Katrina items...

Everyone,

If you have loved ones in that area and need to get messages to
them... you can always contact your local amateur radio operators!
They have message nets that operate all over the world and can get
messages in/out of afflicted areas.

If you don't know who to contact about that check with your local EOC
(Emergency Operations Center), Police Dept (call the information line
DO NOT CALL 911), or check with your local Radio Shack as the folks
there will probably know a couple of the local radio operators.

The DARC (Dallas Amateur Radio Club) has information on the web at:
http://www.dfwtrafficnet.com/ if you are in the North Texas area.

For those of you that want to offer help, PLEASE do it smartly!

Research the organizations that want you to donate. There are places
on the web to see who is good and who is not good with the donations.
You do not want to see more than 40 percent of your money going
for "administrative costs" and some of these scammers take up to 90+%
of the money to run their own businesses.

Also - CHECK WITH YOUR EMPLOYER!!! My employer matches my contributions up to $10,000 dollars. This effectively doubled my contributions to the cause.

The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and other organizations
are always great to give to. Be careful in choosing other organizations - do your research.

Some employers (mine included!) also work with the Red Cross to train employees for volunteering in the affected areas. If you wish to volunteer time check with the Red Cross and Salvation Army or other organizations. Don't just drive to the affected areas and offer to help, you need to go through an organization!

According to news media, the area will soon be under control of the
National Guard and US Army so you don't want to just "show up"
offering to help.

If you cannot offer money at this time there are other things that can be done. There are a lot of evacuees in temporary housing (shelters like Reunion Arena) around the Dallas area and they need simple things like places to wash clothes or take showers.

Be safe!

Raymond