In the Wake of Katrina

It's been a week now, and the images coming out of the south in the wake of Katrina only get uglier with each passing day. Sure, there are the incredible survival stories, the gut-wrenching tales told over and over again in the news -- but the devastation is unfathomable. Thousands have been affected along the gulf coast, from New Orleans eastward, and have been evacuated out of the area. Texas has filled several stadiums/arenas with hurricane refugees, and more have been sent to Arizona and other states. Some may even be coming as far north as Wisconsin, as communities across the country try to absorb those displaced by Katrina.

I've been trying not to watch too much of the media coverage, the images too much to stand. It's not that I don't care, but at some point you have to turn it off or go crazy. My sister's husband and some of his coworkers took truckloads of supplies from Birmingham to Hammond, LA the day after Katrina struck. Hammond fared far better than other southern communities, with some flooding and minor power outages. The elctricity was restored within days, but with no access to media coverage, my BIL was calling home several times a day to ask my sister for updates. After two straight days of watching nearly non-stop coverage, she awoke from a dream: water was filling their apartment and she was trying to hold the baby above it. She woke to find herself holding one of the cats, above her head. Lucy was not amused and the television was immediately turned off.

Sadly, there are always those who will prey on the victims of any catastrophe, as well as those wanting to help. Our local news channels and papers urge us daily to help as much as we can, but also remind us to only give to ligitimate charities, particularly the "big three": American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and The United Way. Habitat for Humanity has also been mentioned, as they will be instrumental in the rebuilding of many of the communities hit by Katrina, as they have been in areas hit by the Tsunami.

One of my fellow Divas, Lynn Daniels, has posted a more comprehensive list of different organizations aiding in the relief and recovery efforts. I invite you to visit her site for more information: You can Help .

And if you're wondering about favorite writers or author friends, Vicki Hinze has posted a "check in" page for those who have been heard from, and those they're still awaiting news of: Hurricane Check In.