[Cincinatus' Wife]

Astrodome at capacity, but buses with evacuees keep coming (Houston 22,000) (D.C. 400)

Houston mayor asks residents to open their homes and garages (100,000 already in Houston)

'That boy is a hero': Rescue of family is silver lining for city (Biloxi)

Pets stranded by hurricane to get help from Broward

Letters from a FReeper - Americans head out to help family, friends and strangers hurt by Katrina

Need is vast, but so is outpouring

[HungarianGypsy]

On one e-list one lady talked about someone she knew getting through on her cell to family. A large group of evacuees could be heard singing "Amazing Grace".

[tiki]

Its like they want us to hate them. I despise the looters and shooters, I sure don't like the whiners but I realize they exist but in the times I've watched they have shown 3 people who weren't demanding or whining.

Part of the problem is they are only covering NO where all the angst is for ratings.

[jammer]

Well, you are correct. It's not as if they don't have the air time exposure to do these stories.

Having said that (and, as everyone has reminded us, if it bleeds it leads), there are legitimate questions that have to be answered. Not the troop levels or timing necessarily. The big question I have is, "why have FEMA? Why are we paying taxes for it?"

I know people are upset with questioning of delays, but that is the NAME of it, the Federal Emergency Management Administration. Is their job to just come in and write checks after an emergency is over and Texans rescue the victims? If so, then let's rename them to Federal Insurance Agency, fire 90% of the bureaucrats, and stop the waste of the money for planning. If not, then their performance, both planning and in action, is an unmitigated failure. And this is a question that has to be focused upon.

[eyespysomething]

Here's some good news:

A co-worker's family lost everything, but luckily they evacuated. She was heading out Friday (today) afternoon to the Mississippi coast to help how she can. Wednesday another co-worker emailed everyone and said if we wanted to donate something to bring it by her office by Friday (today) a.m.

Laura had to go home and get her husband's truck because of the amount of items we sent off with her. Oh, and around $500. In a day and 1/2. She was crying, we were trying not to cry (like that ever works). I hope it helps her.

17 people in her family lost everything. Her parents, sister, brothers, their spouses, and kids (one of them had 9! kids). I'm calling HR Monday, because Laura hasn't been at her job for real long, and I'm going to offer some of my sick or vacation time.

[eyespysomething]

Here;

Kathy's prayers were answered when the bright orange raincoat she was wearing caught the attention of Daniel through his rain-splattered window. The 45-year-old waded downstairs and managed to release his 14ft fishing boat from its trailer beside the house. He was joined by his 48-year-old brother, who lives next door, and together they motored through the choppy, debris-strewn water and plucked Kathy to safety. "These guys are heroes," she says. "If it hadn't been for them I would probably be dead."

Next, the brothers sailed from house to house looking for other neighbours in distress. Among those rescued: an elderly man recently recovered from a heart bypass operation and his wife, who could not swim; and Irvin Blanks, an 85-year-old D-Day veteran, who afterwards gave the brothers his war medals to thank them for saving his life. "If the storm had occurred at night I wouldn't have survived," he says.

In all, 10 people spent Monday night in the sanctuary of Daniel and Sara's upper floor. John has been bed-ridden there since wounding his bare foot on a submerged shard of glass following the storm.

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=FT&Date=20050902&ID=5083504

[dr_who_2]

I don't know about you, but I don't bother tuning into the MSM anymore.

[AliVeritas]

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8693

[snowsislander]

Local ham-radio operators help rescue effort

Family finds relief at a local shelter

Evacuees finding this community a pet-friendly one

Local doctors, medics awaiting call for help

[JLO]

Keep up with your good work, Cincinatus' Wife - you are doing a super job with spreading good news!

More pics at the link (sorry I can't post a photo and a hotlink in one post. I even had help). Can't do it. http://www.marinetimes.com/Photos/index.php?d=20050902&i=4

[snowsislander]

Residents use weekend to help storm victims

[snowsislander]

Local community pitches in to help Salvation Army serve hurricane refugees

[snowsislander]

Small Town America Responds to Katrina