heather ships out for louisiana tonight or tomorrow morning... she has been assigned to a store just north of lake pontchartrain, so she's not in the immediate disaster zone. it's so odd, though-- it's almost like military deployment, to be sent to the rescue effort. it's an uncertainty as to the availability of food, water, shelter, etc., and they're not sure how bad the looting is going to be. evidently they now have armed guards to help with safety issues, so they can focus more on rebuilding and setting up to provide rebuilding materials. the word is that they're setting up lumber yards in the parking lots of the home depots in the area, in order to start getting the supplies that people will need.

i wonder if new orleans will ever be the same...

here are some ways to get involved, in case you are looking:
PokerStars online charity tournament (Sept 12 and 14)
American Red Cross
Salvation Army
MLS Hurricane Relief online auction
One Dollar Helps
U.S. DoD relief information
NASCAR/California Speedway charity drive
Hurricane Preparedness