Hurricane Katrina

I have never been in a hurricane, but I can only imagine the devastation, frustration, fright, and fear many of the residents in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama must feel. I'm sure those emotions built up prior to Katrina's landing... but I'm sure they are ten-times escalated. Imagine not being able to return to your home. Imagine it being under water. Imagine not having anything to return to.

In addition to other matters, my friends and I have been talking a lot about how the areas affected by Katrina are disproportionately lived in by black and brown people, and poor. I'm sure there were/are elderly who stayed, or people of the various spiritual beliefs who stayed, trying to protect their things, convinced if it's their time to go... it's their time. We've all seen the pictures and news on the devastation. And the lines just to get shelter in the Louisiana Superdome? Crazy. Packed with people, who either didn't have time, money, or means to get out of town. I heard on the news that there's no air conditioner, the bathrooms are filthy, and that the best and the worst of human kind are basically trapped in the space until they can go back to their neighborhoods.

Watched a bit of the Today Show this morning. Yeah, there's concern over the people returning home, or returning to nothing. Heard a lot of freaking questions about re-building the casinos... saving the million dollar homes on the coast... prosecuting the looters and not tolerating that behavior... always about the money and the rich. Hmmm... I wonder how the rich, and sad, history of black/white relations in the areas will affect who gets helped first and helped the best.

If you know of ways... any services, reputable charities, etc... that we can contribute to, please share. I'm looking and will share what I find. I don't have any friends or family in the affected areas, thank God, but it doesn't mean that I'm not equally concerned about the suffering of others in our human family. (Found some ways to help)
fs