Katrina Relief Efforts Begin

Communications industry finds lessons in Katrina disaster
The Gulf Coast communications havoc caused by Hurricane Katrina highlighted potential vulnerabilities in the nation's phone and data networks and has government officials and industry experts considering new ways to prepare for natural disasters and terrorist attacks. FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.oxfordpress.com/news/content/shared/news/nation/stories/09/10VULNERABLE_TELECOM10_COX.html


Bush: New Orleans will rise again

Four years after Sept. 11 attacks, Bush said, "Americans have every right to expect a more effective response in a time of emergency."
"When the federal government fails to meet such an obligation, I as president am responsible for the problem, and for the solution," he said. Bush also promised to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the emergency response. Democrats have refused to participate in the probe, demanding instead an independent commission review. FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N15713623.htm

Race, class and a hurricane

-67% of the New Orleans population was black/non-Hispanic (compared to 43% in Philadelphia, 37% in Chicago, and 27% in New York).- Half of the population was under the age of 33.- Half of all households earned incomes of less than $27,133 annually- 28% of individuals lived below the poverty level.
FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.waltonian.com/media/paper752/news/2005/09/15/Opinion/Race-Class.And.A.Hurricane-985007.shtml

FEMA begins internal cleanup

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Michael D. Brown, resigned on Monday following the widespread criticism of the agency's response to Hurricane Katrina. His resignation came just three days after Brown was removed from his job of overseeing the relief effort. The White House quickly moved to name a temporary replacement, R. David Paulison, the director of FEMA's Preparedness Division and administrator of the United States Fire Administration. Just a week ago, President George W. Bush had praised Brown for doing a "heck of a job" in responding to the disaster that destroyed most of New Orleans and ravaged the Gulf Coast region. Yet Brown incurred criticism after appearing to be ignorant of the extent and the degree of the hurricane's damage in the days after it hit. FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE PLEASE VISIT:

http://www.thecowl.com/media/paper493/news/2005/09/15/World/Fema-Begins.Internal.Cleanup-986962.shtml

How to survive the first 100 hours of a major disaster

If disaster does strike, chances are you'll be stranded in your home without any electricity, heat or running water, so your household emergency kit will need a flashlight so you can see and a battery-operated radio tuned to a local station for updates from emergency officials.
If your home phone or cell still work -- or if you can reach an operating pay phone -- you should make one call: to an out-of-province friend or relative who your family has agreed to call as soon as they can after a disaster. Having that contact is crucial because a family could be separated -- the parents may work downtown while the children are in school in the suburbs -- and it could be days before they are reunited. FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/observer/story.html?id=67e4a295-2fc8-42f4-b0a5-3a90a44fd984

Non-Disaster Groups Use Internet For Real-Time Katrina Response

Hurricane Katrina provides a big reminder of the vital role nonprofits play in today’s society. In these early days of the response, forward thinking organizations -- of all sizes and with varying missions -- have proactively used the Internet to raise awareness of their work and how important it is to raise funds for helping people and communities recover in coming months and even years. FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=6212&mode=thread&order=0