt=AkMDFJlE.EmE58PxJ9t.fNOs 0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTBidXVxMjQyBHNlYwNhbHNvLXlu
A shocking video of aerial coverage of some of the damage at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
Vaguelyswami appears to have captured some video images that show the horrific extent of thedestruction at:
http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2319509
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.wlox.com
http://www.nola.com/hurricane/photos/
http://today.reuters.com/news/default.aspx
http://media.bonnint.net/slc/0/29/2922.jpg
Coastal portions of three states may resemble the scene shown above.
You help is needed and would be very much appreciated.