Interesting article today: http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/special_packages/hurricane_katrina/12630483.htm.
Apparently, trucks are being sent to Louisiana full of food and water and are being turned away or are diverted to warehouses. No plan for distribution and a logistical nightmare. Most of the evacuees (we no longer call them refugees) are actually in Texas. Not to mention the mountains of used clothes and junk that people have donated. Like a friend of mine said, this is just a redistribution of Dollar General store merchandise.
Businesses and churches here in Wichita, KS are all clamoring to get boxes of care packages ready to ship. Of course, they have to add their religious materials. After all, we know that God's judgement on New Orleans was the reason for the hurricane ;) . One pastor included a copy of his book on dispenational Bible prophecy in each box. And the local paper is being called out all over town to take pictures of the mountains of stuff that people have collected. It is good press in the heartland! Only problem is that they have nowhere to ship them. The Salvation Army and Red Cross are inundated and don't want them. People are calling every church in Louisiana and Mississippi to get them to take their shipments, but no one wants them. They already have enough.
You idiots, the Red Cross said to send money!