Hurricane Katrina
As everyone has heard by now, Hurricane Katrina has completely devasted the New Orleans area, among numerous other cities. There is flooding throughout the majority of the town due to the breakdown of multiple levees which safeguard the town from the waters of Lake Ponchatrain, the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. Tremendous wind gusts have also ravaged the entire town, knocking over trees and knocking down entire homes, leaving nothing but an endless pile of rubble. Thousands of people are still trapped or missing, and tens of thousands more are homeless and have no steady access to food, shelter, clean water or any other basic necessities.
On a more positive note, I wanted to let everyone know that I am safe. I fortunately never flew out to New Orleans; I was leaving Saturday morning but turned around in time after receiving notice of the temporary closing of Tulane. I have been in close contact with my friends and all are also fine and out of harm's way. I want to extend my deepest and most sincere thanks to all of those who have called, e-mailed, instant messaged, or communicated with me in some way to see how I am doing. New Orleans has become my home away from home; though I've only been there for a year, I've delevoped a strong connection with it. This disaster has been exactly that; a great city with such a rich culture and vibrant atmosphere has become a disaster site.
I ask that everyone who reads this message can find some way to make a donation to those who are in such dire need. No donation is too big, and no donation is too small. In many situations, one donation can literally mean the difference between life and death. There are many websites and phone numbers you can contact in order to make a donation. The contact information for the Red Cross can be found below. Please, donate whatever you can for those who so desperately need it. New Orleans will survive this, but only with the help of as many people across the country and across the world can we become stronger from all this.
Please keep in touch; your thoughts and concerns are greatly appreciated.
Andy
1-800-HELPNOW (1-800-435-7669)
www.redcross.org
On a more positive note, I wanted to let everyone know that I am safe. I fortunately never flew out to New Orleans; I was leaving Saturday morning but turned around in time after receiving notice of the temporary closing of Tulane. I have been in close contact with my friends and all are also fine and out of harm's way. I want to extend my deepest and most sincere thanks to all of those who have called, e-mailed, instant messaged, or communicated with me in some way to see how I am doing. New Orleans has become my home away from home; though I've only been there for a year, I've delevoped a strong connection with it. This disaster has been exactly that; a great city with such a rich culture and vibrant atmosphere has become a disaster site.
I ask that everyone who reads this message can find some way to make a donation to those who are in such dire need. No donation is too big, and no donation is too small. In many situations, one donation can literally mean the difference between life and death. There are many websites and phone numbers you can contact in order to make a donation. The contact information for the Red Cross can be found below. Please, donate whatever you can for those who so desperately need it. New Orleans will survive this, but only with the help of as many people across the country and across the world can we become stronger from all this.
Please keep in touch; your thoughts and concerns are greatly appreciated.
Andy
1-800-HELPNOW (1-800-435-7669)
www.redcross.org