When will help arrive?

The American Red Cross has

launched the "largest mobilization of resources in its history for a single natural disaster" and called on Americans to donate money to its Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the organization to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance.

I've been watching the news today and have seen some of the immense devastation wrought by Hurrican Katrina.

Louisiana is a mess. The governor has called for the evacuation of New Orleans as flood waters continue to enter the city. People are trapped on rooftops. House after house has been flattened. The French Quarter is filling with water. There is no electricity, no phone service, no cell phone towers, no gasoline, no food, no fresh water, and no way to really leave because bridges have been damaged.

Mississippi has also been hit hard, as has Alabama to a lesser extent.

As of Monday night, more than 37,000 people were in American Red Cross shelters along the Gulf Coast. Officials warned people against trying to return to their homes, saying that would only interfere with the rescue and recovery efforts.

Tens of thousands of people will need shelter for weeks if not months, said Mike Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. And once the floodwaters go down, "it's going to be incredibly dangerous" because of structural damage to homes, diseases from animal carcasses and chemicals in homes, he said.

"We've got a floating cesspool right now," said Dr. Steven Garner, chief medical officer at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center in New York City.

The Red Cross told reporters the Katrina relief effort would be bigger than that of Sept. 11.

"We know that there is a lot of the coast that we have not been able to get to," Barbour said. "I hate to say it, but it looks like it is a very bad disaster in terms of human life."

Where is the help?

Aid organizations urged Americans to give money rather than food or clothing.

"People are going to be without homes or places to put stuff," said Salvation Army Divisional Commander Major Dalton Cunningham.

Monetary donations "allow the Salvation Army to assess the unique needs of individuals and families, as well as put money back into the economy of those communities affected by the disaster," Cunningham said, adding that retail giant Wal-Mart has contributed one million dollars.

Damage was estimated in the billions of dollars, and Bush has declared affected areas eligible for federal disaster relief.

Of course, the help comes from other Americans, in the form of donations to various aid organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army, as well as money from the government (undonated money).

And no surprise that the organization most hated by the liberals (not the Church) Walmart has pitched in immediately. That's what the good people at Walmart do---they help those in need, not hurt them.

Where is Saudi Arabia, donating oil?

Where are Mexico, Indonesia, the countries of Africa, Canada, Germany, etc? We have donated plenty of money to them. Will they reply in kind? Doubtful.

Of course,

Meanwhile, authorities in Mexico and Honduras took steps to help immigrants from their countries who live in the affected US states.

Considering how many of their "citizens" illegally reside in our country and send our money back to their country, you would think Mexico could do a bit more. But, of course not.

And we really do not need them, because we take care of our own, as well as theirs'. The United States is not a selfish country, nor a weak country. We will clean up and rebuild on our own . . . because we can.

If you would like to donate to the relief efforts, please visit here.