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Repost from talkback forum: I am looking for a way to DIRECTLY help victims of this monster. I have been very fortunate lately and would like to do something substantial , like buy 4 of 5 generators and take them to the affected area (with gas of course). The reason I want to help directly is because my neighborhood was destroyed by Charlie (Osteen, FL) and there was no assistance from ANYONE, save the Red Cross who showed up with sandwiches 5 days later. I understand that a bunch of people with no skills going to the affected area would do more harm than good. I understand you can donate to various orgs. and I probably will. But, I would like to SEE my help benefit a real family. If mods think it is more appropriate, please PM me with ideas. There will be a PAYPAL donation to this site immediately after this post, because this site helped IMMENSELY with the psychological aftermaths of the storm for me. Maybe we could have a forum to discuss ways to help? Thanks, GLT -- Donations are always welcomed so we can maintain our costs! The Disaster Forum Thread is available for you to post your availability to help. Thanks! Edited by RedingtonBeachGuy (Sun Aug 28 2005 08:29 AM |
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you should contact your local Red Cross Chapter. Already hundreds of red Cross volunteers from around the country are deployed or staging to provide relief and recovery assets to the impacted area. I expect to be heading to the area with teams from my chapter (North Treasure Coast FL) where i am the Disaster Services Chair (volunteer). We'll even train you. The immediate recovery effort will take months, real recovery will take years. just leave me a message if you need some directions to deal with the red cross..... |
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Sheeper: I have several small boats to choose from and access to adequate gear to assist in post-storm marine pickups and evacuation or other work. Tomorrow I will put together an 18-foot flat-bottom rig with a 40-horse outboard and will start loading a good package of survival and rescue gear for 2 men for 7 days including gas, water, food.. If you will email me directly I am interested in making contact with a competent field officer in the disaster area, either RC or another local agency. I also need any details about licensing, liability coverage and similar issues that you may have. Thank you. Best Regards. Good Luck and God Bless, Michael Allen, Pensacola, FL, finwin@bellsouth.net |
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Red Cross website here http://www.redcross.org/ |
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FEMA listed the following agencies as needing cash to assist hurricane victims: · American Red Cross, 800-HELP-NOW (435-7669) English, 800-257-7575 Spanish. · America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070. · Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171. · Catholic Charities USA, 800-919-9338. · Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554. · Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818. · Church World Service, 800-297-1516. · Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998. · Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522. · Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210. · Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886. · Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348. · Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283. · Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769). · Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, Ext. 6440. · United Methodist Committee on Relief, 800-554-8583. |
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Here is a bunch of info I picked up out on the net. Great reference info for those wanting to help. I moved to Florida 3 yrs. ago and my 2nd year here, I went through 4 hurricanes all in the same year. I am now an expert in the "5 minute evacution". I have one closet in my home full of pre-packed clear see through Rubbernaid containers. I can have them in my van and be out of the driveway in 5 minutes flat. The hardest thing, by far, is WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! The anxiety of wondering if you have anything to come home to is horrendous, the unknown, the worries, etc...it's just horrible. I remember hearing I could go home and wandering down the flooded street, driving through the branch laden streets, and being terrified to turn the last corner. I thought I just couldn't bear to see my corner lot without my home. I almost couldn't breathe - my little dog sitting on my lap as I made that turn. It was agonizing and when I saw my modest little place still standing, lots of down trees, I just can't tell you how thankful I was and continue to be. Thank goodness, I made it through, but I will NEVER be the same. This has changed me and given me a whole new appreciation of what is important in life. Hope this information helps someone who wonders how to help or who to call. Even your kindest word or prayer is appreciated by those caught in this landscape of pain and misery. FOUND this INFO: The American Red Cross is taking donations to help the thousands of victims at http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html. Following is a list of other Web sites offering disaster relief information: ================================================== Federal Emergency Management Agency Phone: 1-800-621-FEMA http://www.fema.gov/ Louisiana Homeland Security http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/ City of New Orleans http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx Louisiana Governor's Office http://www.gov.state.la.us/ Catholic Charities Phone: 1-800-919-9338 http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/ FEMA Charity tips http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster http://www.nvoad.org/ Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals http://www.la-spca.org/ National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Ande Miller, Executive Director Email: amiller@nvoad.org Phone: 703-339-5596 Local Red Cross contacts — American Red Cross - Southeast Louisiana Chapter: 2640 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70119 Phone: (504) 620-3105 or (800) 229-8191 Fax: (504) 827-2135 http://www.arcno.org/?id=5&sub=3 Regional Service Centers — NORTHSHORE REGION: Regional Office 619 N. Tyler, Suite D Covington, LA 70433 Phone: (985) 892-4317 Boothville, LA: Phone: (985) 534-7449 Slidell, LA: Phone: (985) 643-5608 Hammond, LA: Phone: (985) 542-3469 Bogalusa, LA: Phone: (985) 732-4227 BAYOU PARISHES REGION: Regional Office 1231 Canal Blvd. Thibodaux, LA 70302 Phone: (985) 447-3229 (Mail to: P.O. Box 102, Thibodaux, LA 70302) Houma, LA: Phone: (985) 872-6584 RIVER PARISHES REGION: 107 Maryland Dr., Suite D and E Luling, LA 70070 Phone: (985) 785-0647 LaPlace, LA Phone: (985) 652-9963 American Red Cross - Northwest Louisiana Chapter 4221 Linwood Avenue Shreveport, LA 71108 Phone: (318) 865-9545 Fax: (318) 868-4111 Email: redcross@louisianaredcross.org http://www.louisianaredcross.org Red Cross Disaster Assistance info: (866) GET-INFO (866-438-4636) http://www.redcross.org/contactus/ FEMA Regional Offices — http://www.fema.gov/regions/ FEMA Region IV (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) 3003 Chamblee-Tucker Rd. Atlanta, GA 30341 Phone: (770) 220-5200 FEMA Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas) Federal Regional Center 800 N. Loop 288 Denton, Texas 76209 Phone: (940) 898-5399 State Emergency Organizations: FEMA State Emergency Contact — http://www.fema.gov/fema/statedr.shtm Alabama Department of Public Safety Phone: (334) 242-4445 Website: http://www.dps.state.al.us Alabama Emergency Management Agency 5898 County Road 41 P.O. Drawer 2160 Clanton, Alabama 35046-2160 Phone: 205-280-2200 Fax: 205-280-2495 Website: http://www.ema.alabama.gov Florida Division of Emergency Management 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd. Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100 Phone: 850-413-9900 Email: florida.disaster@dca.state.fl.us Website: http://www.floridadisaster.org Florida Emergency Preparedness Association Phone: 850-906-0779 Fax: 850-893-1845 Email: fepa@fepa.org Website: http://www.fepa.org Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Phone: 225-925-7500 Fax: 225-925-7501 Website: http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness 7667 Independence Blvd. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 Phone: (225) 925-7500 Fax: (225) 925-7501 http://www.loep.state.la.us Mississippi Emergency Management Agency P.O. Box 4501 - Fondren Station Jackson, Mississippi 39296-4501 Phone: (601) 352-9100 Toll Free Phone: (800) 442-6362 Fax: (601) 352-8314 http://www.mema.state.ms.us http://www.msema.org/mitigate/mssaferoominit.htm Georgia Emergency Management Agency P.O. Box 18055 Atlanta, Georgia 30316-0055 Phone: (404) 635-7000 Fax: (404) 635-7205 http://www.State.Ga.US/GEMA/ |
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This is in regards to the getleman who didn't receive assitance during Charlie. I'm from Bay County Florida and I know our county raised, with the help of our local tv & radio stations, over $100,000.00 and sent 2 semi trailers full of cleaning supplies and other donated items to the disaster areas. I am sorry if you didn't receive assistance but you should report it, for the simple fact of making sure that the disaster funds go to the areas and people that need them. It's great what you're wanting to do and I hope that everyone can just give a little of themselves as you are wanting to do. Our county is now in the process of doing the same thing for LA, MS and AL to help them in their time of need. Let's all keep praying first and for most and donated what we can. Our people need us. Thanks dl |
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Thanks for this list. We have created a page to help folks understand the scale of this disaster. Click here: Exactly how big is 90,000 square miles? |
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My husband's family is from Biloxi so we decided to assist others while taking them some supplies. His sister lost her home and everything in it and his parents have roof damage. We wanted to make sure our donations went directly to those with real needs. We, along with some neighbors took up donations and made about 50 care boxes with enough supplies for a family of 4 to survive for a week. We also made up about 20 baby kits with diapers, formula and other items that a baby would need. I made up about 50 dog and cat kits too. He will be tarping roofs in a neighborhood that is made up of eldery people (70+) since they can't take care of this themselves. Also, he took a chainsaw to help them out. I made elderly care packages that will meet their specific needs. These people really need help since they can't get out and wait in line for relief items and these agencys are not coming into the neighborhoods to deliver. My husband will take the care packages into the devastated areas where familys are living on their property under tarps and trees. Luckily his company is supportive of this and have allowed him off with pay to help out in MS. We will be making another trip next weekend and will be gathering supplies this week. We own a large suv and trailor so this next time we will take more generators with full cans of gas. Our neighbors in Lutz FL have been wonderful in helping us with all of this. We might even "adopt" some families and take supplies back for their specific needs. I will keep the board updated with our relief efforts and hopefully will have a website with pictures posted within a week or so. Good luck to everyone and if you have family in Biloxi that we might could check on for you....please let me know and we will try to help. Also....keep my husband in your thoughts and prayers as he travels from Tampa to Biloxi and back.....hopefully he will be able to find fuel and he will be safe from the "looters" since he has such a load. ....Debbie in Lutz email me at: debbie@rosetti.biz |
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I work for a company with 250+ employees in the Ocala, Florida area. Would like to hold a "drive" to get the employees to donate goods that could go to the Hurricane Katrina victims. I'm sure I could get a truck load of items such as personal items, baby goods, children's toys, clothes, pet foods etc. Does anyone know of any Central or North Central Florida agencies that are collecting goods to be sent up to the Gulf States? Any suggestions, please email me: mimi@sullivanautomotivegroup.com |
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Honestly, stuff is less desireable than cash. Donate to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way. Cash does not need to be transported, warehoused, unloaded and it has no expiration date. Plus when the Red Cross buys 10,000 cans of beans (or whatever) they get a far better price than we get buying 1 or 10! I'm being deployed to MS sometime next week and i'd prefer not unloading/warehousing yet another truckload of stuf! |
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Does anyone know if ins companies will cover alot of those in the areas that were affected by the flooding due to the levys? I cannot imagine anyone rebuilding in that area until they are repaired to withstand another 4 or 5 cane. I mean when you think about it (god forbid) but it is very possible another storm could roll through there again this season..How does that work? does anyone know? |
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A couple of points. Looks like most of the damage in the NO area was caused by flooding which means the homeowners/businesses without federal flood insurance have no way to recoup their losses. Even if homes are rebuilt to sustain a CAT 5 hurricane, unless the levee system is repaired and upgraded to take a catastrophic hit, the area will flood again with similar destruction of property. The costs to construct adequate protection are staggering and it'll take a good deal of time to do so. Remains to be seen whether the system is simply repaired or the local, state, and federal governments will make the financial commitment for the upgrade. |
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http://www.wearefine.org Great place to leave a message for a loved one by the WEB or using a cell phone. http://www.wearefine.org/whosfine.asp Lookup by Country or name |
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This may have been posted here somewhere prior but just in case I wanted to put it out there... ICE... (in case of emergency)... in short put a phone # in your cell phone contacts listed as ICE (who you want us to call in case of an emergency)... this way when EMS, police, fire etc locate you and you cannot respond we then look for your cell phone and hopefully a contact for ICE... |