URGENT Katrina Need - AL, TN guys, - everyone

[donaghy]

Katrina Relief - What Can We Do?

One of our very own is on his way to help out. As many of you know Hank (firemanhank) is a fireman in Cleveland, TN. He has assembled a team of 6-7 firefighters/rescue workers to head down into Alabama through his national firefighters association (can't remember off hand the name) to specifically help some of the affected fire/rescue departments in Alabama. From his description their purpose will be to support, relieve some of the fire departments directly affected by the hurricane. Some of these towns have lost everything which includes firemen who have lost their houses, all clothing etc.

He is leaving within the hour from cleveland and heading via I20 then down south I59 in Mississippi to Hattiesburg. I believe he told me they are headed right into the zone into Pascagoula, MS or is it Alabama. They have loaded up his truck and trailer with water, and canned food. He said they are still in need of more ANY AND MORE canned food and bottled water. And he requested that if there is ANYONE that could meet him along I59 or I20 interstate in the next 5-7 hours with canned food and bottled water, he can try to meet you along the interstate. I will try to get more information of how we can support him in his efforts but he said that is an immediate need. If anyone is in that position where they can assemble some food in the next couple of hours and meet him along the interstate, please let him know. It would be a real challenge, and I'm sure they will be in a hurry to get there. Please only call him if you can meet him or you think you can get some supplies to him as he has to be on the phone with the coordinating functions over the next couple of hours.

If you cannot provide/help in those manners, I will be trying to find out from him how else we can help as he gets closer or if he can reach me by phone once he gets down there.

Primary Need - canned foods and bottled water within next 5-7 hours anywhere along I59 or I20 west of ATL and he can meet you.

Secondary Need - your prayers for ALL people affected everyone by this horrific storm (rescue workers, refugees, victims, victims families, government officials)

Thirdly - your prayers of support and for safety of Hanks team heading into harms way to help

 

[donaghy]

discussion for helping..

I did not hear any more from Hank while he was on the road after I talked to him mid morning on Wednesday. I tried calling his cell phone last night but gave all circuits busy. I suspect we will not hear from him for at least a week. I told him, it was the last thing to worry about but if he does have a chance and has cell service to call me and let me know what we can do as a group to support him to in turn support others. But, I just don't know how we could get anything to him direclty until he comes back. The only way that could happen is if he gets in cell coverage after he comes out of the zone, and we tell him we have a monetary donation where he could go buy stuff right then and there to take back in. But, as I suspect, it will probably be 7-10 days before we hear from him.

So, as I sit and watch the stuff on television for the last 2 nights, I feel absolutely utterly, helpless to do anything. I cannot begin to imagine all of the loss of life and all the people still suffering. So, I'm going to start the discussion. What can we do to help?

I do believe in national organization and as everyone always says, the national organizations such as red cross have the best means to get the money donated to the most needed areas. So, I am not even suggesting to not donate to those, or replace your donations with whatever we can do or decide to do. But, I know how great it would be to give to something where you know and can hear back of what kind of an impact it has made on personal lives. So, I will start off with a couple of suggestions and notes.

Suggestion #1. All the refugees heading to Houston. The Red Cross and many of the national organizations will probably be taking care of the basics for all the refugees heading there. But, is just a lot of small things that make a big difference that could donate. And .. Don't we have some guys near Houston that could get these there. In this way we could have some direct quick affect.
Diapers, Baby Wipes, Infant Care Items, Personal Care Items (soap, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, hygeine items) Clothing (socks, underwear, shirts, shoes, pants, shirts) Long Distance Calling Cards, Batteries, FM Radios, Walkie-Talkies Toys (coloring books, crayons, puzzles, any activity toy) and more....

Suggestion #2

If we just start collecting money right now. We can then direct it to Hank who once he gets back or we hear from him, he can purchase, or direct the money directly to the affected area he was working in. He possibly could direct it to a local fire department or local fire department family.

Lets get the discussion rolling... These people need our help FAST.!!!!

 

[RJCJ-8]

The company that I work for is rasing donations for the Red Cross Disaster Relief. I passed the following on to one of the VPs of the company to forward out. I would like to post the same here and encourage members of the discussion board and SOA to donate what they can.

Here's a link to informaion on donating directly to the Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/donate/donatechange.html

Thanks, RJ

Your generosity is appreciated.

You are correct – the cost of gasoline these days is a big problem for most people, but compared to having no food, shelter, potable water, and (in many cases) income, it’s not as large a problem as it might be.



Everyone-

Please see RJ’s note (below). If you have not contributed to the Red Cross fund that Vic Abbott is collecting, please consider doing so. Your fellow citizens need your help, and the quickest way to provide that help is to give money to the agencies providing the relief. They know what’s needed and have the means to get it at a lot better price than private individuals could.



Carl Bell

Vice President -- Administration



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Robert Joyce
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 11:23
To: Carl Bell
Subject: RE: There But For Fortune . . .


Carl,

As I pour over the photos and video feed of the destruction that has occurred in the Gulf area as the result of hurricane Katrina I can't help but to reflect on how lucky and fortunate we are. There are thousands that have lost everything, homes, cars, jobs, and family members in just a mater of hours.



Those of us here that are supervisors/managers received a double pay day yesterday. I for one have in the passed used the bonus to get a few extra nice things for the wife and kids and splurge and get a few things for my jeep. This time given the events of the past few days in the Gulf area I've had a change of plans on where and how I spend my bonus. This morning I stopped by Vic's office and donated $100 to the Red Cross fund.



Not so much as a challenge per say but as words of encouragement I would like to urge those of us how have benefited greatly from the generosity of the company to pass a portion of that on to those who are in a greater need to match my donation.



So if you see it as appropriate to pass this on to the management team or even company wide would you please do so



Regards

Robert "RJ" Joyce
EFC Operations Supervisor
Universal Tax Systems
mailto: rjoyce@taxwise.com
Phone: 706-290-7147

​

 

[Jeremy]

Mobilized

My brother's Pennslyvania National Guard Unit was mobilized. He is leaving for New Orleans tomorrow. I do not know anymore than this. I still have not heard when or if the HAZMAT contractor I work for will pull some of us down south or not yet. I'll know more latter but will help when I can.

 

[Crossbones]

Matt if you are collecting funds that can be sent to Hank for distribution to a fire station or some other agency let me know. I'd like my contribution to go directly to Hank's pick or purpose.
Robert

 

[donaghy]

hank is back

give him a day or so to get rested up and I'm sure he will share some of his experience and any possible needs.

Matt

 

[txsbill]

What we've done...

My wife and I had the kids clean out their closets today of all the stuff they've outgrown or don't wear anymore, and will be taking it downtown to the convention center.
Between the evacuee's from the Superdome, N.O. Convention Center and all the ones that left before the storm and are staying in Hotels, there are roughly 200,000 extra folks staying in Houston tonight. So the needs are enormous.
My office is just a few minutes from the George Brown Convention center in downtown Houston, so if any of you want to make material donations, you can forward them to me at my office and I will hand deliver them to the Convention center as soon as they arrive.

You can send your packages UPS. USPS, FEDEX Etc. To:

REXEL Electric Supply
3401 Gulf Freeway
Houston, Texas 77003
Attn: Bill Brunner

I'll make my employees aware of this and assure you it will get where it is needed most.

 

[2K1TJ]

Sorry I didn't see this in time to meet Hank along I-20. I'm not too far from there.

I've already made some cash donations to the cause. We've also been busy sorting through all our clothes and other possesions to see what we can do without. I will probably give this stuff to a local church that is sending stuff that way.

I really feel guilty that I can't be there to help out personally. Maybe after the first of the year I can make a trip down there to lend a hand. I'm sure there will still be plenty to do!

Godspeed to ya, Hank! And everone else there too!

 

[Wyoming]

For those of you that have a Scrambler in harms way. Bring it to Wyoming, we have good weather No huricanes, No floods, No salt I will store it for you. I will even drive it and keep the bearings lubed.

Seriously I hope everthing works out ok for Hank and everyone else.

Dennis