Make a Donation
- September 01, 2005
- 1 comment
Soon after Katrina had passed, it seemed like New Orleans and the nearby regions had escaped a catastrophe again. Last year’s hurricanes could’ve done a lot of damage too, but they didn’t so it was easy to believe Katrina would be the same way. It was quickly apparent that there was a lot more destruction this time, and things were only going to get worse.
Watching the news coverage of the disaster makes me both sad and angry. I get angry that so many people are stuck in New Orleans with no food, no water, no direction. I get angry that looters are running around taking unnecessary things like jewelry, electronics, guns and other things. I get even more angry when I hear they’re shooting at rescuers and cops who are just trying to help people who can’t help themselves. I get angry because it seems like even though New Orleans has had decades, if not centuries, to get ready for this very kind of disaster, things seem to be so poorly organized. I feel horrible for all the people who lost loved ones, homes and jobs. Everything they had is gone. People are separated from loved ones and have no way of finding each other. It’s a nightmare I never thought I’d see in the US.
I made a donation today at the American Red Cross. I heard on the news that they’ve already received over $70 million in donations, but I guarantee you they’ll need a whole lot more for quite a while. The American Red Cross and other reputable charities are doing everything they can to help the victims of Katrina.
Instapundit has a list of reputable charities that are helping with relief efforts as well as a list of other bloggers that have made donations and which charities they recommend. If you can spare any money, do it. God knows the victims need it more than we do.
My wife was just in New Orleans a few months ago for a business convention. A few days before Katrina made landfall, I said to her, “it’s a good thing you were able to see New Orleans when you did, because it won’t be there after Monday”. I could never have imagined what really ended up happening in the days following the storm. This depresses me more than the events of 9/11/2001.