Help for Katrina Evacuees

There are about 1000 known families from the Gulf Coast who have taking refuge in the New York area.  If you need assistance, or if you know someone who does, the NYC Office of Emergency Management has established a Disaster Assistance Service Center.  The Welcome Center for the DASC is at 80 Centre Street (at Worth Street) in Manhattan, just north of the Brooklyn Bridge-Chambers Street subway stop served by the 4, 5, 6, J, M and Z lines.  As of Monday, October 3 at 8 am, the DASC itself will also relocate to 80 Centre Street.  In an emergency situation or if you have questions, please call 1-877-REDCROSS.

The City urges evacuees to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before reporting to the DASC Welcome Center. FEMA estimates it will take at least 20 minutes to complete the registration process via phone (800-621-FEMA; TTY: 800-462-7585) or internet (www.fema.gov). 

LCMS.org is providing this service to enable those LCMS congregation members who wish to let loved ones know that they are OK after Hurricane Katrina. If you were in Katrina’s path and want to post your name, please click here.

Additional Internet site resources related to finding loved ones are listed in the U.S government's official web portal.

Volunteer Opportunities

The DASC needs volunteers, as will other efforts to help Katrina evacuees adjust to life in New York City.  If you'd like to help, contact NY Cares, the lead agency for coordinating unaffiliated volunteers in New York City.  Contact them by e-mail: nycares@nycares.org  By mail: 214 West 29th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10001  By phone: (212) 228-5000.  100 volunteers are needed per week, including intake coordinators, greeters, runners, and technical support.  Training will be provided.

You can also search an online network of volunteer opportunities and learn how you can make a difference. Tens of thousands of volunteers are needed nationwide, from skilled laborers to helping hands, and more opportunities are added every day. Please give the gift of your time and skills in your community or in the hurricane-devastated region.  Visit Network for Good for more.

For more on Hurricane Katrina and how you can help, click here.

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LDRNY is pleased to announce that On the Ground After September 11 was named a finalist for Best Book of 2005!  USA Book News placed it in the Current Events category of its annual awards.  John Scibilia, Tom Taylor, and Mikki Baloy authored a chapter, and many LDRNY partners were contributors.  Congratulations to all the authors!  For your copy, click the icon below.