Hurricane Katrina Assistance

[R. Exnicios]

As you know Hurricane Katrina has hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast VERY hard. We do not know what if anything is left of our homes, business, and clubs. We do know that some fencers will be returning to a total loss. In addition to the loss of our homes, business and clubs most people now have no source of income.

We have set up a fund to help the fencers affected by Katrina. The Fencing Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit and all donations are tax deductable.

We can accept any form of donation!

Make checks Payable to:
The Fencing Foundation
c/o 2249 Guinevere Way
Atlanta, GA 30345

you can also use Paypal for credit card donations. The e-mail address of that account is fencinginfo@bellsouth.net. If you have any questions regarding how this works, you can send e-mail to that same address.

All contributors will receive a tax letter for use when you claim your charitable donation and we will notify you of how the funds were used.

Thank you all for supporting your fencing friends in need.

Please pass this on to anyone and everyone!

[Mauler]

While I cannot lend a financial assistance, I did contact the local Red Cross to let them know that I'm a former volunteer EMT with 300+ hrs in ER and ambulance time, Rescue SCUBA Diver, and I have past experience with disaster response situations (including airline crash, tornado and several major storms). I basically told them that I would be available for up to two weeks of on-lacation volunteer time if Red Cross can help me out with travel and lodging. Waiting to hear from them how to make this work.

Good wishes to you and your family. We missed you at the Summer Nationals.

[Welted 24/7]

Well, I'd donate blood, but I just did that about a week and a half ago, so it should still be able to get sent out your way. It's all part of my secret plan to take over the US through mind-control of the people who have received transfusions from my blood...

I mean...uh...it's to help victims of the hurricane. Either way works.

[Sword Mistress]

in addition to what Richard has posted:



i live about 7 hours from New Orleans. fortunately i've accounted for most of my friends down there. most of them are back up here far away from the mess. i'm planning on visiting down in Baton Rouge sometime this week. if any of you know anyone who can donate ANYTHING (physical needs, feminine products, baby products, money, non perishable food, ANYTHING) please do so. Contact numbers are listed below.



in the wake of the hurricane, so many lives were taken but MANY MANY more were spared. this almost causes a problem within itself, because now, those who were in NOLA and evacuated are now displaced from their homes and jobs.

they have no home. they have no income. they have no transportation. they have nothing.



please do what you can even if it's to send just a few small things to the Red Cross. they aren't just in NOLA... there are THOUSANDS in Baton Rouge and here in Shreveport holed up at the Universities and Hospitals, and they've recently opened up Hirsch Coloseum in Shreveport to accomodate the homeless that have come SEVEN HOURS from the wreckage.



American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish;
Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348
America’s Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070
Donate Cash to and Volunteer with:
Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA
703 549-1390
Christian Disaster Response
941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818
Church World Service
1-800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope
417-823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response
800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service
717-859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response
888-256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
800-872-3283
Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief
1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583
For further information: visit the website for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) at: http://www.nvoad.org/

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

[Army Fencer]

Originally Posted by Mauler

While I cannot lend a financial assistance, I did contact the local Red Cross to let them know that I'm a former volunteer EMT with 300+ hrs in ER and ambulance time, Rescue SCUBA Diver, and I have past experience with disaster response situations (including airline crash, tornado and several major storms). I basically told them that I would be available for up to two weeks of on-lacation volunteer time if Red Cross can help me out with travel and lodging. Waiting to hear from them how to make this work.

Good wishes to you and your family. We missed you at the Summer Nationals.

Like you, I went to my local Red Cross and signed up to go down there and help. I get trained on Friday and get shipped out for three weeks this weekend.

I don't have that type of experience, but I plan to bring my stethescope, blood pressure cuff, and otoscope. Maybe they'll come in handy, but I expect the most they'll have me do is pass out food and water.

[sabreman]

My check is on the way. Sure hope this post doesn't get moved off the main page.

[Sword Mistress]

thanks guys... any help will be GREATLY appreciated.

for those actually going downand helping THANK YOU!

i don't think alot of Americans outside of the South really realize how serious this is. we have hundreds of THOUSANDS who are homeless, without jobs and basically just the clothes on their backs.

PLEASE help!

[yeoldearmourer]

My Mother,Sister and brother lived in Biloxi Ms and some how by the grace of the lord their homes are still standing. But they all left before the strom. Now they worry about Looters. Which the in my opion should be shot on sight. Taking food and water is one thing but grabbing TV and 17 pairs of jeans and shoes they should be shot. Thank God I am not the gov of either states If Iwasnt in and wheelchair for right now I will be on the way down has a former Air Force para rescuse and Nurse. I would be there.

[The Mormegil]

i'm just trying to get down there with my guard unit to help. i'm in a position to help. but i need to be able to get down there with authority behind me, otherwisei'm just in the way. this is so frustating. richard, you are to be commended for doing what you can to help. if there is anythingelse i cando to help, let me know. any info that i'm able to come across i'll try to get to the board.

cisco

[JEC]

Richard,
I'm glad to hear that you and your family are safe. We're hoping for the best out there.
Jose

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!


I realize that this can sound hard-hearted, but it is not intended to, and please bear with me.

Would not the money be best spent in relocating the town a bit inshore, so that floodings (at least) are not a problem? When a city is located at the shore in hurricane country, a flooding is not a question of if, it is a question of when. Sooner or later, given enough decades to wait, another Katrina-size hurricane will come along and destroy what will be rebuilt in the coming months/years. Why not try to break the cycle?

Personally, this is a bid hard to grasp, since I live in a country devoid of natural disasters. Our largest earthquake was a 3.9 Richter 100 years ago, we have no volcanoes, no tsunamis, no mudslides, our most dangerous snake is not a killer even if the bite is left untreated, bears hide from people, no floods that cause personal damage, no brushfires to mention - you get the picture.

Why not cut the losses and admit the fact that Katrina-sized hurricanes can not be stopped once they start, and instead keep out of their way?

Again, while I realize that the above can sound harsh, it is not intended to. I wish all affected all the possibly best.

If houses would be built better - i.e. no windows and walls of solid 2-foot concrete - could they still blow down?

Peter Gustafsson

[sabreman]

The problem is that NO is below sea level and subject to major floods from the Miss. river. NO needs a better levee system like Holland.

Also it is necessary to have port cities along the Gulf coast. NO and Mobile have been around for a long time and are historic port cities. You just can't move them to some other location.

[oso97]

Just to let everyone know, plans are underway for a benefit tournament to be held here in the North Texas Division, with the proceeds to go to assisting refugees. I'll post more details as they come together, all that has been decided right now is a general commitment.

[rcmatthews]

If New Orleans is not the largest port in the US, it is at least top 5, because of its location at the mouth of the Mississippi and on the gulf. You can't just say, "since it floods, we wont have any port cities"

[Army Fencer]

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

Like you, I went to my local Red Cross and signed up to go down there and help. I get trained on Friday and get shipped out for three weeks this weekend.

I don't have that type of experience, but I plan to bring my stethescope, blood pressure cuff, and otoscope. Maybe they'll come in handy, but I expect the most they'll have me do is pass out food and water.

My school said no because it's too dangerous down there. I plan to appeal the descision, but can't until 12 Sept.

[Sword Mistress]

what is/are our country/leaders doing?????

Being kept from these American people also by their Military Rulers have been the uncounted offers of assistance from Nations all around the world, including: Venezuela has offered their Medical Airlift Command for the evacuation of peoples trapped in these devastated regions; Holland has offered the resources of their Public Works Ministry (and who are the acknowledged World Experts for below sea level water evacuation procedures); Russia has offered over 100,000 temporary living structures, along with Military Personal to assist their American counterparts; Iran has offered 1 Billion US Dollars in immediate assistance and guaranteed 5,000,000 barrels of oil at $35.00 US Dollars; China has offered their Military Rescue Forces (Who are acknowledged as one of the best in the world for rescuing peoples in flood ravaged areas.)

All of these offers, and more, the Military Leaders of the United States have declined, and for the their previously stated reason: “The United States Government and its People Respectfully Decline your offer of assistance and refer you to our previous State Department Bulletin (NCO:13788) in which we had stated that this remains an internal action.”

taken from: http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index813.htm

[swordsen]

Take a look at CNN, they are doing alot.
(although Hugo Chavez can send me some discounted gas if he likes.....)

[schlager7]

I run a discussion forum based around the Gulf Coast Division in Texas. I have a thread running there that carries the title Louisiana Division even though the area hit is much larger.

Terry Harkey from the Ark-La-Miss Division is working up a checklist.

To our fencing colleagues in the areas hit by Katrina, please either post to my thread (you don't have to be a member to post) or email Terry so the fencing community can know you all right. Please also mention any others you know the status of.

Thank you,

John Trojanowski

[DonnaP]

Originally Posted by Sword Mistress

what is/are our country/leaders doing?????



taken from: http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index813.htm

I undersand your anger, but pointing fingers and making blatant acusations is unproductive and helps no one. I checked your reference and unfortunately I don't see it as any more reputable than some of our "American" journalists. Propaganda is just that no matter what country it is generated in. I also tried to find data regarding the "state dept bulletin" described and was unable to find any other references to it, nor was I able to find any references that concur with your sources information regarding the validity of the offers for assistance from other countries - though I would believe that offers have been made.

I would certainly agree that things are moving slower than everyone would hope, but it is important to remember that with devestation of this magnitude, it can be difficult to get the help/supplies to the victims when there are no roads to drive on. How fast can we get boats, helicopters, etc. to an area? How fast can people leave their jobs to volunteer their time to go and help those in need when there is no local airport to land in? How are volunteers or the government supposed to provide assistance when they are being shot at? It is amazing how a disaster such as this can bring out the very best in many people and at the same time the very worst in others. I can only do my part to offer what assistance I can, both monetarily and through supplies as I do not have the luxury of leaving my job even for a short time to physically help. I pray for those who are living through this horrible event and also for all of those who have volunteered to help.

[Sword Mistress]

my apologies for jumping.

it's still not comforting to know that the media is still witholding ALOT of information (i know it's true because i've talked to people who rode out the storm and have seen the awful things going on).

also, i know for sure at least locally, but also statewide pumps are shutting down in Louisiana by 6pm cst.

great, just what we need. gas fights.