HurricAid (Wizbang)

If you've read some of Paul's posts about Hurricane Katrina you're probably aware that he's out of house and out of work.

Several people have asked what, if anything, they could do to help. In both the short and long term what those displaced by Hurricane Katrina need most is money. Think about the millions displaced... Many fled to stay with family in other cities, while others are staying in hotels. Just the cost of the hotel bills alone will be enough to tap the bank accounts of those displaced by the storm. These people are going to be homeless for several months, which is going to be a hell of a hotel bill...

I've discussed the situation with Paul, so here's the deal. We will be raising money here at Wizbang to go directly to him. I expect that he will spend some portion of it on himself and his family, but I'm know for a fact that he knows of people in tighter spots than he, who he would like to help. If you're OK with that arrangement please consider donating (via PayPal) by clicking the button below (or in the left sidebar).

The PayPal payments go directly to me, then the full amount of the donation is forwarded to Paul to spend as he sees fit. He may (or may not) report back on what the money is being used for. If you're comfortable with that arrangement I'd like to personally encourage you to donate. Jay Tea will be detailing some of our other fundraising efforts (proceeds going to Paul and others) later today.

This is micro-charity folks. If you're looking to make relief donations in aggregate try the Red Cross link in the left sidebar.

Update (8/31/05 5:00PM ET): The first $1000 has been raised and sent. In addition to the amount I will be contributing, I'll also be covering the PayPal fees of all the donations, so that Paul will receive every penny that is donated.

Update (9/1/05 3:00PM ET): $2,200 and counting. Thank you so much -keep it coming...

Comments (30)

Contribution sent. <p... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by jmaster | August 31, 2005 10:32 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

jmaster:

Contribution sent.

All I ask for in return is that Paul never close comments on his posts again....

Posted on August 31, 2005 10:32

Money sent! Please stay saf... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Dave Wisdom | August 31, 2005 10:35 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Dave Wisdom:

Money sent! Please stay safe!

Posted on August 31, 2005 10:35

Whatever the terms... You h... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Jack in TX | August 31, 2005 10:41 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Jack in TX:

Whatever the terms... You help your friends.
It's on its way.
Stay safe. God Bless.

Posted on August 31, 2005 10:41

Goddamn PayPal! I'... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by David Earney | August 31, 2005 10:54 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

David Earney:

Goddamn PayPal!

I'll get it sent as soon as Paypal works again. Bastards.

Posted on August 31, 2005 10:54

On its way. Hang in there.<... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | August 31, 2005 11:00 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Jeff Blogworthy:

On its way. Hang in there.

Posted on August 31, 2005 11:00

The hotel we are at has a c... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Paul | August 31, 2005 11:01 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Paul:

The hotel we are at has a continential breakfast. While down there today it was quite sobering. One woman was facing eviction from the hotel because she was out of money. A visiting gospel group paid for 2 nights for her but after that she is on her own. I helped her as best I could becasue I had found some hotel rates in the 60 dollar a night range at resonable hotels. Still, that means she is faced with 1800 a month rent and she has to eat every meal out. She has a 70 year old, an 80 year old and 2 kids with her. I gave her the number of the red cross in Memphis and a few bucks but frankly I don't know how much I have to give.

That was just one story of dozens. And they are dozens in the millions.

I guess somebody smarter than me can put a finite dollar need on this thing... But from my chair the need is infinite. If I had a million dollars in my pocket and I tried to help everyone I could, I'd be empty before lunch. - Or that's how it feels anyway. Every third person in the hotel is homeless.

Probably 90% of the money will be spent on rent for people who have no homes. --That is by far the biggest problem.-- Hotel rates hover in the mid $80 range... that's $2400 a month with no way to cook food. I've seen a few people sleeping in their cars.

I was fortunate enough to rent one of those temporary apartments. I'm still looking at $2200 a month but at least I have a kitchen and laundy facilities.

I'll account for the donations to the best this bizzare situation allows but things are chaotic to say the least.

As Kevin mentioned, I'm no Donald Trump but there are many, many worse off than me. To the extent Wizbang readers can help get money to the victims it will be greatly appreciated I'm sure.

This is basiaclly as direct as the money can get. Minus paypal fees, it goes to the people who need it most.

Thanks

Paul

Posted on August 31, 2005 11:01

Money sent. Wish I c... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Angie | August 31, 2005 11:19 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Angie:

Money sent.
Wish I could do more.

Stay Safe.

Posted on August 31, 2005 11:19

I don't know how many peopl... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by pennywit | August 31, 2005 11:29 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

pennywit:

I don't know how many people have thought of this, but they should call their homeowners or renters' insurance companies. Many of these companies offer at least a limited allowance for lodging if you are forced out of your home by disaster.

--|PW|--

Posted on August 31, 2005 11:29

Donation sent. Woohoo! Payp... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by David Earney | August 31, 2005 12:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Donation sent. Woohoo! Paypal is back up.

Posted on August 31, 2005 12:38

Also, be sure to keep recei... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by jmaster | August 31, 2005 1:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Also, be sure to keep receipts related to your dislocation (food, rent, transportation, etc.) If it isn’t covered by insurance, some of that could be deductible from your future income taxes.

Posted on August 31, 2005 13:31

Can anyone tell me if there... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by MikeyMike | August 31, 2005 3:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

MikeyMike:

Can anyone tell me if there is a link or button I can put on my corporate website that people can send their donations too?

Posted on August 31, 2005 15:34

Flood Insurance thou... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by candoor | August 31, 2005 4:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

candoor:

Flood Insurance thoughts from Florida are with you.

Posted on August 31, 2005 16:31

Paul,I'm taking up... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by Matt | August 31, 2005 4:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Matt:

Paul,

I'm taking up a collection among co-workers and members of my parish. Whatever is raised will be split between you and the family of my wife's best friend (They also evacuated with next to nothing).

It's a little thing, but I hope it makes a difference.

Posted on August 31, 2005 16:34

Also having delays with Pay... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by -S- | August 31, 2005 4:37 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

-S-:

Also having delays with PayPal, sorry, Paul. And so sorry for your woes -- the situation is really awful, I can tell from here.

I will contribute but it might be mid-next-week before I get PayPal to respond to an uptake in funds, so as to donate.

Posted on August 31, 2005 16:37

Paul (and anyone else affec... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by -S- | August 31, 2005 4:42 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Paul (and anyone else affected) (in case you can read this, sorry)...the federal people earlier said on television that there are going to be housing vouchers available for anyone displaced as to housing. Either that or shelter type housing (better than sleeping in a car).

I'd go to the nearest Red Cross office and plead for emergency aid, which should be provided under these circumstances. The worst that could happen is you'd get to sleep in an airconditioned, relatively secure gymnasium with bathrooms and showers available and meals. It's enough to get someone by until they can get emergency temporary housing...and that's enough to keep someone going for several months or more until they can regroup.

Bad situation I realize but the Red Cross can help and with immediate housing/food/healthcare needs if you are out of house/home due to the disaster of Katrina.

Posted on August 31, 2005 16:42

Kevin...I wrote a thread on... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by -S- | August 31, 2005 4:53 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Kevin...I wrote a thread on BIRD to help bring attention to this donation for Paul but my Trackback was "throttled" and otherwise, well, throttled.

Posted on August 31, 2005 16:53

Paypal stuck in a loop when... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by mesablue | August 31, 2005 5:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

mesablue:

Paypal stuck in a loop when I hit the pay button.

Either that or I just payed three times. Either way will try again later.

Best of luck.

Posted on August 31, 2005 17:26

Donation happily sent...God... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by Cardinals Nation | August 31, 2005 5:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Cardinals Nation:

Donation happily sent...God be with you.

Hey, somebody cyber-slap me if I'm off-base here, but where's the UN in all this?

I checked on the UN's website and the first mention they've made of the worst natural disaster to hit the world's third most populated nation was today, and that was sandwiched inbetween "ANNAN SADDENED BY BRIDGE TRAGEDY IN BAGHDAD" and "SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON COTE D’IVOIRE." (Source: http://www.un.org/News/ossg/hilites.htm) By way of contrast, take a look at the UN's Daily Briefings Achieve (http://www.un.org/News/ossg/hilites/hilites_arch_main.asp) and check out the end of December 2004 and the statements related to the Asian tsunami. About the only thing that's the same is the fact that Koffi Annan cut short his vaction right after both tragedies. Unfortunately, the difference was that his December vacation was curtailed in direct response to the tsunami. This time "He has decided to interrupt his vacation to take stock of progress towards the 2005 World Summit."
Huh? Come again? Single largest donor to the UN, third largest population, biggest disaster ever...where's the UN when you need them? Where's the UNHCR? Where are the tents and the water and the rations and the aid workers and the hospitals and the doctors and the trucks and the tarps and the innoculations and the donations and the building supplies and the airdrops and the...everything? Exactly what are we paying for as members of the UN?

Thanks for the sympathies, Mr. General Secretary (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15623&Cr=disaster&Cr1=hurricane) but how 'bout some cold, hard cash?

I don't see much in the way of "united."

BTW, who's being "stingy" now, Mr. Egeland? (http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20041228-122330-7268r.htm)

Posted on August 31, 2005 17:29

Just sent some money for Pa... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by Gavin Phillips | August 31, 2005 5:36 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Gavin Phillips:

Just sent some money for Paul - do let us know if any more is needed. It said "Thank you for supporting Wizbang." - I guess this means right now the money will indeed go to Paul? Colour me a tad confused by the payment process...

Posted on August 31, 2005 17:36

Just sent a few $$'s. Not ... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by Chris | August 31, 2005 6:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Chris:

Just sent a few $$'s. Not much but hope it helps. Best wishes Paul.

Posted on August 31, 2005 18:02

Just sent a bit of loot.. ... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by lowmal | August 31, 2005 7:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

lowmal:

Just sent a bit of loot.. Stay safe an pray..

God Bless..

Shawn

Posted on August 31, 2005 19:09

I hope my donation went thr... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by Zsa Zsa | August 31, 2005 7:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Zsa Zsa:

I hope my donation went through! I sent a contribution but didn't get any feed back ??? If not my husband did a Red Cross donation earlier! I hope you get it!

Posted on August 31, 2005 19:14

O.K., I sent a small amount... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by -S- | August 31, 2005 7:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

O.K., I sent a small amount, Paul (and Kevin)...I will try for more in a bit.

Posted on August 31, 2005 19:38

Keep all of your receipts f... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by PL | August 31, 2005 7:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

PL:

Keep all of your receipts for food, clothing replacement, anything to live. FEMA will refund this money.

Posted on August 31, 2005 19:47

Donations? WHAT donations?... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by Brian Epps | August 31, 2005 9:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)