Direct Relief for America

Right now in Austin we are trying to organize a benefit concert to raise money and collect supplies to provide DIRECT RELIEF from the American people to the survivors of hurricane Katrina.

My suspicions have been confirmed...New Orleans and the wonderful people who have created the city's great culture of life are destroyed...scattered...divided...leaderless...but there is still great hope.

The American people have stood together while our federal government would not and could not. America and our democracy are after all comprised of us...all of us...Americans. We the people have come to the aid of our suffering brethren, and local New Orleans officials have done what they could with local resources...it is the Federal government and the Bush Administration who have failed the people of New Orleans and the surrounding area and our safety and security as a Nation.

In New Orleans...we know how to take care of our own but we were stopped by FEMA and Homeland Security.

It is now up to Americans regardless of race, creed, or political orientation to take a stand...to heal the devisive wounds of prejudice, hatred and bigotry and to reach out to our fellow Americans who are in dire need.

It takes a people to nurture and restore a wounded nation...not a government.

New Orleans will be rebuilt...in all of her former majesty and magic...charm and culture. As the sun will rise upon our beautiful city once again, so shall we restore our democracy to a government of the people, by the people and for the people and assure such incompetent leadership never darkens our shores again.

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Road Warriors

Dot and I have just returned from a successful run to Covington...things are improving greatly there since we arrived Sunday morning after driving all night. Dot collected clothes, water, diapers and baby formula from the Dallas area. In Austin, Kellie, Karen and Aimee from the Continental Club, Tina, manager of the Hotel San Jose, and I collected water, baby food, baby wipes, paper towels, TOWELS are a great commodity as are blankets and other supplies. Friends wired money for the truck and gas and KGSR in Austin announced where people could go to drop off goods or donations for relief going DIRECTLY to the people of Covington and those that did not have goods donated money for fuel.

The devistation is unphathomable. One hundred fifty foot pine trees toppled like tooth-picks onto houses, cars, across roads...snapped at the trunk or simply blown over by Katrina's winds. Almost every home and building have sustained damage...many with huge trees draped across the roofs. When we arrived at 9:30 am Sunday, there was no power...5 days after Katrina. The lines for gasoline were at least a mile long and power and telecommunication lines were laying over houses, cars and roads.

We had to guess where Annie and Buddy's house was...many street signs, as you can imagine, were missing and wires draped from broken poles to the ground where they were still connected to large transformers.

There is gasoline now in Covington but it is being rationed to $10 of gas per person which at $3 a gallon is not squat.

The Red Cross refused almost all of our supplies. They took some baby formula and diapers. As we stood dumbfounded by the lack of interest in the pallette of water we intended to unload for them, along with the other supplies, we were told to go to one of two other Red Cross shelters in Covington. None wanted the clothes.

The Vets for Peace were there and Gordon told us they would take the water and baby food and supplies in an attempt to distribute them to the community. As we were unloading, two ladies approached with small children. After getting formula and diapers from us, one asked that we go to the neighborhoods and try to knock on doors. There are many sick or infirmed or elderly who are either scared or too sick or trapped in their homes to get help.

We were told a Baptist Church in the area may be accepting clothes...so we followed a Sherrif's deputy to the church and were able to unload all of the clothes and shoes to a grateful group of volunteers.

Many who were at Camp Casey II may have seen and heard James McMurtry, James would like to have a benefit which will be held this week to raise money and goods for Direct Relief for America.

James, Jackie, Tim, and Kris went into New Orleans on Sunday and again on Monday and have incredible video, photographs and touching stories as they were able to rescue three people and a dog and get them all to the National Guard for airlift.

This is an ongoing problem and will require months of these kinds of efforts to supply fresh water and goods to the Gulf Coast...the aid agencies just will NOT be able to handle it on their own. One container kitchen was able to feed 1000 people on Sunday...there are 8500-10,000 in Covington alone. Slidell and Bogalousa were hit very hard and the people of Bougalousa have no government and are running out of food and have very little water.

Thank you all for your generousity, compassion and the hope and inspiration you give to all of us.

Peace, Love and Compassion,

Ian