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Matters are not improving; see below.

Everything I've read agrees that the Red Cross is the best organization to hand money to, and that at the moment money is what they need; it's expensive for them to deal with donations of clothing and canned goods. I've seen some intimation that local groups and charities could use such things eventually, but I don't know much about it.

1-800-HELPNOW (1-800-435-7669). [UPDATE: [livejournal.com profile] dichroic says that it's impossible to get through on the telephone line, so the website should probably be your first choice.] Or go to http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html. They'll take as little as five dollars, and they also have a way to donate your spare change. Our friend John Houghton, who works for them, has pointed out that the Red Cross needs to keep doing its ordinary disaster work as well as this extraordinary work, so donations are even more important. He also says that one's local offices may welcome volunteers to answer phones or stuff envelopes, depending on the situation.

To contribute towards efforts at animal rescue and shelter:

http://www.noahswish.com/

(Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] sartorias for that link.)

Below are the most recent entries from WWLTV in New Orleans. There's a note that the Times-Picayune newspaper staff had to evacuate. They were able to blog the hurricane itself from their building, with a cafeteria serving hot food, but now they have had to leave because of rising water.

I actually burst into tears when I got up on the Monday and saw that New Orleans was still there, but "still there" is not the same as "not in trouble." And the storm hammered Gulfport and Biloxi as hard as it was going to hammer New Orleans.

Please do whatever you can. I've used our miraculously still-existent credit to make a donation. I figure that's a better use for it than the other things I was contemplating.

From http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html


11:58 A.M. - Homeland security chief optimistic that 3,000 pound sandbags can plug 200 foot levee break at 17th Street Canal.

11:55 A.M. - Super Wal-Mart in Kenner open for supplies.

11:54 A.M. - Kenner mayor asking for more National Guard. Asks anyone with the guard to call 468-7200.

11:53 A.M. - Two dead in Slidell in rising waters after attempting to get back to their homes. The victims had initially evacuated.

11:52 A.M. - Entergy reports 1.1 million outages in Mississippi and Louisiana.

11:50 A.M. JP Sheriff asking anyone with a boat to bring it to Sam's Parking lot on Airline and Cleary to help with evacuations.

11:46 A.M. - (AP) The president asked individual Americans to get involved with the relief effort, suggesting anyone who wishes to help could call 1-800-HELPNOW, log on to the Red Cross Web site or get in touch with the Salvation Army.

11:44 A.M. - LSU becoming a major staging area for injured and evacuees. Campus allowing families of students to house with them. Making facilities available as "community responsibility" according to Chancellor Sean O'Keefe.

11:43 A.M. - Councilman Byron Lee of Jefferson Parish, "This is not life as it used to be. It's like a war zone."

11:39 A.M. (AP) - National Guardsmen brought in people from outlying areas to the Superdome in the backs of big 2 1/2-ton Army trucks. Louisiana's wildlife enforcement department also brought people in on the backs of their pickups. Some were wet, some were in wheelchairs, some were holding babies and nothing else.

11:35 A.M. - (AP) Downtown streets that were relatively clear in the hours after the storm were filled with 1 to 1 1/2 feet of water Tuesday morning. Water was knee-deep around the Superdome. Canal Street was literally a canal. Water lapped at the edge of the French Quarter. Clumps of red ants floated in the gasoline-fouled waters downtown.

11:28 A.M. - JP Councilman Chris Roberts: Three rescued from Grand Isle, according to Grand Isle Mayor.

11:26 A.M. - New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper evacuating offices.

11:21 A.M. (AP) - The White House says President Bush is cutting short his vacation to return to Washington to monitor the hurricane recovery efforts.

11:16 A.M. - Gretna Police Chief...some people south of Gretna Blvd. trapped in water in homes, waiting to be rescued, but believed safe. Several looters arrested, chief says about 50. Lots of debris, at least some structural damage in 95 to 98 percent of buildings. Water is off in Gretna due to barge that was hit and dumped diesel into water supply. Plenty of homes with structural damage...a few that have collapsed. As far as police chief knows, No deaths in Gretna, two minor injuries. Chief says looting has been mainly for groceries. Law enforcement given "whatever authority they need" to prevent looting of homes.

11:15 A.M. - Hospitals with no power and rising waters are bringing patients to the Superdome.

11:13 A.M. - Plaquemines Parish...if you are found on the street...will be arrested. Marshall law in effect. 60 percent of homes flooded. 50 people rescued.

11:12 A.M. Governor Blanco, U.S. Senator Vitter - "Do Not come back Now" if you've evacuated.

11:06 A.M. Governor Blanco reports 700 people have been rescued since Monday afternoon, but that many more remain trapped.

11:01 A.M. - Break in 17th Street Canal Levee is now 200 feet wide and slowly flooding the City of New Orleans. Huge sand bags are being airlifted to try to stem the rush of water in that area.

10:53 A.M. - Latest on Northshore from St. Tammany Parish. Click here.

10:42 A.M. - Rising waters continue in N.O. due to failed pumps and breached levees at the 17th Street Canal and the Ninth Ward. Rising waters caused one hospital to evacuate patients to the Louisiana Superdome.

10:39 A.M. - Gretna officials say standing water is preventing them from getting to some people trapped in their homes. - Bill Capo.

10:37 A.M. GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) -- Rescuers in boats and helicopters searched for survivors of Hurricane Katrina and brought victims, wet and bedraggled, to shelters Tuesday as the extent of the damage across the Gulf Coast became ever clearer. The governor said the death toll in one Mississippi county alone could be as high as 80.

10:35 A.M. Governor Blanco - "Worse than our worst fears."

10:33 A.M. People trapped near Jefferson Parish and Orleans are being asked to get a boat and get to the Sam's Club parking lot on Earhart and Airline to meet the National Guard who will take you to the Superdome.

10:15 A.M. A spokeswoman describes Jefferson Parish as a "very dangerous" place. Jackie Bauer says there's gas leaks everywhere, water needs to be boiled, there's no commercial power, no pumping stations and the water's toxic.

And there's still some deep water in some neighborhoods. Bauer says there are other dangers -- snakes in the water, other vermin, loose dogs and cats everywhere. She says -- quoting now -- "We kind of have to fight for survival with them." - Associated Press

10 A.M. WWL-TV crew bugged out from French Quarter studios to transmitter site in Gretna. Trees down and sides of buildings collapsed. Roof shingles on the street are dangerous with nails and one WWL-TV car got a flat tire on the way over. - Dennis Woltering.

9:35 A.M. Marshal Law in effect in Jefferson Parish and Plaquemines Parish. 60 percent of homes in Plaquemines Parish under water.

9:33 A.M. Uptown fared much better than the rest of the city. - Andy Jacobs, Uptown caller.

8:39 A.M. WWL-TV studios are being evacuated as rising water is coming into the station. The French Quarter is taking on water and water is expected to rise in the city for the next few days.


P.

Date: 2005-08-30 06:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] inlaterdays.livejournal.com
thank you for posting the red cross link.

Date: 2005-08-30 07:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] inlaterdays.livejournal.com
i've been mostly-afk for the past couple of days for various reasons, so i caught the early news reports but not much of the follow-up.

Date: 2005-08-30 06:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] skylarker.livejournal.com
Yes; thank you. I donated what little cash I could. I'd be more than willing to donate artwork if there's anyone out there who could/would organize some kind of fund-raising auction. I'm sure I'm not the only one around with more in the way of creative work than cash. Know any people who are good at organizing events? Some of our musicians might go for a benefit concert.

Date: 2005-08-30 07:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] skylarker.livejournal.com
The pieces titled 'Stained Glass Faeries' aren't actually glass - they are prints, available in postcard format (relatively affordable; though I know sometimes even $1.50 can be too much for anything that's not an absolute necessity.) Or maybe you are thinking of something else?

Date: 2005-08-30 06:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kalmn.livejournal.com
*hug*

i get paid on friday, and will send money then.

Date: 2005-08-30 08:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lblanchard.livejournal.com
For some reason, folks who can't remember neighbors' e-mail addresses can remember mine, and I've spent some of the morning putting New Orleans exiles in touch with each other. Thanks for this. I've been watching WWL, too.

Most of my friends live uptown, but they still can't get back. I have one friend, though, who owns a house on the Esplanade -- he's working in Pennsylvania right now. He's a bundle of nerves, understandably so.

Date: 2005-08-30 09:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lblanchard.livejournal.com
I've just put someone from uptown in contact with someone from Metairie.

Date: 2005-08-30 08:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lblanchard.livejournal.com
Bad as that was, there's worse:

3:25 P.M. - With conditions in the hurricane-ravaged city of New Orleans rapidly deteriorating, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Tuesday that people now huddled in the Superdome and other rescue centers need to be evacuated.

"The situation is untenable," Blanco said during a news conference. "It's just heartbreaking."

3:15 P.M. - Charity Hospital is out of commission and they are trying to evacuate patients, but it is hard to get there because rising water is surrounding the hospital. They will try to evacuate the patients to other cities.

3:13 P.M. - Governor Blanco: A lot of people have lost their lives, but we have no numbers because the priority is saving those who are alive so we don't have more casualties.

3:12 P.M. - Senator Vitter: Mayor Nagin's calm and control and command of the facts showed me that we have one of the best leaders in the country right here.

3:12 P.M. - Senator Landrieu - Scenes are similar to what she saw after the Tsunami.

3:11 P.M. - Senator Landrieu: Those who evacuated should be patient and thank God that they are okay because so many still need to get out.

3:09 P.M. - Senator Landrieu: Plenty of people still on rooftops in N.O. East waiting to be rescued. Every boat available is being used to try to save people.

3:07 P.M. - Governor Blanco: We are looking for ways to get people out of the Superdome and out of New Orleans said Governor Blanco as she tried to keep from crying.

Date: 2005-08-30 09:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] raphaela.livejournal.com
We will definitely be donating to the Red Cross. There is another group from here that goes and cooks hot meals for displaced persons, so we'll probably give to them, too. I can't imagine what these people are dealing with, and don't want to either.

Of course, now I'm worried about people with newborns. Hard enough to take care of one when you have power and a roof over your head.

Date: 2005-08-30 09:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dichroic.livejournal.com
Thanks for reminding me. I have gone and donated. I recommend using the website - couldn[t get through on the phone line. On the plus side, that's probably because the line is swamped with other donors.

I am trying hard not to picture life in the Superdome right now, or in the hospitals surrounded by rising water. Or to think how much worse Indonesia after the tsunami must have been. After all, 80% of people is a pretty amazing number to have evacuated.

Date: 2005-08-30 10:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jackiejj.livejournal.com
Thank you for the link, Pamela. I wanted to donate, but not over the phone.

Date: 2005-08-30 10:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angeyja.livejournal.com
Thanks Pamela. I sent in a small donation.

Date: 2005-09-03 01:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angeyja.livejournal.com
It is going to be a long term thing, dearest.. and all of what isn't clear yet.

I don;t rock *hug* or not there.. that bit was just to do something concrete immediately and personaly to feel better and be able to sleep. I am doing other things in other places.

I have said this to a few other people recently. But, what has helped me most personally, at the end of the day was posts like your next one, and when I come home at night I am first with the boy, and then the pack, and then, best, outside touching ground, and tending.

Date: 2005-08-30 11:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] von-krag.livejournal.com
Thank you so much for reaching out to another group with knowledge of how to help. You and Laurel rock!

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