Common Ground

Common Ground’s mission is to provide short term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the gulf coast region, and long term support in rebuilding the communities affected in the New Orleans area. Common Ground is a community-initiated volunteer organization offering assistance, mutual aid and support. The work gives hope to communities by working with them, providing for their immediate needs and emphasizes people working together to rebuild their lives in sustainable ways.

Been There Clearinghouse

Been There is an informal clearinghouse where individuals offering in-kind donations and individuals in need can connect. Click on the tabs at the top of the page to see all that’s offered and being talked about in the Clearinghouse

September 1, 2011 Update:  Both of the above links were taken off line with no referring link

Also, there is a 24-hour help line staffed that is up and running to help those that need it during The Hurricane Katrina Disaster that number is +1-504-208-1564

You can call that number with request for help, and offers to help.

Please ensure you add the “1″ to the number, even if you are in the USA. This is because the number is routed via Skype.) If the line is
busy, you will be forwarded to voicemail. Please do leave behind your name and contact details so we may get back to you (more details at this this link here: Hurricane Katrina Disaster Help Line )

08/31/11 UPDATE: Katrina Help Wiki now off line

12/25/09 UPDATE: Katrina Help Wiki is no longer online.

4/15/06 UPDATE: Skype Line and Help Line discontinued 23:29, 25 Mar 2006 (CET). Katrina Help Wiki still available

The Interdictor weblog is being updated regularly. Five employees New Orleans-based DirectNIC have been holed up since just before the storm blew in nearly a week
ago on the 10th and 11th floors of the building that houses their
headquarters. (see C/net for their story).

The Interdictor photo blog gives you the visual of what is happening as well (11/28/05 update: it appears they pulled that url down, the mirror site below is working though)

Lastly, many refugees from the Hurricane Katrina Disaster are being moved to various communities throughout the U.S. I can’t think of a better way to be a good Samaritan than to open hands and hearts to them all.

Addition 1:00PM EST:
Here is the link to Sigmund Solare’s pesonal site, he is the CEO of DirectNIC. This looks like a mirror site to the above, as well as an easier way to reach all their information as they post live from New Orleans http://sigmund.biz/0904/

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12/15/09 Update: The Live Journal Site for the Interdictor is linked above on the date that is the start of the storm; move forward by each day to see the updates in history in 2005
1/4/2007 Update: Both the DirectNIC and Sigmund.biz/0904 links appeared to be dead as of 1/4/2007.  These were the mirror sites to the photoblog noted above
11/28/2005 Update: It appears they pulled that url down, the mirror site below is working though

While the majority of coverage of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster is on New Orleans, the destruction was widespread. I did some web-surfing to see what it was like in Biloxi MS, and, frankly, was shocked at how bad it was there too. The link to these videos (please click here) really tells the story (not especially the Casino barges and how powerful those 20 – 25 foot storm surges were to lift the barges and hurl the barges where they did).

God, please help these people, may your grace be upon our country in this time, and upon the many victims.

Please pray , give, or volunteer if you can. Links to places to give are in this blog and on this list:
Instapundit’s List
Truth Laid Bear Donation List (appears to be a dead link as of 01/04/2007)

There will be alot of people, without homes, for a long time. The construction industry is pitching in big time, but an agency like Habitat for Humanity will fill in the spaces where perhaps the poorest might be hit.

The Salvation Army provides outstanding bang for your donation buck (see here as to why). A $100 donation to The Salvation Army will feed a family of four for
two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household
clean-up kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets, and cleaning supplies.

Food is in short supply, America’s Second Harvest’s mission (from their website info) “is to create a hunger-free
America. We distribute food and grocery products through a nationwide
network of certified affiliates, increase public awareness of domestic
hunger, and advocate for policies that benefit America’s hungry.”

When you do make a donation, please log your contibution here to show your support. (update 10/17/05 – since Blog for Relief Weekend is over, we are not tracking the donations in the blogospher anylonger, but donating is still very much needed)

You can find more places to donate at Instapundit’s Blog.

Please also click you way over to The Truth Laid Bear’s Katrina Relief Page at this LINK to see more links, information, and updates on Blog for Relief Weekend

1/4/2007 update: The links to The Truth Laid Bear’s donation site appear to be dead links.

8/27/2008 update: The Salvation Army New Orleans specific donation site is now down.  You can stil reach the Salvation Army at  The Salvation Army.