HELP HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS:

Help for victims.

This is being manufactured by a jewelry manufacturer in Lafayette, La, employing over 1,600 Louisianians. The money is going directly to the local community through 2 local non-profit groups run by locals.

http://www.katrinareliefbadge.com/

Please pass it on.

Thanks.

Here is some valuable information given to me by a friend and a hugh "Starting Over" fan that was touched by Hurricane Katrina.  Thank you C.S. for everything!

Dear Lynnell,

As you know, I live in the New Orleans area and was fortunate enough to get to Baton Rouge before Hurricane Katrina hit. As of today, September 4, the situation is still desperate. Some of the details are below.

There has been a lot of talk and a lot of press conferences, but what about action? As the mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, said "Where's the beef?" (He is a hero. He spoke up and is still speaking for the victims of this disaster.) I am asking people to beg for more help from President Bush, their Senators and Representatives, Homeland Security, FEMA, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and anyone else they think might help, like newspapers and other news media. Telephone numbers, email addresses, etc. are at the end of this letter.

Although the government and the Red Cross have been announcing that that the troops are coming, help is coming, etc., rescue workers and troops are few and far between in New Orleans, the same in Chalmette and Jefferson Parish. In fact, I have heard that volunteer rescue workers have actually been kept out because of security (discussed in detail below).

This is beyond politics, religion, race--these are human beings who need help NOW. Stop with press conferences about what they are doing, do press conferences showing the victims they rescue. Enough-- talk is talk, we need action NOW! Tell the politicians to quit talking, quit spinning. We need to get the people in New Orleans and Chalmette out now not later. >At the very least, food, water and medications should be delivered NOW before the death toll doubles.

Please pressure the President, your Senate and Congress and anyone else you can think of to save the people of this area. We'll worry about why the levee broke, why there were not enough barrier island, why people didn't leave another time. Save the people of New Orleans and Chalmette and Jefferson Parish first!!!!!

Here are some of the specifics, as of September 3:

Troop Force
The Governor of Louisiana has asked for 40,000 troops just for Louisiana, but reportedly was refused because they are not available, possibly due to Iraq. The Baton Rouge paper reported that 45,000 troops are being dispatched to the” affected area,” which means the all parts of the Gulf Coast hit by Hurricane Katrina, not just Louisiana. That paper also reported that 7,000 troops are being used for law enforcement—again no indication that this is just for Louisiana, and so most likely it is not.<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Thus, the total number of troops being spread out among Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana is slightly more than the Governor requested for Louisiana alone, so the Governor is not receiving anywhere near what she needs for Louisiana and support for New Orleans is very inadequate. We need more troop forces; we need more than they want to send, or think we need!! They don't get it!!!!

St. Bernard Parish, Chalmette, Louisiana--East of New Orleans
Chalmette has no communication, emergency or otherwise; but the reports are that they, too, have received little to no support. The 2 main roads into the Parish are flooded and impassable, only boats of some type can make it in. People are still in attics or mostly on roofs waiting to be rescued. In a few of the dry spots people are gathered in groups, with the women and children in the center while the men gather around to fight off the animals coming from the waters looking for shelter. (We have heard no official reports from emergency or law enforcement from this area because they have no communication system. Last we heard, a number of the officials were trapped on top a government building because of flood waters. Citizens, possibly numbering 3,000 are in a school on the 2nd floor of the school. They have received little support, if any.

New Orleans
Still inadequate troop numbers in the city proper, still not enough water or food being delivered, nor enough rescuers being dispatched to the area. No substantial relief for the police who are manning the city to keep order the best they can. It appears it will be another day or two before citizens are fully (not sure if 2 days will be enough to do the job completely) evacuated from the Convention Center and Superdome.

The police who have been interviewed (just a couple) are looking for a contingent of troops to come help them, but they are few and far between. Tonny Cannatella, head of the 5th District, moved his command station to the Walmart, where they could access supplies, because none have been given thus far to his area. He said in an interview that "the boots are in the sand, we need the troops on the concrete.")

A phone call from Officer Barnes, stationed at the Superdome, with the Rape Squad, Vice, etc., indicated that they are working hard, with few supplies, and sharing what little they have with the citizens who have yet to be evacuated—conditions have fully deteriorated. An Asst. Chief Danny Lawless, is working with a broken arm, they are keeping their spirits up as best they can.

Officer Barnes has her young children with her. Everyone is helping everyone else, but there are still few supplies, and not enough of a troop contingent to support the New Orleans Police Department officers. (My recollection is that the department has a total of only 1,500 officers. How many are on duty at this time, is unknown.) They need more help, which is the reason that the Governor asked for more military forces for our state. (At least two policemen have already committed suicide.)

New Orleans took the brunt, and people still need to be rescued, not just from the Superdome, or the Convention Center. Throughout the city, the parts that are flooded, there still remains people walking, wading, in their houses, in their attics, on their roof tops. I could not estimate the number still waiting to be rescued, but there are many still out there. (This information is from the stories of people who are waiting, who have called the radio station WWL radio 870 AM, and also from my stepson who remained behind and currently helping neighbors in their property recovery, and from his best friend, who has been in the waters of the 9th Ward (the east side of New Orleans) rescuing people with his own boat and military vehicle. The question is: Just how long can stranded people survive without food or water, and in the heat? I will not fathom a guess about the death toll, but suffice it to say, it will be extraordinary.

Elder Homes and Hospitals
Elderly in a number of senior homes throughout New Orleans are still waiting to be rescued. Many of their staff, what few there were, left. They have received no supplies, they are running out of what they have, or have run out. Some are ambulatory, but many are not, and so they will not get out on their own until the waters recede, if at all.

I am still unsure whether the VA hospital and all the hospitals in New Orleans proper hospitals have been fully evacuated. If patients, doctors, nurses and staff are still trapped in them, they have no supplies for staff or patients. There is no running water, there is no electricity, there is no ability to communicate with the outside world.)

Security/Safety
There may be spotty, at best, lawlessness, but it is not rampant as reported. The looting is about water, food, formula, baby food, diapers, supplies, etc. Despite the reports, looting of things like VCRs or tennis shoes is the exception. And even if it is more prevalent, is that really a reason not to send in enough troops and rescuers to protect the victims of this event???????
Your contact to the officials, responsible to provide the help is crucial, you will be speaking for those who do not have the means currently, to speak for themselves.
Email Address and Telephone Numbers
The President’s email address is president@white house.gov. The comment line is 1 (202) 456-1111; TTY/TDD 1 (202)-456-6213; FAX 1 (202)-456-2461. Email addresses and telephone numbers for members of Congress are at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov , respectively. The number of Homeland Security’s comment line is 1 (202) 282-8495; and you can email through its website: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/contactus. The Red Cross does not list an email address at its website (http://www.redcross.org/), but the telephone number of its national headquarters is 1 (202) 303-4498 and the number of the Red Cross region in which Louisiana is located is (940) 898-5399. The number of FEMA's main office 1 (202) 566-1600. The only way to contact the Salvation Army seems to be through its donation line, 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

Please help, and thank you for any efforts you are able to make.

From another fan:

Hi Lynnell,
I really appreciate all of your help. I appreciate everyone's help. I think that the saddest thing is that I left the most important things behind. A box that I filled with memories from my son's first year, my wedding album, all of my pictures, just the important things ya know?
We are trying to make sense of all of this, but it is really hard to really understand. How could the only city that I have ever known and loved be gone?
I have been accepting donations on my paypal account for anyone willing to help..even $1 would be more than what we have now. It is just me and my 2 year old son, so it has been hard on me. I use this email for paypal--- TracysLex@aol.com

Thank you to everyone for their prayers and support,
Alexis Patterson

And another fan: