I have been receiving many calls from area residents over the past two days about how they can help with the relief of Hurricane Katrina. This is the subject of this Sheltrown Notes Special Update. These special updates are rare, but this has been an extraordinary week.
The best way you can help with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort is to donate cash. People often feel that a cash donation is not enough or that they are not sure what their money is being used for. However, cash donations are far more helpful to getting assistance quickly to the folks who need it than food collections, clothing collections, etc. which take time to be shipped and require the use of gasoline which is already in short supply and at elevated prices. Those people with special skills (doctors, nurses, EMTs, etc.) who wish to volunteer their services to the relief effort in the affected states are urged to call the Michigan Emergency Operations Center at 1-888-535-6136.
When offering a donation to help in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, you will want to make sure your money is going to a reputable organization. The American Red Cross is leading the relief effort but its staff is overwhelmed and its telephone lines are often busy. If you do call the American Red Cross or any relief organization, please keep your conversations very short. All major religions have national relief organizations that are providing relief for hurricane victims, and if you are a member of a church, I recommend a donation to your denomination's fund. Other non-religious organizations exist as well. I suggest visiting www.networkforgood.org or www.fema.gov for information on making donations. I do not recommend making a donation to an organization that solicited you for money unless you are already very familiar with the work it does.
The Hurricane Katrina relief effort is composed of the evacuation of City of New Orleans, surrounding parishes, and parts of Alabama and Mississippi. The evacuation of New Orleans has been hampered by a slow federal response, armed gangs, desperate people, and those who refuse to leave their homes and city. Governor Granholm has ordered the Michigan National Guard into New Orleans to help with the evacuation. Approximately 80% of the city's residents have now been safely evacuated to shelters such as churches, schools, hotels, motels, and sports stadiums where relief agencies can provide assistance. While the media is focusing on the anarchy in New Orleans due to the human drama there, the great bulk of the relief work is being done at locations outside of the affected areas and in other southern states. It is this relief work that depends on our cash donations in order to purchase food, water, and other items for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.