Devastation extends to Pensacola FL. The entire Gulf Coast was hit hard.
One thing that anyone from anywhere can do is donate to the Red Cross.
In Shreveport alone, the Red Cross is providing shelter for 800 people, most of them from New Orleans.
There are hundreds of communities across the south where the Red Cross is doing the same. Governor Blanco just said it may be weeks before these people will even be able to survey the damage to their homes. They are not going home any time soon.
In addition, the thousands of people that are currently in the Superdome are going to be moved to other shelters.
In southeast Louisiana alone, there is likely over a half million people who are now homeless. I don't know how many to add to that number from Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle.
The Red Cross is essential. Donate now.
I've heard there is not a clothing shortage, yet... but I'm wondering about laundry facilities. As for toiletries, I am betting that local businesses will donate quite a bit. WalMart gets a lot of flack, but our local managers have always been very generous.
Clothing may be an issue later, since the people now being evacuated won't be bringing their own, as those who evacuated before the storm did.
At least one local pharmacy is providing the Red Cross with medications for those in the shelter, so that need is being met so far. The local homeless coalition is also helping with supplies and volunteers.
Actually, it's shelters now. In addition to the 1000 people (up from the 800 reported earlier) at LSUS, Hirsch Coliseum is being opened as a shelter. Bossier City has also opened one with a capacity of about 200.
It's been rumored that CenturyTel Center may also be used.
Several of the larger churches are also housing people, and you can be assured that in this community, every church has responded in some way.
For the rest, it's difficult to predict exactly what is needed. Cash is the safest - it can used where necessary and for exactly what is needed. With donations, you run the risk of having tons of deodorant when what you need is diapers. Or vice versa.
One thing I'm going to do is gather up some books to take to the shelter. I can imagine how I would feel being pretty much stuck there without my "library". It's a small thing, but maybe will take someone's mind off whether they have a home to return to or not, for a few hours.
The Caddo and Bossier school districts are enrolling the children at the shelters, so I'm also going to send the reams of notebook paper you left here. That should keep at least 10 kids supplied for several weeks. I doubt any of the evacuees thought they would be dealing with school here.
Larry's doing the night shift at the LSUS shelter, so I might have an update in the morning on what's needed.
But cash... that works for anything.