Hurricane Katrina Resources: Get Help, Give Help, Protect Yourself

Please Note: The inclusion of organizations or agencies within this section does not constitute an endorsement from the American Red Cross.

Get Help

Emergency Needs

Red Cross Emergency Assistance To find a shelter, obtain emergency food, water, hygiene items or for help in finding medical treatments or obtaining medicines, contact your local Red Cross chapter. Find the Red Cross chapter nearest you

Red Cross Financial Assistance Due to the large number of survivors, phone lines may be overwhelmed in the first few days. & Recovery The Red Cross is providing Hurricane Katrina survivors with emergency financial assistance to meet urgent needs until state and federal aid is available. Survivors can register for emergency financial assistance 24 hours a day by calling toll-free 1-800-975-7585. Learn more about Red Cross Financial Aid to Katrina Evacuees

Sheltering or Housing Assistance

Locate a Red Cross Shelter To find the Red Cross shelter nearest you, contact the local Red Cross chapter nearest you. Find a Red Cross chapter

Temporary Housing Assistance The American Red Cross, in cooperation with FEMA, has extended its temporary housing assistance program for an additional 30 days. Evacuees residing in hotels who are in need of (continued) temporary housing assistance should contact hotel front desk staff to arrange to extend their stay, if space is available. Evacuees will be asked for evidence of their pre-disaster address, which must be in a ZIP code presidentially declared as a disaster area. Short-term hotel lodging assistance   Other Short-Term Housing Options Operation Share Your Home KatrinaHousing.org Hurricanehousing.net

Find Missing Loved Ones

Reuniting Families Persons looking for loved ones can call 1-877-LOVED 1S (1-877-568-3317), or go to the "Family Links Registry" to: Register yourself Register a loved one, or View the existing list of registrants

Other Resources National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Katrina Missing Persons Yahoo! Message Boards

School or Student Assistance

Registering Children for School Contact your local school district to register children from impacted zones of Hurricane Katrina in your current school district. Department of Education

Providing and Receiving Supplies for Schools Hurricane Help for Schools Ed.Gov site

Work, Jobs or Business Assistance

Contact place of employment If they have not done so, Hurricane Katrina survivors should contact their place of employment to let them know their current location and status. Many larger organizations have arranged a toll free number (listed on the corporate site) for displaced employees to call. Find Your New Orleans Employer or Employee

Job Opportunities for Hurricane Survivors Katrina Recovery Job Connection site

Help for Pet Owners

Rescue Organizations in Affected Areas There are now a number of trained, qualified, animal organizations on the scene in affected areas working to rescue, house and care for the animal survivors as well as striving to reunite pets separated with their families. They include: Animal Emergency Response Network American Humane Association American Veterinary Medical Association American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Humane Society of the United States Noah's Wish United Animal Nation/Emergency Animal Rescue Services PetFinder.com Adopt a Homeless Pet

Locating Missed Pets or Fostering Homeless Animals Petfinder.com has set up a Web site to help pet owners and their companion animals find each other again. The site also provides information for individuals interested in fostering or adopting animals left homeless by Katrina. Hurricane Katrina @ Petfinder.com To report stranded pets in need of rescue, call the Humane Society at 1-800-HUMANE-1

Health, Safety and Preventative Care

National Health Emergency Information about health strategies and preventative measures for those in Katrina-affected areas. Red Cross Urges Public Health Precautions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Katrina Health & Safety

Red Cross Post-Disaster Safety Info Food Safety | En Español Water Treatment | En Español Poster: Hand Washing in Emergency Situations | En Español Generator Safety | En Español

Mitigating Related Health and Safety Concerns Beat the Heat | En Español Coping with Blackouts (Power Outages) | En Español Flood Safety | En Español

Beginning on the Road to Recovery

Red Cross Disaster Recovery A Guide to Financial Issues Picking Up the Pieces After Disaster

Coping with Disaster and Helping Children Cope

Helping Children Cope with Disasters Children & Disasters A guide from FEMA and the American Red Cross

How to Help

To Volunteer Contact your local Red Cross chapter to become a volunteer.

To Donate Making a financial contribution is the best way to help, to donate: Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) Make at secure, online donation at www.redcross.org Visit an Official Red Cross (Cash) Donation Site (retailer locations and online sites) Contact your local Red Cross chapter View additional Red Cross Donation Tips

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Protect Yourself

Protect Yourself from Fraud Survivors, Don't Become Victims, Too Federal Trade Commission: Hurricane Katrina Recovery | Consumer Info Families & Businesses Keep Your Guard Up Advice Regarding Charitable Giving Helping Victims of Hurricane Katrina: Your Guide to Giving Wisely Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance: Tips on Giving

E-mail or Mail Scams While e-mail solicitation is a tool used by the Red Cross in its fundraising efforts, the Red Cross DOES NOT send unsolicited e-mail (or "spam"). The Red Cross will only send e-mail to individuals who have previously signed up to receive e-mail updates or who have previously made a contribution online.

Secure Web Sites - Avoiding Fraud Red Cross Donation Tips Secure Web Sites Important Fundraising Tool

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Additional Resource Sites

International/National Organizations & Government Agencies Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention FirstGov.gov International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent USA Freedom Corps

News Web Sites Yahoo! - Hurricane Katrina Full Coverage CNN.com Help Center

State Resources Also, you can look in the blue pages (government section) of the telephone book for state and county offices of emergency preparedness. State of Alabama State of Florida State of Louisiana State of Mississippi

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