I spent 8 hours today at a relief donation site in one small city in California, and saw again the real face of humanity. People are stepping up to help, in whatever way they can. Politics were set aside—I didn't hear one word in 8 hours about White House, FEMA, or the Corps of Engineers. What I did hear was humbling: Over and over, people asked the same simple question, "How can I help?"
Teenage girls came by to donate their babysitting money, and stayed to help sort donations. Elderly women walked over from an assisted living facility nearby, and began labeling boxes in clear, school-teacherly text. Two boys zipped up on bicycles, and stayed to cart boxes up into the trailer. A mother brought her three adolescents to help, and they bagged up thousands of personal-relief gifts (toothpaste, toothbrush, comb and brush, individual sizes of hand lotion, mouthwash and shampoo).
On the blogs, people have also been stepping up. Blog-hub maven The Truth Laid Bear rallied the troops in that corner of the blogosphere with a massive fund drive for the Red Cross. N.Z. Bear and his blog-buddies are tracking relief organizations (from Insta-pundit, and providing a central place to find news of survivors (67071 records so far on GulfCoastNews), or launch a search for the missing.
Richard was last known to be at a high rise down town. I haven not heard from him since last Sunday. If you have any information, PLEASE let me know. Thankyou so very much. (He has made contact with his family.)Carline B. in the early 80 were you and your family station in japan. My mom beckie p. has been worried. please email susan b. (Still no news on Caroline B.)
Last seen at BAY ST. LOUIS, MS High School - we need to know if she's still there. Please contact 727... (FOUND at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport!)
News from New Orleans itself can be found at NOLA.com.
Saturday, Sept. 10—Sheriff Harry Lee said Saturday night that the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s office had processed 152 bodies, but only 20 of those were deaths related to Hurricane Katrina... He also said that body count does not include bodies that may have been taken to the morgue in St. Gabriel...
Article comments
1 - John Bil
Excellent as usual Dr Pat.
2 - DrPat
The ironic thing about the weekend relief drive I worked at is that the Rogers Creek Fault runs right under the parking lot.
This fault is considered the most likely epicenter for "The Big One" here in Northern California, more likely than the Hayward or San Andreas faults to cause a massive earthquake disaster. The Rogers Creek fault has been "locked" for more than 150 years.
Despite that, the 1906 Great Quake, storied as the San Francisco disaster, actually did more damage per building in Santa Rosa, the county seat of Sonoma County.
3 - Left Brain Female
Thanks for the link! Great Roundup - I'll bookmark your site!
4 - wbeardsley
Although I am in the US,I am not in the hurricane area .However I welcome the opportunity to thank those people here and especially those around the world .Its not often that we see those outside our borders helping us and it truly does touch my heart deeply knowing so many worldwide were there to help our people when we needed you .As one of the little people not the gov.I welcome the opportunity to express my extreme gratitude.
wbeardsley
USA
5 - emma townsend
i would like to add my thanks to all and even though i am not in the usa but the uk. Things like this impact on all creeds and colours and religions. Too see stories like this comming out it brings hope for us all and humanity as a whole. To all volenteers and any people in the world involved in aid work anywhere my thanks and good wishes.
emma townsend (uk)
6 - John-Paul Micek
Thanks for the mention Dr. Pat. We are thrilled to have been able to help so quickly by encouraging our business coaching clients to give and through our own donations -- all from 5000 miles away in Hawaii.
Keep up the terrific work!
7 - DrPat
That's the wonderful thing about this medium -- even though it makes it easy to gripe and whine, it makes it even easier to reach out and help.
8 - Rosemary
Wonderful job you are doing here! Thank you for including our little blog in your overall collection. (Love America First)
I have an Iranian and an Afghani who also write participe in the writing. They are truly wonderful people. I am very glad for the internet and blogs! Have a very nice day, and keep up the good work.
9 - Search Guy
CrisisSearch has many relief links and recovery sites listed. CrisisSearch is a search engine for disaster type websites, from charitable organizations to government programs... If you know of a good helpful site that is not listed, please submit it for approval!
10 - John J. McCall
Hello everyone,
Just to let you know, my song, Who Are We (Anyway), is now available for download at www.hurricanereliefsong.com, and there is a sample that will play when the page opens. The total length of the actual song is 5:25 and the new and improved version, has some hurricane sirens going off in the background in the beginning of the song to bring relevance of the story behind it. I have just signed the contract with the American Red Cross for cause-related relief efforts available to view on the site as well. You can also view the Press Release from a link their as well.
I commend everyone trying to put forth the effort to help the people in need of relief in the effected areas. It is very sad that even in the wake of events, certain people have to cut a person down for helping with their efforts. I have read some posts, ripping on Michael Jackson for helping, due to what has been going on with his recent events. Whether or not Jackson did what he did, does not make him a bad person for helping out with relief efforts… right? I do have my opinion about MJ and I do have 4 children, but I will choose not to speak it or “lash out” at him for helping with a cause like this.
I hope and pray all of you never have to go through such a catastrophic event and if you have...wow! If you've ever lost anyone to such a tragedy, my heart goes out to you and your family’s both involved and worried! Just be thankful that you still have your life and a breath to breath, seeing it on a cold day should remind us all of it's creator and just how short and precious life can be. We have never had control of our lives…some of us just have to except that, as hard as it may be, it’s true.
God bless you all and thank you for all your support. Please let everyone you know where they can download their copy of “Who Are We (Anyway) to help with the relief efforts of our country’s worst super catastrophic events…ever.
I need all the help I can get with this project! If you have any media contacts or know anyone willing to help, please pass this information on to them. I thank you in advance for all your support. After all, it’s only us who can really make it happen for the children and families in the gulf region still suffering. Thank you for caring…
Sincerely,
John J. McCall
www.hurricanereliefsong.com