Random Call

I recieved a random call today from FEMA.  “How’s your medical knowledge?”  Well it was a friend from FEMA actually but it looks like this trip i was taking to New Orleans has gotten around to a few people and i may be taking more responsibility than planned.

How crazy to think the need this area is in right now yet the people that are running the scene are very calm and collected…very cool 

Red Cross seeks 40,000 more volunteers

Reuters

BATON ROUGE, La. – The American Red Cross said Saturday it needs 40,000 additional volunteers in the next few weeks to replace worn-out relief workers helping Hurricane Katrina victims.

“This is a disaster of such scope and such significance that it is not going to go away in a few weeks or a few months,� said Ken Degnan, public affairs specialist for the Red Cross. “We need more people.�

The relief agency is sheltering 160,000 survivors, has provided 6 million meals and is operating 675 shelters in 23 U.S. states, an unprecedented effort that is taxing the 114-year-old organization, Degnan said.

The 36,000 Red Cross volunteers currently working the disaster will start rotating back to their homes beginning next week, so replacements are needed, he said.

The agency is asking recruits to contact their local Red Cross, which will provide training in such fields as shelter management, public health and working through government bureaucracies set up to assist disaster victims.

“It may seem like pretty simple to come into a shelter and help out,� Degnan said. “But when you are dealing with large numbers of people in a congregate living facility you need to be trained.�

Wrath

Here’s a google Earth image i took of New Orleans before the hurricane…

Going to New Orleans

The hurricane has impacted the lives of everyone in the United States.  From losing homes to losing gas we have all been hurt by this event.  So i’ll be heading to New Orleans in a week and a half to help out the efforts there.  Apart of the ministry part i’ll be helping with the medical efforts. 

 

donations to the effort

The “refuges” from the hurricane are everywhere. I just found out i have tons in my small city and i didn’t even know. The hearts of Americans are really opening up to see people affected by the hurricane. I can’t wait to see how strong the rebuilding effort will be when the water is pumped out. It is sad to see all these bodies they are finding now.