Katrina relief efforts underway
By R. Neal
Some reports on relief efforts:
(Click on the "there's more" link below for the rest of the article...)
American Red Cross: The American Red Cross is mounting the largest relief effort in its history. More than 200 emergency response vehicles (ERVs) and countless other Red Cross resources are en route or on the scene to provide hot meals, snacks, bottled water and distribute other much-needed relief supplies. In coordination with the Southern Baptists, preparations have been made to provide more than 500,000 hot meals to storm-weary residents each day.
Salvation Army: Salvation Army Divisional Commander Major Dalton Cunningham in Jackson Mississippi says 200 workers of the Salvation Army's Incident Management Teams will be moving in 72 canteens that can feed 400,000 people a day and two 54-foot mobile kitchens that can feed an additional 20,000 people a day.
KATV News Little Rock: Both the Arkansas Red Cross and the National Guard are sending resources to help thousands of Katrina refugees in bordering cities. 90 to 100 Red Cross trucks will fill the parking lot Monday night. Some 2,000 Red Cross volunteers will depart Tuesday to help in the relief effort. The Arkansas National Guard is also sending Med Evac Helicopters for search and rescue and a few hundred combat engineers.
WRAL News Raleigh: North Carolina's Progress Energy is sending 500 workers to help restore power.
WLOX News Biloxi: 45 Georgia Power linemen from across South Georgia gathered in Albany Monday morning, getting ready to head toward affected parts of Mississippi. They were told to prepare to stay in the Hurricane zone at least two weeks.
News 14 Charlotte: Duke Power is sending up to 250 workers to the Gulf Coast to help restore power. Duke Power representatives say crews from the Gulf Coast states have provided relief to the Carolinas in the past, so now it is their turn to repay the favor.
Sheveport Times: The Krewe of Barkus & Meoux, along with the Humane Society and several local veterinarians organized a tent to shelter animals of those evacuees being housed at the American Red Cross shelter in the LSUS Health and Physical Education Building. "This is the first time we've had an animal shelter available to us," said Michelle Davidson with the northwest Louisiana chapter of the Red Cross. And that's a relief for both Davidson and the people she and Red Cross volunteers want to help." That is often an obstacle for people to overcome when it comes to getting them to evacuate," she said. "Unfortunately, we can't accept animals (in Red Cross shelters)."
Noah's Wish Noah's Wish and other national and local animal welfare organizations will be in the affected areas to offer services for those animals that have been impacted by the disaster. [ed. note: Noah's Wish provides disaster relief for animals and pets and their owners, helps organize and train local animal welfare organizations and government agencies for disaster relief.]
It appears this will be one of the largest relief efforts in U.S. history. Consider helping out any way you can.
