Susan- this is off topic, but I had to respond to your and others who are calling for donations in multiple threads. We as Americans do dig deep, but sometimes the funds don't get to those in needs. Billions and billions have been donated already. Where is all that money going?? Today there was a large article in the paper about some NO refugees here in the area who haven't seen any of the money, food, or other help that has been donated. They've contacted authorities and businesses, and still can't get any help. It's sad. I was in Miami shortly after 9-11 for the IAS and donated to firefighters, who stood in the road collecting for the victims. Later it came out that they used the money to go to a softball tournament. Very disillusioning! Our church and others in our area sent trucks of food, clothing, and other supplies to Louisiana. They reported there was no one there to take the supplies when they arrived, and the local people had no way of knowing where help and supplies could be obtained. No tv, phone, newspaper, remember? I'm willing to cut people some slack on donating. If donations go to the Red Cross, fine- they will use it for other emergencies. When my local radio station is asking for cash donations, I draw the line! But then I'm a cynical old crab.

Greenbows1, I listen just fine. Especially considering not a single point you brought up was discussed in this thread. Yes, I actually check facts and don't just swallow whatever nonsense is spouted in the press. As a child I had personal experience with the reporting of a story which showed me that the press is not interested in the truth but only excitement. I was there when a reporter was taking statements from witnesses, including me. The final story had no resemblence to the actual facts communicated to him. Facts that some posters here are not clear on: 1) Louisiana had lots of funding for the leeves and pumps. They receive the most funds of any state. Somewhere around five times the amount of money California gets, a state that dwarfs them. Louisiana choose to divert that money elsewhere. 2) It was well know to everybody that the Leeves were only engineered to a category 3 storm. Bush knew this and specifically called for mandatory evacuation long before the storm hit. It is the Louisiana Governor who is the only one that is authorized to do this. She waited too long. It's a problem with her. When Bush arrived after the storm and offered help she requested a full 24 hours to make her decision. See here: http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/003501.html You can also go there to discover that they were moving in the guard as quickly as possible given the fact that the govenor had to sign off on it. 3) Local officials are responsible for evacuation, shelters and the like. They did not do there job. Even after the storm hit: http://www.blindmanphoto.com/images/Stop-Blaming-FEMA.jpg 4) Local officials are obstructing the delivery of supplies from outside the state, supplies that should not have been required since have already been at the designated shelter sites. They were obstructing help from private and public sources. Hell Nagin and Bianco were still fighting just yesterday over whether to evacuate the city. Nagin ordered an evacuation and her is Bianco's response: "The mayor certainly has ordered that but the governor, and that would be me, would have to enforce it or implement it. We are trying to determine whether there is an absolute justification for that," 5) Declaring a state of emergency is not the same as doing something about it. Not only didn't the local officials act before the hurricane hit, they didn't act afterwards. It was quite clear to them the day before the storm hit that they had screwed up but they just didn't know how to act so they whined. It was their job, why didn't they just do it. Sign the papers, send out the buses for the poor people. Hell the buses were available after the storm. Take a look at this: http://www.blindmanphoto.com/images/Stop-Blaming-FEMA.jpg Why don't you back up your claims with some facts. Be specific. Exactly who believed the levees would hold? Exactly who in the administration is pointing fingers? Here's an article with Nagin pointing fingers at Bianco: http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09.html#076943 This from a guy who didn't follow his own cities evacuation plan: http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/plans/EOPSupplement1a.pdf Go to page 13, read paragraph 5. It states: "5. The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in evacuating." 6) I was of the opinion that Mr. Brown was unqualified based on news reports I had read but that doesn't mean he is "totally unqualified". Apparently he had more experience than I was aware of. 7) Congress should be the last organization investigating this as they are the ones responsible for the funding and they though pork barrel projects were more important. I will keep changing my opinion as new information comes in but most of the mainstream coverage appears very one sided, erroneous, and frankly ... stupid.

That's wonderful. How are you going to distribute the stuff once you get there, and where is "there", since New Orleans is inaccessible? You might want to coordinate with the Salvation Army or Red Cross to get the things there and get them to the needy. I sure wouldn't drive into that area with a truckload of anything right now and try to manage the mayhem that would ensue. Even God can't protect you from that kind of desperation. I was in SC after Hugo, working with relief agencies. Desperate people will hurt you. They don't mean to, it's not intentional, but they will surge forward in an attempt to get whatever you're offering, and someone invariably gets hurt. They will push, shove, and trample anyone in their way. Manners and common courtesy are forgotten when you haven't had food or water for a few days. I applaud your intentions, but you are talking about poor black people who have been largely forgotten and mistreated for centuries. They were desperate long before this hurricane hit, and now with the government taking so long to respond to their needs, they are furious, and understandably so. May God and all his angels go with you. You'll need them.

yvette i hope you don't mind but i am going to link you to the katrina benefit auction where people are donating 100% of their proceeds, and do free shipping to the donator. please look through at all the generous donors and buyers, it brings tears to my eyes to see the generosity of fellow gardeners donating 100s of dollars. if you have plants to donate to generate cash, please join in, or if you feel like shopping as a donation to charities this board is full of ideas. thank you for sharing this yvette i posted it at the daylily forum since most offers are for them. Here is a link that might be useful: katrina benefit auction