One way to help the storm victims

[Lucy]

Hi all,

One of the things that some people have done to help storm victims if they are able has been to pre-pay their motel bill.

After we got home from Mom's doc appt this afternoon, we stopped at a restaurant where we can get gf Tx-Mex, and as we were leaving, I heard this lady mention something to a man who was with her that she didn't guess she'd have a house when she got home. We were almost out the door when I heard this, but it occurred to me later, that I could've picked up their food bill if I'd known that before I'd paid ours. Mom was so tired by then, that I really needed to get her home at that point.

Later,I so wanted to get out and look for refugees who looked needy who're all over Houston now. Pretty easy to pick them out due to their attire and accents, plus that weary, forlorn (sp) look on their faces, not to mention their license plates.

Another idea I had was to pick up the tab for someone's gasoline who looked short of funds.

Just thought I'd pass this along, just in case any of you happen to see refugees in your locales. We've heard so many people from La. express their unbelief at how helpful the people in Texas have been to their neighbors to the east. New Orleans is typically about a six hour drive from here (would take me longer), but the evacuees Sunday said it had taken them 13 hours.

Many of the sporting venues here have offered free admission to anyone with an La. driver's license. Also, the children's museum and other things like that have been opened to them, not to mention many discounts that businesses are offering. You can see how this has been uplifting to them by the looks on their faces -- it gives them hope.

This relief effort will take more time, money, materials, and manpower than anything we have previously experienced, so please consider any ways that you can think of to help, especially ones that might fill in gaps that agencies might not be able to do. Any organizations you belong to or even whole communities might be able to come up with things that could be done for the people devasted by this event. Any of you have any ideas come to mind as you read this?

Yours, Luce

[Mars]

Luce, I think those are wonderful ideas. I am at a loss for words to describe how I feel about these people. Life will never be the same for them, that's for sure.

There are two men in my office who have family in New Orleans. One's family lives in downtown area and the other has family who live near where the levee's are breaking. Neither have been able to locate their family since late Sunday night or very early Monday morning.

I have never been to New Orleans and so wanted to go. Only time will tell if I will ever get to see it now. I do know that it will not be the same as it was prior to Monday morning.

[Polly]

I have been watching the 24/7 hurricane coverage for days now on MS-NBC and feel numb. I just can't get my mind around this disaster. It is so horrible......yesterday I was close to tears everytime I thought about what is going on. Great idea, Luce about prepaying. I have even done that for no reason (like prepaying the toll for the car behind you), and I usually buy food for a panhandler rather than give money. Of course, we probably won't have many refugees here in MD. I suppose I will donate some $$$ to the Red Cross and maybe to the charity Sally mentioned.

Love,

Polly

P.S. Interesting thought about that empty highway. I was thinking that it would not make sense to rebuild a city that is 6-8 feet below sea level and must rely on levees and pumps to exist. Especially with the rising oceans predicted for the coming years.

[MaggieRedwings]

Hi Luce,

Excellent ideas as to how to help and I wish I was closer so I could help in that way. I have heard of people with a spare room in their homes as far away as Virginia offering it to victims for as long as they need. I have organized a Red Cross donation drive here at work and also for our customers to also contribute and have individually sent them a contribution. I wish I was retired so I could volunteer some time there to just help in any way possible - heck, I am a great cook for very large crowds and would love to do just that or even clean whatever houses that survived.

I feel useless here.

Maggie

[Joyce]

Great ideas Luce. Living here in California the best I could do is donate to the Red Cross.

I heard this morning on my way to work that the whole city of New Orleans is being evacuated. And instead of cars being on the highway it was just full of people walking. I feel so bad for all those people. Where are they going and what are they going to do.

I was in New Orleans in May. To think I was there just 3 months ago and now it's pretty much all gone. And I think about the few people I met there and what has happened to them now.

Joyce