I am just numb....

In the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina, I am still pretty much in shock. It really hits close to home because my Aunt is a social worker at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and we haven't heard from her since noon on Sunday. She told my father that she was having to work and they were telling her to plan on being at the hospital for at least a week if not more.

My parents also lived on the north shore in Mandeville from 1990 to 1996 in the Greenleaves subdivision and still have many friends in St. Tammany parish. Thankfully, most of them live around Mandeville and the reports I have been seeing is that there is very little flooding in that area, mostly wind damage and trees on houses. My parents do have one friend who lives to the east of Mandeville closer to Abita Springs who was going to stay. The has we had heard from her, she was going to stay, but send her mother to stay with relatives in Greenville, MS. I am hoping that her mother was able to persuade her to go up to Greenville with her.

I am dropping off a cash donation for the Salvation Army on my way home from work today and will be mailing a check next week closer to payday for the Episcopal Relief and Development fund (http://www.er-d.org/) via the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas which will be sending funds and assistance to help out the victims.

If your reading this and are able to contribute any amount, I ask to you please give. I truly want to believe that the vast majority of New Orealans people are good and the ones you see looting are a very small percentage.... Please remember these people in your prayers...