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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts Site News
Very occasionally, something so devastating will occur that I feel the need to take a bit of space here on macosxhints to help drive awareness and perhaps some additional financial support for those affected by the events in question. In the nearly five years I've been running the site, today marks only the third time I've done such a thing (September 11th and the Indian Ocean tsunami were the other two events).

I'm sure by now you've all seen pictures and read the stories of the incredible devastation left in Hurrican Katrina's wake in Louisiania, Mississippi, and other southeastern states. The scale of the tragedy is hard to comprehend, and the effects will be felt for many years to come. Support needs are immediate, and immense in scope: food, water, clothing, shelter ... the basic necessities of life.

So I'm taking this space today to encourage everyone who can do so to make a contribution to support the relief efforts. Every little bit helps, and there are many agencies who will be working to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. To keep some attention on the recovery efforts, I have linked to two of the larger agencies, the Red Cross and AmeriCares, in the top-of-page space normally used for the Pick of the Week. (The Pick will return at a future date, in a slightly revised format.) However, feel free to donate through whichever group you are most comfortable with -- just make sure they are a reputable agency who will route your funds directly to relief efforts. This page at the Network for Good site lists a large number of agencies involved in the relief efforts, if you're not sure how you'd like to contribute.

I have made a donation this morning (via AmeriCares), and hope that if you're financially able to do so, you'll consider doing the same via your agency of choice. Though your individual donation may not seem like much relative to the scale of the disaster, if we all give a little bit, together we can make a dramatic difference in the lives of many, many people.

Your humble host;
-rob.

Note: Check with your employer; they may have a matching gift program for eligible charities; IDG is one such company, and so my contribution has now effectively been doubled.
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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts | 27 comments | Create New Account
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The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: MtnBiker on Sep 01, '05 02:14:57PM

What about the devastation wrought by the fine old USA in Iraq?

I think most of us had already noticed that many were in need in the hurricane zone. This site doesn't seem to be the appropriate place to say what we already know (any more than my opening comment).

I think this is a great site, but I have my causes and concerns beyond this site also. And I am very upset and concerned by the hardships and deaths brought by the storm. This devastation had been predicted,--just imagine if we had spent some of the money and peoples lives we are wasting in Iraq to help prevent the destruction wrought by the hurricane.

---
Hermosa Beach, CA USA



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: CajunLuke on Sep 01, '05 02:50:53PM

If we hadn't been sending so much money to Iraq, the Corps of Engineers would have been able to keep the leevees up and in working order. In 2004, the contractors working on the leevees had to work for free (the USACE will pay them back when they actually get money) to keep the leevees up. As you may know, the leevees sink in the soft soil. Some of the leevees are five feet below where they are suposed to be.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: Felix on Sep 01, '05 06:20:04PM

If this is true that the levees were in such bad shape, I wonder who's going to be judged culpable? I'm seeing estimates now of $75B in insured and uninsured losses.

Secondly, I can't understand why the insurance companies continued to provide coverage without any major premium increases (other than inflation) if this problem of levee deterioration had been documented by credible sources. Apparently the insurance risk-assessment folks weren't doing their job...and now it'll bit them in the behind big time. If they'd refused to continue insurance and/or refused new applications or at least tacked on a significant risk surcharge because of deteriorating levees, the politicians would have been forced by public pressure to appropriate the money to upgrade the levees if that's what should have been done.

But back to Rob's original post, this was enough to get me off the dime and make a contribution through the ARC. There are thousands of folks needing help with bare necessities no matter who is at fault for building a city in a below-sea-level bowl without adequate seawall, levee and pumping capacity to handle a Cat 5 hurricane.




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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: IslandDan on Sep 01, '05 09:58:40PM

Feliox wrote: Secondly, I can't understand why the insurance companies continued to provide coverage without any major premium increases (other than inflation)

Not true, my insurance rates just about doubled this year. I have to have three policies: Homeowners, Windstorm and Flood.

Further, the lack of preparations by the local officials is nothing less than criminal as is the mismanagment/non-management of the post storm help.

Finally, while money and financial donations are a good thing they will not help the current situation. Where is the evacuation, food, medical, police and troops?



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: GlowingApple on Sep 01, '05 03:09:23PM

Keep in mind that while most everyone considers the hurricane in America to be devestating and cause overwhelming harm to our entire nation, not everyone considers "the devastation wrought by the fine old USA in Iraq" to be a harmful decision to Iraq and/or America.

Posting your first sentence is a political and maybe moral opinion. Rob's comment is a statement of truth, and in my opinion a gesture of good faith.

---
Jayson --When Microsoft asks you, "Where do you want to go today?" tell them "Apple."



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: b-baggins on Sep 01, '05 03:38:37PM
What about the devastation wrought by the fine old USA in Iraq?

This statement is proof that some asses walk on two legs.

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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: bjackson on Sep 01, '05 04:55:14PM

This is the most asinine post I have ever had the displeasure of reading on this site.

Post your liberal, misguided and misinformed statements to an appropriate forum, or better yet keep them to yourself.

This was a post to provide support for people put out by a natural disaster, and is not a sounding-board for your political thoughts. Your hijacking of this posting is both misguided and self-centered.

---
Brian Jackson
b.k.jackson@mac.com
http://www.brian-jackson.net



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: david-bo on Sep 03, '05 01:37:02PM

As a non-american, I am just curious about personal resposibility? Haven't these people insurances for their homes? It is not like it property insurances are very expensive (maybe they are in the US?) - I pay something like 15€/months for my home insurance (and 20€/month for my bike insurance! But bikes are stolen a lot) and it covers flooding.

And before you say that people can't afford $12/month for insurance, how many of thses people smoe or drink alcohol and how much does that cost per month?

---
http://www.google.com/search?as_q=%22Authored+by%3A+david-bo%22&num=10&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: pub3abn on Sep 01, '05 02:45:05PM

Thanks, Rob. Despite what Mr Grumpy says, I think it's good to remind people of needs that exist. Even though the news is all over the Internet, sometimes people need some gentle reminders to get their philanthropic side in gear.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: wgscott on Sep 01, '05 02:58:29PM

I really appreciate the fact that Rob is doing this. My only quibble with "Mr. Grumpy" is that the situation is actually far worse than he states, as a consequence diverting not only Army Corps of Engineer funds but also the manpower, as well as nearly half of the National Guard, to Iraq. I will certainly donate to charity, but will remain cognizant of how my thousands of tax dollars have been misappropriated from where they are needed most to an utterly senseless war. It is cheap and easy to blame the messenger, but our anger should be directed elsewhere.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: b-baggins on Sep 01, '05 03:40:48PM

Give it a rest. No one is interested in watching you foam at the mouth.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: Fanglord on Sep 01, '05 04:44:49PM

Wrong again. I *am* interested. Do not think you can speak for anyone but yourself.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: nmerriam on Sep 01, '05 05:14:05PM
Yeah, what kind of crazy mouth foamer would criticize the government for sending away the most critical forces we rely on in times of national disaster? Who could be prescient enough to forsee a big hurricane striking the gulf coast during hurricane season? It's not like we're psychic!

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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: pub3abn on Sep 01, '05 06:15:02PM

Regardless whether the war in Iraq is worthwhile effort or not, your comment is pointless. A nation at war does not keep forces at home to hang around and see if the weather goes bad. It's like New Orleans sinks under water every year. Other war opponents have been saying all along that we don't have enough troops over there. I guess you can't win!



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: crashcane on Sep 01, '05 06:42:56PM

I used to think that the main purpose for the National Guard was to aid in exactly these types of situations, where disasters or riots overwhelm the ability of local police and other support services to deal with keeping the peace.

So let us ask "Where are most active duty members of the Louisiana National Guard?"



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: nmerriam on Sep 01, '05 07:56:18PM
Yeah, it's not like hurricanes happen predictably in the same regions during a specific time period and usually require the state's National Guard to help in the aftermath. oh, wait -- Yes they do!

It's not as if two months ago the National Assoc of Governors complained to the Pentagon that all thier disaster relief people were being pulled away to Iraq -- oh, wait -- Yes they Did!

When the wildfires in Montana happen again this year (as they always do) and the Governor hasn't gotten back his own state's resources that he's already requested (and was denied), what do we tell the people whose houses burn down (and potentially die)? "Oops, who could see this coming?"

This has nothing to do with Iraq and everything to do with easily forseeable disasters that we are well aware of. The National Guard is supposed to "Guard" our "Nation" -- why are they halfway around the world? Thank God the Coast Guard is still guarding our coast and not off being the "US Navy, part II".

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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: Baggins on Sep 02, '05 09:43:43AM

Well, if you're going to play the blame game, it's not like scientists weren't warning New Orleans officials for YEARS that their levee and pump system was antiquated and inadequate to a cat 4 or 5 hurricane.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: brandonarbini on Sep 01, '05 03:19:08PM
Also, the New Orleans Mission was hit hard and destroyed. They provide roughly 46% of the homeless services in the city. The organization I work for is trying to raise money to help provide temporary services and rebuild the mission. If you interested in contributing visit our disaster relief page. Thanks!

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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: sammyhai on Sep 02, '05 01:35:00AM
After donating to causes that will help the people, please consider helping animals through Habitat for Society:

https://secure.hsus.org/01/disaster_relief_fund_2005?

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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: romalot on Sep 02, '05 04:46:52AM

That site doesn't let us use European credit cards.

I am sorry to say but if this was the east coast there would be alot more help quicker.

As you can see that its mostly african-american.

...

Not to be little this disater but i read in a paper here a quote " This is our tsunami " on the front page.

I am sorry to say but you can not compare. Houses can be rebuilt.

The people died in the tsunami will always make it a far worse disater than what will come of this in the States.

I hope that the US government get their act together and help the weeker and poorer members of society that have been effected by this disater.

it sickens me that people have used this time to there advantage in raping, robbing, killing etc.

but for Bush to say that there is a zero tolerance on crime is a joke. all food and supplies in the area should be used to help the people. has the man no humanity.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: DistantThunder on Sep 02, '05 09:46:34AM

"but for Bush to say that there is a zero tolerance on crime is a joke. all food and supplies in the area should be used to help the people. has the man no humanity."

But they WERE ignoring crime and focusing on just helping people. And because of that everything spiraled out of control. Hospitals were being overrun by thugs, people with guns at the helicopter landing pad, a helicopter fired at at the Superdome, etc., etc. All of these make providing help much more difficult or impossible. I think they should have cracked down on the crime sooner.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: dan55304 on Sep 02, '05 09:32:53AM

Okay, this thread confirms that people can't think rationally anymore.



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Donate with iTunes
Authored by: bcirvin on Sep 02, '05 08:03:55AM
For anyone who's not found this out yet, clicking here should link you to an iTunes-based donation tool - the easiest way I've seen yet to contribute to the Katrina relief efforts.

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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: dan55304 on Sep 02, '05 09:29:08AM
What about the devastation wrought by the fine old USA in Iraq?

How dare you use this request for help to advance your misguided political views. That's just thoughtless and shameful.

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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: Baggins on Sep 02, '05 09:45:13AM

But not unexpected.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: dan55304 on Sep 02, '05 09:34:37AM

Major disasters like this produce a huge waste of donated money and goods. They get too much too fast. It also has a terrible draining effect on other charities. So, if you give, please don't stop giving to your regular charities.

My very strong recommendation is to give through your local church to the relief effort if they are sending a team down. That gets the money to the people who need it and eliminates all the bureaucratic overhead. It is extremely cost efficient and gives the human touch to people who are suffering. It's a big blessing to those who receive help and a likewise blessing to those providing the help.



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Please support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Authored by: rubaiyat on Sep 02, '05 08:42:59PM

How do you send extra ammunition to the members of the NRA in St Louis?

Global warming go away, come again another day. - G.W. Bush

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