August 31, 2005
Katrina
filed under: Hey, What's The Big Idea
You know what to do.
I think from here on out, every time there's a well publicised mass tragedy, there will be a web-driven push to cough up support. This risks tragedy donation fatigue. But it also means a global mobilization of support is available which was never available before. So we gave to 9/11, we gave to the Tsunami. Now we'll give to Katrina, and the next one, and the next one. It'll be nice, like paying membership dues for Civilization.
If you want something with a more personal, less institutional touch, my friend Claudio - who just moved home from New Orleans three weeks ago - is taking donations from friends and family to send to his friends down there:
I know people and families personally that this could help immensly. One friend in particular Rita lived on the first floor on her complex, her car which only had liability, her whole apartment with everything in it. Gone just like that. She didnt have renters insurance so it is def sadd. I am trying to help out with whatever I can.
If you want to donate to Claudio's fund, email me and I'll let you know how.
UPDATE:
Um... they're evacuating New Orleans. Everybody. They're abandoning the city. They're estimating 12 weeks *minimum* before anyone can go back in. For all intents and purposes, the city of New Orleans is gone, and we have a several hundred thousand person refugee crisis in the American south.
On Monday, it seemed like we'd dodged the nightmare scenario. It looks like we didn't. Thoughts and prayers, and do what you can.
Posted by rjt at August 31, 2005 10:43 AM