How to Help Hurricane Katrina's Victims
As you are aware, hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast with such devastating force that this may be the greatest natural disaster in the history of the United States. ASPAN offers it's heartfelt wishes to the people affected by this terrible act of nature. 

ASPAN leadership is investigating how we may play a role in supporting disaster recovery. Information regarding possible means of providing direct and indirect assistance is now available through the link below.

New Orleans: Updates as they come in on Katrina:

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html

To inquire about those in the area who did not evacuate:
American Red Cross, (866) 438-4636.

FEMA numbers to begin assistance process

1-800-621-FEMA or http://www.fema.gov.

Emergency search and rescue phone lines for those in distress:

(225) 925-7708
(225) 925-7709
(225) 925-3511
(225) 925-7412

Information provided by WWLTV.com

Information from the American Medical Association

The AMA is in contact with the Emergency Operation Centers at the Dept. of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other agencies to assist with a coordinated medical response. The AMA is reaching out to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, the Louisiana State Medical Society, the Mississippi State Medical Association and the Florida Medical Association to inquire about specific needs for assistance.
 

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster:
http://www.nvoad.org/

Disaster Responses Volunteer Opportunities prepared by Disaster News Network
http://www.disasternews.net/volunteer

 

To Donate Cash:
 

American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English
1- 800-257-7575 Spanish
http://www.redcross.org/

America's Second Harvest
1- 800-344-8070
http://www.secondharvest.org/

Operation Blessing
1- 800-436-6348
http://www.ob.org/programs/disaster_relief/news/2005/dr_2005_0824_katrina.asp

To Donate Cash and Volunteer:
 

Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171
http://www.adventist.communityservices.org/newstest.html

B'nai B'rith
http://bnaibrith.org/

Catholic Charities, USA
1-703-549-1390
http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/news/katrina.cfm

Christian Disaster Response
1-941-956-5183 or 1-941-551-9554
http://www.cdresponse.org/cdrhome.html

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818
http://www.crwrc.org/

Church World Service
1-800-297-1516
http://www.churchworldservice.org/

Convoy of Hope
1-417-823-8998
http://www.convoyofhope.org/

ICNA Relief-Helping Hand
 http://www.reliefonline.org/

Lutheran Disaster Response
1-800-638-3522
http://www.elca.org/disaster/

   
Mennonite Disaster Service
1-717-859-2210
http://www.mds.mennonite.net/

Nazarene Disaster Response
1-888-256-5886
http://www.nazarenedisasterresponse.org/katrina.html

Noah's Wish
http://www.noahswish.org/

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
1-800-872-3283
http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/hurricanekatrina-index.htm

Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief
1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440
http://www.namb.net/

United Jewish Communities
http://www.ujc.org

United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/05/katrinaresp.cfm

United Way
http://national.unitedway.org/

FEMA Charity tips:
http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm

FEMA for Kids
http://www.fema.gov/kids/

 

Help for Katrina Survivors
 http://neworleans.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_aid.html

Humane Society of the United States
http://www.hsus.org/

FEMA News: Cash Sought To Help Hurricane Victims, Volunteers Should Not Self-Dispatch

Release Date: August 29, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Voluntary organizations are seeking cash donations to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in Gulf Coast states, according to Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. But, volunteers should not report directly to the affected areas unless directed by a voluntary agency.

"Cash donations are especially helpful to victims," Brown said. "They allow volunteer agencies to issue cash vouchers to victims so they can meet their needs. Cash donations also allow agencies to avoid the labor-intensive need to store, sort, pack and distribute donated goods. Donated money prevents, too, the prohibitive cost of air or sea transportation that donated goods require."

Volunteer agencies provide a wide variety of services after disasters, such as clean up, childcare, housing repair, crisis counseling, sheltering and food.

"We're grateful for the outpouring of support already," Brown said. "But it's important that volunteer response is coordinated by the professionals who can direct volunteers with the appropriate skills to the hardest-hit areas where they are needed most. Self-dispatched volunteers and especially sightseers can put themselves and others in harm's way and hamper rescue efforts."