August 31, 2005

How You Can Help Victims of Hurricane Katrina

This week millions of Americans fled Hurricane Katrina. Across the South families abandoned their homes and businesses, not knowing what would be there when they returned.

Many stayed behind and suffered devastating loss and injuries -- nearly a hundred have died that we know of, and hundreds of thousands need our help.

If you are looking for ways to help, the Red Cross, both national and local, are a great place to start: They are already moving people and resources into the region to help. Donations will provide clean water, food, and shelter for disaster victims. The Red Cross Web site also has important information for victims and their relatives across the country.

The San Diego Area Red Cross has sent volunteers to travel to affected areas -- doctors and nurses to provide medical care, workers to build shelters, first responders to assist in rescue operations. A San Diego medical team arrived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, today to provide medical help to victims of Hurricane Katrina, whose swath of disaster cut through four Gulf Coast states yesterday. Co-sponsored by San Diego based International Relief Teams (IRT) and the University of California San Diego Medical Center, the 30-member Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) will assess the medical needs of the storm's victims and administer antibiotics, vaccines and various pharmaceuticals to prevent the spread of a number of communicable diseases common with hurricanes and floods.