Hurricane Katrina

[GSH34]

I know that this post obviously has nothing to do with A&A. However, I believe there are times in life when a person needs to pause and consider the relavancy of their priorities. Today, I read at ABCNews.com about how the deceased and dying are beginning to become a "common" site on the streets of New Orleans. One journalist reported seeing a deceased man on a chair in the median. Their were babies laying around him wailing. A nursing home there has had no food, running water, sewer, or electricity for "days". 30 residents have already died. The remaining workers there feared another 30 would die Thursday alone with out immediate supplies/relief.

I have several friends from high school that live in New Orleans. Some of them from large, poor families. I seriously pray that they are all ok.


Axis and Allies takes up a large chunk of my free time and, in a way, you guys are kind of an "extended family". I just needed to talk about this because the events are so large it helps me appreciate what I have and how truely lucky I am. Feel free to post your thoughts here about Katrina and related events. Please, I don't want this to degenerate into a political/cultural debate in any way, shape or form. I want respect for the people who have died from this tragedy and the lives that are in utter disarray. This a real disaster in the truest sense and I think it would be good to talk it in our own cirlce.

Mods. I don't know how this thread is going to go over. I only mean to get some emotions off of my chest and start a thearaputic discussion. I would like if this one topic could get a 'pass' and be allowed to stay.

[squirecam]

Important thread.

But I bet it gets moved.

[Moderator Sinister]

moved but still ok by me!

[CrazyStraw]

GSH,

Sorry to hear about your friends going through the craziness down there. I work at the University of Michigan and they are enacting a whole battery of ideas to help out. UM hospital has a world renowned survival-flight team that uses helicopters and fixed wing aircraft to transport patients. The core of that team is down south now helping with pediatric transport. The U is doing a ton of other stuff as well. And the churches up here are putting together various types of relief plans in whatever ways they can think of. The people on the Gulf coast are on everyone’s minds; help is arriving now and it will continue to come in for quite a while thereafter.

Being in the Midwest, the gamers I know are probably too far away to help put up guests, but I'd like to go on record as saying that I think all the guys in the area would help the other guys out if we knew someone had a need in a situation like this. Heck, if a tornado hit his house, I'd even let Squirecam crash at my place. Sure, the bed might be too short for him, and there might be an oddly drippy pipe for him to sleep under, but he'd be welcome ;)

With that in mind, if your friends can think of anything a community of gamers can do, let us know. I bet we could collect a bunch of games THAT DON'T REQUIRE ELECTRICITY for displaced kids and families if we knew of a place where that would be useful. Maybe a few big UPS boxes sent to the Astro Dome full of things to pass the time would help.

Money and other goods should go through the Salvation Army, but post it here if you know some folks that want some gaming entertainment. I could round up a few things quickly, and I bet the other guys could too.

Guys, is it worth trying to send gear? I’m betting the people in the refuge areas will be there for a while; certainly long enough to go stir-crazy. Shipping addresses for the big places like the sports arenas will be easy to find. Thoughts?

Peace

[squirecam]

The red cross/ salvation army requested only cash. Items were not to be donated at this time.

Squirecam

[TrimChris]

I've been in Dallas about 10 years now, but prior to that I spent my whole life growing up and through college in New Orelans. Today I read that the shopping mall I visited most during that time was burnt down by multiple fires started inside.

It's so surreal...

Anyway, for noncash donations there are other charities besides Red Cross taking things in. In Dallas they are advising us not to bring donations to the arena since they don't have the manpower there to handle it, but there are instead designated sites throughout the city for collection. I'm sure other cities receiving refugees may have similar operations.

[CrazyStraw]

Yeah, I think we could find a variety of places that would like some gear. We could focus on games for the kids.

[Lt M Cotten]

I too have family and friends in Avondale just outside NO. They were blessed enough to not have their house damaged other than to lose power and a few shingles. Now they have to worry about the looters.

My wife and I took the kids to Mississippi to go to the beach this summer, and from what I can tell the condo we stayed at and the mall we visited are both nearly destroyed, as well as the casino I lost some money in.

The size and scope of the damage is unreal. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have suffered in the disaster.

[koops]

Living In England We're Fortunate Enough Not To Suffer From Severe Storms And Hurricans. We Had A Village Wiped Out Last Year But Nothing On The Scale Of Katrina, Thoughts Are With All Caught Up In This

[V-Disc]

My connection to NOLA {New Orleans LouisianA} & surrounding areas is, I guess, a spiritual or cultutral one.
This is the city and region that gave birth to jazz and so much incredible music. From gospel and blues to R&B, Rock & Roll, funk, zydeco...you name it!....any style of American music has in some way been informed or influenced by the sounds of the Crescent City. There is no place on earth quite like New Orleans.
I'm just in shock....my heart goes out to these poor people.

[smo63]

GHS34,

Great post and my sympathies goes out to all those suffering down south...those trying to help and those that have lost!

My biggest fear might already be a reality in that, here in our home town, a prayer vigil was schedule in the center of downtown by one of the largest Churches for the victim lost in the hurricane; sounds great but then it was cancelled shortly after due to racial reasons?

Not sure if there is an answer. Yeah, playing AA and football seem way down on the list of priorities when it comes to something of this magnitude. I am the commish of a FFL and we had our draft Friday night. We all voted on giving a good portion of this years Super Bowl winnings to the Red Cross relief effort...I just hope and pray that each of us can do what we can to help...IGWT.

GS:)

[smo63]

Guys,

You made me think...let me check with Mod Sinister and AH and see if we can get a AA collection together using the AH Community by sending money to a Pay Pal account and I will forward the monies donated to the Red Cross.

Hopefully most of you know me and know that your donations will be taken care of and that this is NOT a scam? I have never done this before so, not sure if this is politically correct on how one goes about it so...I will let you know soon as I find out the logistics?

Peace,
Greg Smorey
Axis & Allies Tournaments, GEN CON Indy/Origins