Anyone with access to an inflatable boat is in a position to do a lot of good. They're really chincy on gas, and they can get through just inches of water.
Money is great, but trust me, it takes a while to get to the people who need it. If you REALLY want to do some good, you should do it yourself.

This tragedy is beyond anything the Government can handle. Those people you see on the news waving at the helicopters aren't saying "Hi". They need rescued, and the National Guard soldiers that are meant to handle these things are in Iraq forcing "freedom" on people who adamantly don't want it.

I wanted to take my dad's dinghy down there, but he didn't want me to hit something, pop it, and become a victim myself.

There's some people in the South who underestimated nature who have no access to clean water, food, or anything else. They don't need money right now.

Reno, has your home ever been destroyed by a Category 4 hurricane?

Tim, I know what you're going through. Appearantly, so does reno, despite my assumption to the contrary. I apologised in person, and am now doing so in public.

Don't for a minute think that anyone has been left behind, because for 2 days, all we heard was "Get The f--- Out!"

If people are wanting out so bad, then why are they shooting the rescue workers..? They stayed with one intent, to loot!

Also, since Martial Law has been enacted along with a shoot to kill order, killing a looter, arsonist or rapist would not be considered vigilante justice or a make you a serial killer... You would be a hero within the letter of the law, for upholding the rule of law!

BTW: I have to wonder about the extreme level of hypocrisy of those of you that would never touch a gun, yet have no qualms with paying a COP $12.75/hr to do your dirty work for you. I'll protect my neighborhood with every last bullet I have, then we'll have a boil!

tgreen, would I be correct in saying that all of those poor unfortunate people I have seen on TV stayed around "with one intent, to loot". You seem to show no feelings toward those who suffer other than a desire to kill them or have them killed. Why are you so worried about a bunch of material crap when people are dying? I am by no means condoning car jacking, rape, etc. but who really cares if Wallmart loses a few TVs? People have lost everything including their lives and you have the nerve to talk about being a "hero" shooting looters aka., people looking to gain back their lives. I could not help but notice you refer to yourself as a redneck, could race be a factor?

best thing you can do:

call attention to the fact that this administration is a bunch of bumbling idiots. they can invade a country of 25 mil., but can't rescue 25,000 from the convention center. a village in texas is missing it's idiot.

Sure, you can be told to leave. But how much does that really mean to a family with no jobs, no car, no money and no resources? The Louisiana Natl. Guard could have added to the police effort to get people out of the City, but that order would have had to come from the federal govt.
National Guard is controled at the state level, by the Governor, and they were in fact mobilized on Saturday, nearly 2 days prior to the storm hitting land... I know, because I was there!

I did not see govt. issues busses shipping folks out. And what efforts were made to evacuate the hospitals where docs were having to basically choose who got food and medicine and eventually who would live and die?
And you wouldn't have seen it, unless you were there! Every city, school and charter bus available was sweeping the city of NO with a police escort, pleading with people to get on the bus and leave... This took place for 2 full days!

It's kind of a moot point anyway as to why there were so many people left behind. But to me it looks like the poor and sick were completely forgotten about, as usual, by the Bush adminsitration. Having gotten some of the political outrage out of my system I am not going to post anything else about my feelings as to the 'coulda / shoulda /woulda' of this disaster.
Yet Chalmette, Slidell, Jefferson, Metairie, Kenner, Covington and Mandeville all have the same issues. The only differences being that we didn't have FREE transportation and we're in predominately white middle-class neighborhoods, but you won't see this on the news because it sells a very different story.

As to the 'what you can do about it' contribution, here are some ideas that could generate money for some of the organizations already mentioned:

Throwing a house party to raise money for the survivors.

Ask your gym to host a climbing film night or related event for Katrina relief efforts.

Ask your child's school to do a fundraiser. Put a tree in the lobby and have the kids make ornaments / paper cranes to hang on the tree with the names of families who made contributions.

If your state is taking in survivors you can contact your state house to find out:
Where to volunteer
Where to drop off clothes
If you can babysit
What they need for help
While I realize your sentiment is real and honerable, these are all simply feel good measures..

I mean, 2000$ debit cards?! What a joke.

My wife and I filled out the online FEMA forms last Friday, and as of the following Monday morning, $2000 had been deposited into our bank account. The debit cards were designed for those without bank accounts. FWIW: This electronic transfer systen was the brainchild of Michael Brown, and has actually put the FEMA money into the hands of us faster than any of the older methods!

Also, historically, charity began at the local level. When the government has too much control over our lives and well being, we become a socialist nation. As wonderful as it may seem, we simply can't have it both ways.

I saw a documentary on the Discovery channel that predicted this very disaster about a year ago, and not only did the government do absolutely nothing to shore up New Orleans, but now they expect citizens to pick up the tab for relief efforts? ... One more thing; Anyone else think its a disgrace that the director of FEMA had zero qualifications for disaster relief other that being W.'s roommate in college?

So then all of the work to raise and strengthen the levys in Metairie & Kenner over the past year really didn't happen..? Contrary to popular media opinion, it was happening, and I drove past it every single day! :roll:

One more thing; Anyone else think its a disgrace that the director of FEMA had zero qualifications for disaster relief other that being W.'s roommate in college?