The following came via email from Michelle Harris, David Harris’ wife, on behalf of the Fort Worth Police Department:
Officer Tom Wiederhold, one of our FWPD L.E.E.A.N coordinators, has spoken with Lt Carol Aldridge, Commander of Dist 2, New Orleans Police Department. She has made the following request for items:
· Contractor size heavy-duty trash bags,
· large rubber trash barrels
· walkie talkies with a range of at least 5 miles
· Nylon duty gear
· Duty knives
· Dry rat and roach poison
· “Dry” foot care medicines
· One gallon water jugs
· “Small” fruit juices and cases of soft drinks or Gatorade
· Dehydrated or dried fruit rations (like hikers carry) **NO fresh fruit, please**
· Granola bars
· Charcoal grills and cook tops with “self lighting” charcoal
· Socks would be nice
· And all the ICE they can getDONATIONS can be taken to the Fort Worth Police Academy, 1000 Calvert The FWPD L.E.E.A.N. group will head out for New Orleans early Thursday (09-08-05) morning, if possible. These items are needed A.S.A.P.!
Lt. Aldridge asked that all items be packaged to keep dry and stored so that they won’t get wet (all materials are being kept outside). Their Officers are sleeping in tents, so anything “camping” would help. She will be gathering a list of boot sizes to forward as an additional need.
According to the lieutenant, Federal assistance is coming, but the majority of relief items are being diverted or maintained at the Federal impound and not reaching officers in her District. Basically, they are not receiving these basic needs items and need our help.
*** What is L.E.E.A.N. ? – The Ft Worth Police Dept “Law Enforcement Emergency Assistance Network” is up and running to provide help to any Police Families coming into the North Texas area as well as collecting Equipment and needed personal itmes to send to the Storm Damaged areas. The Peer Support Team is the Lead, Cpl Jim Houck is in charge. Donations of items may be brought to the FT Worth Police Academy. The collections will be for items only, no monies will be accepted. As we learn what is most needed by the Officers we will pass that information on. There are several relief efforts under way and we want to make sure that we do not duplicate too much!
Dean A. Sullivan, Lieutenant
Fort Worth Police Department
Public Information Officer
ofc: (817) 392-4214
fax: (817) 392-4216
Houston Helps is another one-stop source for Katrina assistance information. Lots of good information there, so check it out. Via H-Town Blogs.
Nick Lampson has a comprehensive list of Katrina resources on his homepage. Mike Fjetland drove a vanload of relief supplies to Baton Rouge over the weekend. What’s Tom DeLay been up to?
On Tuesday, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, sought to deflect criticism of the federal response before announcing that House hearings on the issue had been canceled — and pressing for a joint review instead.
“The emergency response system was set up to work from the bottom up,” DeLay said late Tuesday.
DeLay added that Alabama and Mississippi did a much better job of responding quickly than Louisiana. Alabama and Mississippi have Republican governors. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco is a Democrat.
Not that he’s playing politics or anything like that, mind you. I just wonder if his perfectly rational explanation for not rolling back the gas tax would have applied to the estate tax repeal if the House hadn’t already approved that.
I’d like to thank Tim in the comments for pointing out this statement on Katrina relief efforts by Senator Barack Obama. Pretty easy to see why he has so many fans around the country.
Finally, the following came via email from a listserv I’m on:
The Wireless Internet Service Providers Organization, known as PART-15.org, is working with the Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reestablish internal communications and provide connectivity to those affected by Katrina. This organization offers opportunities to volunteer equipment, personnel or supplies, to donate funds, and to provide shelter relief services. Click here for more.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Emergency Resource Registry provides opportunities for those interested in donating communications-related expertise or equipment, including laptop or notebook computers and network construction and maintenance equipment.
If you know of any other organizations focusing on technology-related relief efforts that are accepting contributions, please forward this information to katrina_relief@acm.org, and we will post it on the ACM Home Page. For those interested in contributing to those organizations identified by FEMA for support of Katrina relief efforts, they are listed online here.
As always, more as I get it.
“Pretty easy to see why he has so many fans around the country.”
Well, we’ll see about that one.
I notice he mentioned the national repsonse but said nothing direct about the monumental failures of the local and state authorities.
Does this mean he subscribes to Senator Clinton’s deception, that a National Commission should only look at the fed response?
Here is the best description of Senator Clinton’s deceptive proposal given so far:
“Despite the abject failures of local and state officials to prepare for the worst, abide by their own evacuation plans, maintain an effective police force, and crack down on looters, Sen. Clinton’s commission would only examine the “adequacy of federal response efforts.” ” — Michelle Malkin,
” Not Another Damned Commission ”
Malkin is also of course one of the people who has been blasting FEMA and has demanded Bush fire Brown, so her call for investigation of the LOCAL failues as well as the federal is not due to partisanship.
But Clinton’s attempt to limit the range of the commission’s investigation certainly is rank partisanship, and the findings of such a commission would be laughed out of the national discussion.
Contact President Bush so federal authorities involved in evacuations from New Orleans will stop forcing residents to leave their animals behind
http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-disasterletter.asp?c=ha_kat_net
Help Protect Animals When Natural Disasters Strike > Open Letter to Mr. Bush From Rue McClanahan
OPEN LETTER TO MR. BUSH FROM RUE MCCLANAHAN:
September 4, 2005
Dear President Bush:
Please show the world that America cares about people and their beloved dogs, cats and other animal companions by immediately directing federal authorities involved in evacuations from New Orleans to stop forcing residents to leave their animals behind.
One elderly woman who had stayed in her water-logged home for five days, soley because the only companion she has left in the world, her dog, could not get out, has been ordered out without her dog. Her world is no world at all now. A child was crying so hard his heart seemed about to break, because his dog was turned away from the bus he was boarding. Helicopter and boat crews sent in to the flooded areas are giving ultimatums to residents to choose between vital medicines and their animals. Abandonment is illegal, this is America. We surely have the wherewithal to rescue both and preserve the image of ourselves as a caring nation?
I beg you to pick up the phone and order federal authorities to start evacuating people with their animals. They cannot be left to starve to death in these United States.
Thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely,
Rue McClanahan
…………..
If a hurricane should come this way and you have pets:
Disaster Preparation Checklist for Pets
If at all possible, do not leave animals behind. There is no way of knowing what may happen to your home while you are away, and you may not be able to return for days or even weeks. Animal companions left behind may become malnourished, dehydrated, or crushed by collapsing walls. They may drown or escape in fear and become lost.
All animals should have collars with identification. Make sure that you have a current photo of your animal companion for identification purposes, the same as you would for a child.
Place an emergency window sticker near your front door in case a weather emergency or fire strikes when you are not home. This sticker will alert rescuers to animals in your home who need help. Be sure to note how many animals are in the home and where they can be found.
Have an animal emergency kit readily available. The kit should include a harness and leash or carrier, bottled water, food and water bowls, and dry food. If you have a cat, keep litter and a small litter tray ready to go. Click here to order a PETA Rescue Kit to keep in your car that contains a collapsible carrier, leash, and towel. The kit is helpful if you must grab your animals quickly or if you encounter an animal on the road in need of help. You might also need blankets or sheets to cover carriers and help keep animals calm during transport.
Hotels often lift their “no pets” policies during emergencies, but keep a list of hotels that always accept companion animals, just in case. (Most Motel 6s accept animals.) Include your local animal shelter’s number in your list of emergency numbers—it might be able to provide information during a disaster.
If you are unable to return to your home right away, you may need to board your animal companion. Most boarding kennels, veterinarians, and animal shelters require medical records to make sure that rabies vaccinations are current, so keep copies of these records with your emergency kit.
If You Must Leave Your Animal Behind
Never turn animals loose. Do not tie animals outside or keep them in a vehicle unattended. Leave them in a secure area inside your home.
Leave out at least 10 days’ supply of water. Fill every sink, bowl, pan, and Tupperware container with water, then set them on the floor; do not leave just one container—it may spill. If your toilet bowl is free of chemical disinfectants, leave the toilet seat up to provide animals with one more source of water, but do not let that be the only source.
Leave out at least 10 days’ supply of dry food. Canned food will go rancid quickly.
If you can’t get to your home, contact a reliable neighbor or friend to check on the animals and get them out, if possible. Provide specific instructions on care.
Helping Wild Animals
Wild animals may also need our help during severe storms. Strong winds and gusts generated by tropical storms and hurricanes often throw young tree squirrels, flying squirrels, and baby birds from their nests. Flooding from significant rainfall may also force small mammals from their subterranean homes.
Following severe weather, be sure to search carefully through debris and nearby creeks and streams for animals who have been displaced from their homes. These animals may need help right away. Before inclement weather arrives, check out the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Web site and locate the nearest rehabilitator so you’ll know whom to contact in the event of an emergency.
I did not see a link for the above open letter so maybe this will do:
Contacting the White House
Mailing Address
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone Numbers
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD
Comments: 202-456-6213
Visitors Office: 202-456-2121
E-Mail
Please send your comments to comments@whitehouse.gov. Due to the large volume of e-mail received, the White House cannot respond to every message. For further up-to-date information on Presidential initiatives, current events, and topics of interest to you, please continue to use the White House website.
If you have a question about a particular government benefit, program or service, contact FirstGov.gov.
FirstGov.gov is the official U.S. gateway to all government information and is a catalyst for a growing electronic government.