More on Hurricane Katrina

I live about a thousand miles away from the Gulf Coast and do not have any friends or family who live in or around the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. With that said, the destruction and devastation caused by Katrina is really affecting me. I touched on this a little yesterday, but the area hardest hit is where I was only a few months ago. I stayed at the Beau Rivage, which according to the Biloxi/Gulfport Sun-Herald seems to be the only casino in Biloxi still standing. (By the way, the Beau Rivage website has not changed. You would think there would be a message saying we're closed.) I drove back and forth between Biloxi and Gulfport on Beach Boulevard during my entire trip. From all the reports I have heard, Beach Boulevard and everything on it has been damaged if not completely destroyed. Although I haven't heard anything yet, I'm worried that the place I visited for work is out of business for a while if not ever.

People, including me, have joked about the poor planning and design of New Orleans. It is certainly not funny now. The Superdome, which has served as the primary shelter for the shelter, is going to have to be evacuated because the water is still rising. I cannot imagine what people who have lost their homes and their jobs are going through. I think even worse is the uncertainty. I've heard some reports of areas where people will not be able to return to their homes to see the damage for weeks or longer.

I'm going to give some money or supplies to the Red Cross, United Jewish Federation or another agency for the relief effort. Sarah has some links of agencies that are helping.