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WEB SITES  Journal photographer Josh Stephenson photo slide show from Hurricane Katrina.
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Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Mother of All Relief Efforts Comes Now
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JOURNAL EDITORIAL: The mother of all storms battered Louisiana and Mississippi gulf coast cities Monday, leaving a wake of destruction that defies comprehension.
"Our tsunami" is how Biloxi's mayor referred to Hurricane Katrina, which slammed the town with a 30-foot wall of water that claimed 30 lives at one beachfront complex alone.
In New Orleans, rescue boats were steering past the floating corpses to search for survivors driven to attics or roofs by the rising water. "We're not even dealing with dead bodies. They're just pushing them on the side," Mayor Ray Nagin said.
New Orleans was hit with a one-two punch. After the 145-mph winds and the storm surge swept through, failed levees fueled rising waters in a city built largely below sea level. Power outages have idled the pumps that kept the city dry. Water main breaks mean there is little drinkable water in a drowning city.
Thousands were huddled in the Superdome late Tuesday, in sweltering heat with little water. Looters waded through flooded streets, and there were reports of riots by prisoners. Louisiana's governor contemplated mass evacuation of survivors. There have been estimates that as many as a million hurricane refugees will require shelter and food.
As the waters are eventually pumped back to the ocean and the grief recedes to a dull ache, the mother of all relief efforts for "our tsunami" will commence.
The charitable agencies that play a huge role helping disaster victims will be overwhelmed by Katrina's legacy without some help themselves.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, agencies that need an infusion of cash to address the needs of Katrina's victims include: American Red Cross, (800) 435-7669 in English, (800) 257-7575, Spanish; Operation Blessing, (800) 436-6348; America's Second Harvest, (800) 344-8070; Adventist Community Services, (800) 381-7171; Catholic Charities USA, (703) 549-1390; Christian Disaster Response, (941) 956-5183; 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.