Hey, animals are people too. Well, no, actually, but they can be friends, even best friends, and in a time of crisis they deserve our attention too. Thousands of animals were left behind when their humans evacuated. Best Friends Animal Society is doing its best to coordinate the efforts of various animal rescue groups, and serve as a clearinghouse for information, news, funds, and a little reassurance.
Petfinder.com is offering similar services, including a messageboard.
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Though dozens throughout the Gulf Coast may have been destroyed by Katrina and its aftermath, the first two book store casualties have been confirmed, according to Publisher's Weekly.
Bookends Bookstore in Bay St. Louis, Miss., and Pass Christian Books in Pass Christian, Miss "were completely flattened," said Wanda Jewell, executive director of the Southeast Bookseller's Association. "I'm told that there's not even debris around. The place where both bookstores used to be now looks as if nothing were ever there."
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Broadcast industry software provider Marketron announced today that it will provide free recovery services to radio and television stations hit by Hurricane Katrina. Marketron's "Project Recovery" will help stations get their sales, traffic and billing operations functional and provide hosting services while stations rebuild.
"People rely on radio and television during a crisis, and broadcasters are well known for pulling out all stops to help their local communities in times of need. Marketron wants to do its part to help our Radio and TV colleagues in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama get back up and running as soon as possible," said Mike Jackson, CEO of Marketron International. "Marketron's hosting platform enables us to provide stations with a working Sales and Traffic system very quickly."
Station personnel will be able to work from any computer with an Internet connection.
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Similarly, Tugboat Enterprises, maker of data rescue product Lifeboat, is offering complimentary Lifeboat Data Rescue programs and technical support for the program to individuals and companies whose computers were hit by Hurricane Katrina. Operation Data Recovery — which runs from August 30, 2005 until Friday, September 16th at 6 p.m. ET — is valid for anyone living in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee or South Carolina.
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Chrysler Financial, Chrysler's financing arm, will offer customers in affected areas of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi special assistance, including "Special Circumstance" extensions and payment deferrals of up to 90 days.
Article comments
1 - Nancy
Thanks for posting this. People will always have someone worrying about them, but most people view animals as expendible.
2 - Eric Olsen
you're welcome Nancy, and thank you
3 - Eric Berlin
Great stories about a horrific tragedy.
And a fantastic header if I've ever seen one.
4 - Eric Olsen
thanks EB
5 - Bob A. Booey
Get a room, funboys :)
Just kidding. This was good stuff.
It's too bad almost none of the people who are affected down South will get to read this anytime soon due to lack of electricity or housing, much less Internet access. Many of the evacuated are sleeping in the basements of community centers in Mississippi and Texas or even on the turf at the Astrodome in Houston. Those who found hotel rooms in Florida are now being evicted due to college football partygoers, which is a real shame. The latest stories indicate that New Orleans may remain a ghost town for months while they try to drain water out of the city, which due to its sunken level has become like a bowl filled with water almost to the brim, and try to rebuild electrical grids and sanitation.
Voodoo Music Festival is off for Halloween, I'd imagine :) I was thinking of going to that too. Oh well.
If New Orleans is back and kicking for Mardi Gras, I may go this year just to support the economy down there.
That is all.
6 - Eric Olsen
thanks BAB, you're right about those who needit most, of course. And that's a damn good idea about Mardi Gras, although that may be wishful thinking on our part.
7 - copygodd
EARS (the Emergency Animal Rescue Service) has mobilized and is sending volunteers to help with the animals.
If you're interested in reading more about it, I've written a post back at the stem. If you'd rather just make a donation, here's a link for that.