Hurricane Katrina: Disaster Relief

Local religious groups seeking donations and setting up channels to deliver aid.

Volunteers and professional disaster workers from the Washington region began the launch yesterday of what will be a far-reaching relief effort to help Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Full Coverage: Katrina Kills Dozens and Leaves Millions Devastated

Gerald Collins , director of disaster response at Catholic Charities USA, was online Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss long-term relief for those affected by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast states.

A transcript follows.

____________________

Alexandria, Va.: Are there any organizations that are helping with the rescue and rehab of animals and pets injured and displaced in the hurricane?

Gerald Collins:

Jerry: #4 There are other agencies that respond in that manner. Catholic Charities does not deal with pet issues.

_______________________

Falls Church, Va.: How can we check on the status of love ones in Biloxi, Miss.? It seems the phones line are down and cell phones do not work. Is there a hotline number set up for such situations?

Gerald Collins: the American Red Cross has a personal location service. It woudl be best to go to www.redcross.org,

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Hi. How can we volunteer to help with the Gulf Coast relief effort? Do you accept volunteer labor?

Thanks,

Gerald Collins: Catholic Charities usa does not utilize volunteers at the national level. However, local agencies may. It is my suggestion that we wait a couple of more days until things settle down so we can get in touch with the local agencies to hear from them their needs.

_______________________

Chantilly, Va.: What are the chances of other countries providing foreign aid to U.S. for a change? We're always there for them but I never hear of them helping us.

Gerald Collins: We have not heard from overseas agencies. Normally we do not. However it would not surprise me if we did.

_______________________

Rowley, Mass.: How best can a concerned citizen in Massachusetts give money so that it can get directly into the hands of the stranded poor families?

I'd like to avoid agencies which have a lot of overhead and find one that can make small grants to families. I think that with everything lost, a small direct grant at this time might give a feeling of discretionary power and great service. I can imagine being a grandmother in rural Mississippi with little kids but no home and think some dollars for immediate needs might cheer everybody up.

The Red Cross says it is standing by with massive relief goods piled up but waiting for the roads to clear. Glad they have the goods but that will be a long wait in many hardest hit areas. For the families in the Superdome, that's an even tougher situation as reaching them soon with clean water, food, meds and real sanitation will be a kind of a miracle.

Gerald Collins: The best way is to give to an agency you know is working i the disaster area. I would feel comfortable giving to Catholic Charities or a similar agency. Do research. You can go to the Catholic Charities Web site for donation info. Site is www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

at Catholic charities 90 cents on the dollar goes directly for services

Donations may go for services which may include cash grants. We will fund long term and emergency relief efforts which may involve rental assistance, counseling, etc.

_______________________

washingtonpsost.com: Red Cross

_______________________

Laurel, Md.: First off, God bless you for the work you are taking up. My question is this: so far, all calls for assistance from aid organizations have been for cash donations from those wanting to help. But will cash vouchers be difficult for the victims to use if the stores are closed, or if the stores re-open but their goods are ruined? Is there an efficient way that one could send "real goods" (like diapers, shirts, water, etc), either to an aid organization like yours, or directly to a shelter in the effected area? Thanks very much.

Gerald Collins: Our disaster response will fund housing needs, clothing, rental assistance, counseling, etc. Cash is the best thing rather than goods. Goods create another issue of shipping, recipient on the other end, etc. Cash also helps to rejuvenate the damaged community. It helps to create jobs, etc. It also gives the person a feeling of control over their fates.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Good afternoon.

Has the international community or the U.N. offered any assistance to the victims of the latest hurricane?

Which charities can you recommend?

Gerald Collins: Again, we normal would not hear from UN and others. I am sure others have. In terms of a recommendation, of course there is us, www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. And, the other "standard" response agencies, Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: Seems like now would be a good time to donate blood. Is there currently a shortage?

Gerald Collins: Yes. Red Cross has made a call for blood donations. People normally donate in the impacted areas are not able to do so. They have asked the rest of the country to help make for shortages. They are running ads on TV to this affect.

_______________________

Los Angeles, Calif.: If one wants to contribute to assist in relief efforts, do you prefer money or clothing, etc? The second part, is how do we get donations to catholic charities that will be earmarked for disaster relief?

Gerald Collins: yes. Cash is the best form of donation. Thanks for your generosity. We can be reached at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

_______________________

Northville, Mich.: Does CRS have a network already set up in the hurricane-ravaged areas and what type of relief will be provided by CRS?

Gerald Collins: CRS works internationally, as in the Tsunami. Catholic Charities works domestically. They are a sister organization and work with us.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Are there other ways to help besides donating money? I live paycheck to paycheck and cannot spare much extra cash but I would really like to help and will make a small donation. Do you know of other ways to volunteer?

Gerald Collins: While we do not accept volunteers nationally, there are opportunities with Red Cross. Your volunteer efforts will help them to free those in their system who have been previously trained in disaster response to go out on such assignments as the current disaster. Also your prayers would be appreciated.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Mr. Collins, Are there organizations that could use volunteers to go down to the areas hit to help with disaster relief? I'd like to go help -- do volunteers have to have training, do they usually pay for their own flights/room/board? Thanks for any info.

Gerald Collins: You will have to contact the individual agencies that use volunteers regarding compensation.

_______________________

Herndon, Va.: Where is the best place to give money for relief efforts? How can Catholic Charities help?

Gerald Collins: The best place is to give to those agencies that you are familiar with. Catholic charities does accept donations and would appreciate your support. We can be reached at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. Funds will be used to support those impacted by the disaster by providing long term response and recovery relief. This translates into long term rental assistance, counseling, may include job training, etc.

_______________________

washingtonpsost.com: Catholic Charities USA

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: Are you also working with Lutheran disaster relief.

Gerald Collins: Yes. They are a partner in the National Volunteers Organizations Active In Diasters.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: I understand that there are numerous organizations and individuals who are responding to the immediate needs of the victims in the Gulf Coast. I am curious as to what efforts will be taken for the long-term needs in this community. Whose role is it to assist in rebuilding the community-- local/state/federal?

Gerald Collins: given the nature of the storm. It will take the efforts of a number of agencies working together to rebuild the impacted communities. Catholic Charities will be a part of that effort as our niche is long term recovery, helping people rebuild their livers.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: Will Catholic parishes being taking a special collection to help with Katrina relief?

Gerald Collins: Yes. The US Bishops have authorized a collection. Information on the collection is going out to the individual dioceses. They have been asked to conduct the collection on either the first or second sunday of September. Again, donations will be used to fund the Catholic Charities long term recovery efforts which includes, rental assistance, counseling, monetary grants, etc.

_______________________

Takoma Park, Md.: For the person looking for agencies helping with pets and other animals/livestock affected by the hurricane, The Humane Society of the United States is accepting donations at hsus.org, and has posted this on their Web site:

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

HSUS ACTIONS TAKEN and PLANNED:

Several HSUS response units are perched on both the eastern and the western edges of the impact area ready to respond to areas hardest hit as soon as the winds subside.

A(e HSUS Southwest Regional Office has been supporting the Louisiana SPCA evacuation of animals to the Houston SPCA by offering to receive hundreds of adoptable pets and organizing their distribution to animal shelters throughout Texas, where they can be adopted.

A(e HSUS Disaster Response Program Coordinator, HSUS Southeast and Southwest regional office staff, and members of our National Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) have been staging our resources until after the worst of the storm has passed. The HSUS headquarters Disaster staff, and additional staff from the Southeast and Southwest regional offices are supporting the response and coordinating with national, state, and voluntary organizations from their respective offices.

A(e new HSUS Disaster Response Unit (a four-wheel drive truck and 38-foot air-conditioned trailer with rescue, sheltering, and communication equipment as well as pet food and supplies) has been stocked with even more equipment and supplies to help with rescue and recovery from this massive storm.

A(e HSUS-affiliated response unit, comprising a 40-foot long livestock air-conditioned trailer outfitted for response and sheltering, motor home and large multipurpose truck from the HSUS-affiliated Sumter County, Florida DART, is part of our response, as is a sheltering team complete with vehicles, equipment, and personnel from South Carolina and a mobile vet unit from Georgia.

@nother HSUS DART responder in Florida has picked up crates and other supplies from The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, as well as a boat, and taking them to the Panhandle staging area.

@!y's End Farm Horse Rescue (Maryland) disaster response unit will be joining the HSUS response, including their truck and horse trailer, with rescue and sheltering equipment especially for large animals-horses and livestock.

@nother HSUS-trained and affiliated team, the Okaloosa (Florida) Animal Services/DART team, will also respond as part of the HSUS team.

@¬orida's Governor has already offered impacted states any of Florida's resources and Mississippi has requested their technical assistance and management of animal issues. Our Southeast Regional Office (SWRO) is partnering with the Florida State Agricultural Response Team, to assess animal needs and to provide rescue and sheltering in south Mississippi

@õr Southwest Regional Office is working with response teams from Texas to provide assistance on the west side of the impact area. The HSUS SWRO is working with the Louisiana State Veterinarian.

@ost of our responders have valuable experience from the marathon response to the four Florida hurricanes of 2004, so we will be bringing a lot of knowledge along with our equipment and supplies.

Aå have been coordinating (and will continue to) with other voluntary organizations through the Department of Homeland Security, the American Red Cross, the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) which comprises many faith-based and voluntary groups, and many other organizations.

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

Gerald Collins: thanks for the HSUS answer. this is extremely helpful.

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: Would you or anyone listening know how Xavier University of Louisiana is holding up through all this?

Gerald Collins: I don't know. I just don't know.

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: Will local Catholic churches be taking up second collections at Mass soon? That is a convenient way to donate.

Gerald Collins: Yes. The bishops have asked to ask parishes to conduct the collections on the first or second Sunday of September.

_______________________

Annandale, Va.: Mr. Collins,

Have there been any offers of foreign aid to help the victims of the Hurricane Katrina?

Thanks,

Gerald Collins: thanks you for your question. As of yet, Catholic Charities has not heard from any foreign countries. However, it would not surprise me to learn that the government or other agencies have.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: In Katrina's wake, I've seen the term "catastrophic" used often to describe her effects. Even some government officials, including the head of FEMA, has used it. Is there some official threshold that must be crossed in order for this term to be used, or is it hyperbole?

Gerald Collins: the term catastrophic is frequently used when a disaster grows to the point where the individual person or community can no longer deal with the disaster without outside assistance. However, I know of no "official" threshold for the use of the term. But in this case unfortunately I believe the term is appropriate.

_______________________

washingtonpsost.com: To contact the Red Cross, call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669).

_______________________

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.