Bouncing Back In A Most Positive Way

Posted at 12:52 PM, Feb. 22, 2006

The following e-mail from Dean Graham reminds me of so many who have forged ahead and are stronger for what they have been through and will never forget those who cared.....

Hello Ms. Hopkins, my name is Dean Graham and I have recently evacuated to Tampa from Gulfport Ms. I have been working in the mortgage business for 5 years and have been given the opportunity to go to work for a great company in Tampa. Although everything was lost, I have been touched by so many people it has changed my life forever.

An experience I know I will look back on as a positive – not a negative. A fantastic lady from New Jersey (Lois DeCaro – Real Estate Broker) allowed me to stay in her beach condo for two months rent free…….she is a true angel. …..I could not have made it without her. She even provided me with my first refinance which we will close on Friday.

As you know, referrals are the lifeline in this business and it has been very difficult getting started. If you can think of any opportunity to get in touch with realtors in the Greater Tampa Bay area it would be a tremendous help. I assure my commitment to service excellence is 2nd to none.

Thank you for everything that your group is doing to help the people from my community restore their lives.

Dean R. Graham,

Account Manager

Office - 813-470-4714

Fax - 813-315-6698

Cell - 813-846-5008

www.americandreamcorp.com <http://www.americandreamcorp.com/>

"It is kinda scary"

Posted at 7:11 AM, Feb. 16, 2006

2/10/06 This Insurance Journal coverage of Max Mayfield, Director of the National Hurricane Centers recent address to insurance adjustors was not a source of comfort! 

From a preparadness standpoint, Mayfields observation regarding minor repairs deserves attention, "Homeowners in areas where previous hurricanes have damaged their property need to complete minor repairs before the next hurricane season," Mayfield explained. "What seem like small items, a loose shingle for instance, will be weaknesses if another hurricane comes through, and could result in major damage if not repaired now."

Mayfield stated that due to the La Nina effect, there could be more hurricanes in 2006 than there were in 2005!

01/21/06 Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Article "We think we are 10 years into a 20- to 30-year cycle,'' MSU hurricane expert and author Patrick J. Fitzpatrick told the Tupelo Rotary Club on Monday. "It is kinda scary.''

REALTOR Disaster Mobilization Workgroup Holds Meeting

Posted at 9:33 AM, Feb. 12, 2006

Kudos to the leadership of Louisiana REALTORS! 

On Wed, Feb. 8th, the state association hosted a meeting and conference call of the DISASTER MOBILIZATION WORKGROUP.  The agenda was well planned and capitalized on the experiences of those who dealt with and continue to deal with the difficulties caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Many in the workgroup are still in "recovery" mode, but still took the time to contribute.

The major focus was to discuss the development of a crisis/communication plan for real estate firms, state and local associations, and the development of a criteria and direction for a web-based communcations resource.

While it was the dual storms that brought us together at the Baton Rouge meeting, hurricanes were not the only source of concern. Candid conversation regarding terrorism, other natural disasters such as fire or tornados give cause to prepare as well as the next hurricane season.....less than 5 months away. 

A crisis plan that includes advance preparations, creation of a checklist of essential items and backup issues as well as short and long term needs were discussed as well as the need for a "command center." 

The need to better prepare to offer and receive help from other sources was also a topic of interest.

As we work to repair our homes, businesses, and cities, lets all take time to think through our personal preparadness plan. And, stay tuned to the progress of the Disaster Mobilization Workgroup!

Feel free to submit ideas regarding this topic here under post a comment. Ideas generated now may save time and turmoil later!

News coverage of Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts

Posted at 12:41 PM, Nov. 7, 2005

Several articles in the New York Times regarding the aftermath of the  Gulf Coast Hurricanes.

Kudos, Daggers and Aunt Maybell's Christmas Present

Posted at 12:05 PM, Nov. 7, 2005

• FPL-power company for working around the clock and in conjunction with disaster teams. We have so many power and tree removal trucks from every state in the union. The amount of damage was extreme for our power infrastructure. FPL is truly putting on a fabulous effort to get us back up and running.
• Comcast – Great job for working with the power company to follow along and restore cable as quickly as possible immediately behind power restoration.
• Also, Comcast automatically credit clients for time with out service.
• Drug and grocery stores – fab job at opening doors even with out power.Allowing folks to get what they needed and even a little of what we wanted.
• Restaurants – great job those with gas at opening doors without power and offering limited menus. A hot meal went a long way.
• Insurance companies – for fast response, local claim centers, handling of claims by severity. Most insurance companies have been great in responding.
• City, county and state officials – for planning, staging and moving in quickly after the storm. No sky is falling reports. No panic. Just good planning, quick thinking and decisive response. Also- kudos for seeing short falls and quickly addressing them future plans and legislation (i.e.generator requirement for gas stations)
• The people of south Florida – kudos for once again, neighbors helping neighbors to get through one day at a time. Sharing food and cooking tips.
• Those with power offering hot showers and washer for those with out.Working together to get through.
• Big kudos once again to the Red Cross and disaster relief agencies- thank you for the shelters and continued support and housing of the victims.

• Senior condo associations – the senior condo associations who did not have a plan left many seniors stranded with out power, food and supplies. Every condo/ home owner association should have a plan for security and safety of the community. This should include knowing who can and cannot take care of them selves with out power. Who can and cannot walk down 2-4 flights of stairs. Who will need help and make a plan. This should be part of their requirements as a senior restricted community.
• Dish Network – Slow to respond to requests for service calls, charging customers for service calls, no show on service calls. Very disheartening to have power but to have to wait another week for TV because company has poor customer service.
• Gas Stations- no plan for extensive loss of power. Just makes good business sense to have a way to sell your product before, during and after a disaster.
• Media – poor national coverage. Many folks nationally do not even realize that a hundred thousand accounts still have no power. I am getting complaints why are not business and people answering – because they may not have power or are busy chopping the trees in their yard!!!

• every family, every home, every business, and every community needs to have a disaster plan for natural disasters, power out ages and international threats. Learn from others like Gulf Coast, Houston, Carolinas and Florida – what works, what can be done better. Make a plan, have supplies, and improve with every disaster event. Does your office/home, family/community have a plan? Can you operate for 2 weeks with out power? Can you locate all your agents and staff? Can you survive for days with out running water? Can you stay safe in a blizzard with out power? Do you know what to do if your local river rises? If there is a tornado? An earth quake? Can you protect your assets? This is not just a Hurricane issue. This is a disaster issue. May be natural- may be terrorist caused – but you need to be ready. Make a plan today. Brainstorm, imagine and create a plan that will keep you and yours safe and operating should a disaster hit you.

http://SoFlaMLS.com

Post Wilma Realities

Posted at 10:36 AM, Nov. 7, 2005

This 11/7/05 Sun-Sentinel article discusses the reality of conducting business post Wilma.

Houston REALTORS RESPOND!

Posted at 6:14 PM, Oct. 24, 2005

Check out the varied and positive responses to Katrina by Houston REALTORS!

Six Million Without Power In Florida

Posted at 6:04 PM, Oct. 24, 2005

With 125 mph sustained winds, Hurricane Wilma has left 6 million without power in Florida.  Our hearts and prayers are with those in Florida and other affected areas.

Those on the Gulf Coast extend a very special "we relate and we care!" 

The Trees!

Posted at 10:35 AM, Oct. 21, 2005

The tree, fence, and landscape lloss due to Katrina and Rita is a daily reminder to those who are literally seeing their neighbor's homes for the first time. 

As hard as it is to adjust to the new landscape and the very real increase in sunlight, the economic and environmental impact is significant.  The Texas Forestry Service has a significant website with a great deal of recovery information.

The LSU Ag center estimates over $600 million in tree loss from Katrina alone.

Katrina Images, Rita's Wrath, Wilma

Posted at 3:48 PM, Oct. 19, 2005

Until an appropriate mandatory evacuation forced both areas to seek refuge due to Hurricane Rita, Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas joined the rest of the country in providing Katrina aid. Southwest Louisiana alone supported approx 15,000 evacuess still here in shelters, private homes, motels, rental units, and vacant homes for sale. 

Historically, it has only been our more coastal areas to be so affected by hurricanes.Mandatory evacuations rare. We were the place of refuge, especially to our neighboring parish of Cameron. Sadly, many of those featured in this blog suffered significant property damage. "Lost all" applies to at least 3 of our membership with many more displaced as their homes are repaired or rebuilt.  And it is a rare neighbor that has not suffered in some way. Cameron is basically a community that "lost all" with few structures remaining.

In the weeks to come, photos of Rita as well as details about our local rebuild effort dubbed "Calcasieu Comeback" will be inserted here and/or on a separate blog. Guess John Reilly and I have learned a lesson in naming blogs!

This link, featuring Moving Katrina photographs and music, was sent to me so thought it appropriate to post. 

More important, our thoughts and prayers are with those in Wilma's path.  I just spoke to one of the many new faces in town responding to our desparate need for construction workers.  He is from Cuba and knows first hand the power of these storms.  He did not try to hide his anguish and concern over what is now "the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic." 

Categorized Links

Posted at 6:50 PM, Sep. 20, 2005

Last updated 10/20/05.  This list of links is constantly updated.  To submit a link, or report a broken link, please post a comment. New links will be added to the appropriate section.  Pardon the varying colors and fonts. Be sure to scroll beyond the list to read the many, varied and compelling posts.

DONATIONS

REALTOR Related Sites

     REALTOR Relief Fund  

     Louisiana REALTORS Website

     Mississippi REALTORS Website
     Alabama Realtors Disaster Relief Fund

     Council for Residential Specialists  

     Keller Williams Cares

Louisiana
Louisiana REALTOR® Relief Fund
P.O. Box 14780
Baton Rouge, LA 70898
Source: www.larealtors.org

Mississippi
Mississippi REALTOR® Hurricane Relief Fund
P.O. Box 32100
Jackson, MS 39232-1000
Source: www.msrealtors.org

Alabama
AAR Disaster Relief Fund
P.O.Box 4070
Montgomery, AL 36013
Source: www.alabamarealtors.com

National and Faith Based

   American Red Cross  
    America's Second Harvest   
    Catholic Charities  

   Charity Navigator      

    Craig's List  
   Habitat for Humanity  
   Network for Good   

   United Jewish Communities  

   United Methodist Committee on Relief   
   

HOUSING 
Several include the ability to enter OFFERS of rental and donated housing
as well as SEARCH for properties by area.

REALTOR-National and State

     REALTOR based Hurricane Housing Initiative

    Link to Mississippi REALTORS page seeking REALTOR assistance    
    Alabama Association of REALTORS  

National

     Hurricane Housing     

     Katrina Home 

     America United  Network for Good Site

     Open Your Home 

     Homes for Hope

Texas

     Texas Association of REALTORS

     Austin Chronicle Resource List

Government

     National Emergency Registry  Includes database for skills, equipment, office space

     Texas Housing Site Found by Lainey Milnick

MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE

     Fannie Mae Mortgage Relief  

MISSING PERSONS

     Katrina Survivor Connector List   (works in concert with Red Cross)

     Family News Network Red Cross  

     Survived Katrina.net Missing Persons Board  

     Find Katrina Missing Persons Profiles  

     NOLA.com Missing Persons Forum  

     Missing Persons Board  

     National Next of Kin Registry  

     Next of Kin Registery

MISCELLANEOUS

   Crawford Cares

   Hurricane Katrina Resources  

   Survived Katrina Resource Forum  

   Craig's List Online Community Resources 

   Katrina Online Resources  

What!? Let a hurricane stop me!

Posted at 8:31 AM, Sep. 20, 2005

No Stopping this Prudential Gardner Agent!

With the assistance of the Southwest Association of REALTORS, Cecila, a New Orleans agent with Prudential Gardner , was directed to a office where she was able to access the internet. This is a photo of her pulling listings from MLS for a customer!!!!!!  These New Orleans agents can't be stopped!

News

Posted at 8:12 PM, Sep. 18, 2005

GENERAL INTEREST and REBUILDING

11/7/05 Several articles in the New York Times regarding the aftermath of the Gulf Coast Hurricanes.

10/21/05 Tree Loss in New Orleans  Note: Southwest Louisiana echoes this experience due to Rita

10/20/05 Bay St. Louis, Waveland Rebuilding Efforts

9/20/05 Louisiana's Governor's Letter to the President Requesting State of Emergency Status

9/17/05 MSNBC Article Dealing with Concerns and Needs of Smaller Communities

9/13/05 MSNBC Citizen Journalist Weblog

9/13/05 Photos from Plaquemine Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness offer reasons to WAIT for "all clear"

9/12/05 The Times of Southwest Louisiana  4 well written pieces! Policitcal, Business, and 2 moving personal accounts

9/12/05 Feature Stories gathered by Yahoo from a variety of sources

9/11/05 America's Wetlands 

9/11/05 Citizen PhotoJournalism

9/10/05 Lafayette's FEMA office opens. Awaits funds. 1400 in Cajun Dome

9/10/05 Lafayette Daily Advertiser's MAJOR list of resources

9/08/05 Arkansas Governor Announces Operation KARE 

9/?/05  Scott Angelle, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources message to the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce: 

"When it comes to energy production, energy refining, energy distribution and, indeed, Americas energy security, this is the most important piece of real estate from sea to shining sea, and every American is connected to it through the gas pump and family energy costs," he said. "We must do everything we can to protect it because most of America has resisted energy development. In fact, it has been 25 years since America has built a new refinery."

9/9/05 Shreveport Times Article on Return of Louisiana National Guard Troops

9/9/05 American Red Cross "Facts At a Glance"  link to sad-but-true statistics resulting from the wrath of Katrina. The report states, "In the days to come, the Red Cross anticipates recruiting 40,000 new volunteers to help bring safe shelter, food and comfort to those touched by Katrina." 

9/7/05 Houma, Louisiana initiative to assist evacuees

STRICTLY REAL ESTATE AND MORTGAGE RELATED

9/21/05 Posted: Notice from Mortgage Bankers Association urging victims with mortgages to contact their lender
                         Home page of the National Mortgage Brokers Association. Contains several other links

                         9/9/05 Notice from HUD re toll free # and other initiatives

9//19/05 Times Picayune Rebuilding Article

9/16/05 VA response to aid victims

9/16/05 Updates from Louisiana REALTORS Web Site

9/14/05 Freddie Mac announces 90 day moratorium on multi-family properties in affected areas

9/13/05 NAR President visits Missisissippi

9/13/05 Latest Katrina Related News from NAR

9/13/05 Reuters: Article on Housing Demand due to Katrina

9/13/05 Louisiana REALTORS web site updated with info regarding Northshore REALTORS, including information regarding agents who have "lost all" as well as offers of assistance.

9/13/05 Mandeville Responds Weblog

9/12/05 Katrina's Impact on Construction

9/12/05 Louisiana REALTOR'S  Red Stick Report addresses Governor's Executive Order regarding mortgages, purchase agreement extensions and more.

9/8/05: Click here for several initiatives from the Louisiana Real Estate Commission.

Sammy, the "So Cool!" New Orleans Rescue Cat

Posted at 7:02 PM, Sep. 18, 2005

Being animal lovers, my children were very concerned about the pets of the evacuees in New Orleans and all the animals at the zoo. After hearing about the cats from the New Orleans shelter, I talked to my boys and decided we would give one a home in LeBleu Settlement. Not realizing how hard it would be to choose just one of these great cats, I decided to drop by and pick one on my own. I stayed for over an hour trying to decide between these beautiful cats each with their own personalities. I finally decided on a very beautiful black cat with extraordinary green eyes named Sammy. Sammy is about 16 pounds and very unique. Upon arrriving at my very lively home, he was a little leary of my two boys (10 and 3) and my crying infant (4 months). He hid under our sofa until the house was quiet. That only lasted for 2 days. Now he follows the boys around crying at their bedroom doors if they are shut. If he is not getting enough attention from one of them, he stands on his hind legs and rubs his paws on them until they stop what they are doing and love on him. My 10 year old says that all of the kids at school think that it is "SO COOL" that he has a cat saved from the Hurricane in New Orleans. My husband, not a cat lover usually, thinks Sammy is so "cool". The cat follows him into his office and sits in a chair next to him while he is on the computer after the boys are in bed. He has even told his buddies from his online game all about "his" new cat. My dogs like Sammy also. He and my cocker have become fast buddies. Sammy has even earned the respect of my 9 year old Lab (not easily done). All in all, bringing Sammy home has because a wonderful experience. Trish Skellham, ERA Moffett Realty, Inc., Lake Charles, LA

Webmaster note: Thanks for sharing Sammy's Story!  11 left!

Sales Manager Opporunity

Posted at 1:27 PM, Sep. 17, 2005

President of Century 21 Masters

I am extending this job opportunity to all qualified applicants, especially those hit by Katrina. I own three Century 21 Franchises.  I am currently seeking a Manager for our newest office.  This individual's responsibilities will include: recruiting, training, and agent problem solving.  I am looking forward to working with someone who enjoys setting and reaching goals, with whom I can lead our company to even higher levels.I am also looking for persons with escrow experience to join our team. Relocation funds are available for qualified applicants. Please call, Amber 909-595-6697 to discuss. Wishing everyone the best,

Neil

REALTOR Relief Fund At Work

Posted at 11:22 AM, Sep. 17, 2005

Portsmouth, NH www.anncummings.com

www.PortsmouthNewHampshireHomes.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: "Julie" I'm sure you all received this letter. My DSL finally was restored yesterday, so I am trying to catch up on my e-mail today. The day this letter was sent out one of the victims of Hurricane Katrina that Al Mansell was visiting was me. They had already tape footage from LA & MS and taped the Alabama footage from my house. They also presented myself and four other Realtors checks from the disaster relief fund and gave us applications to give to others. The money, of course, is greatly appreciated. The fact that there is a disaster relief fund for Realtors to give to is also greatly appreciated. Many here have ask what would be a good way to give and I think this is a good answer.You will see the video made at the convention. I'll be the one that sounds like I'm from Alabama. (I hate to hear myself on video!!!) Since they gave us the applications for others I cannot really explain how very grateful people are when you give them the application. The majority for the people in my neighborhood did not have flood insurance because their houses where not in the flood zone that required any flood insurance. These homes were devasted and the possessions lost. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. My agents have started going door to door in this area to give out these applications. I gave one to a gentleman that is living in his yard in a camper with his wife and 5 kids. They do not have flood insurance. I thought he was going to cry. It was so sad. I know this is long, but if any of you out there still would like to help this is a situation that is going to be with us for a very long time and any donations to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation would be greatly appreciated by all those who receive benefits, including me. And thank you to all who have already contributed.

Julie Martin, Broker

Port City Realty

Mobile, AL

251-660-0110

julie@portcityrealty.com

Employment Resources

Posted at 9:14 AM, Sep. 14, 2005

Web Resources

LaWorks.net

An Association Website of America's Job Bank and US Department of Labor

Craig's List

US Department of Labor

Monster.Com has dedicated a section of their employment site strictly for posting job availability and needs.

Post additional resource ideas or offers in the comment section.

FEMA Assistance for Individuals and Households

Posted at 9:04 AM, Sep. 14, 2005

FEMA and other federal, state, local and volunteer agencies offer disaster assistance in several forms:

The Disaster Assistance Process

Assistance for Individuals and Households. This program, which may include cash grants of up to $26,200 per individual or household, includes:

• Housing Assistance
  • Lodging expenses reimbursement (for a hotel or motel)
  • Rental assistance (cash payment for a temporary rental unit or a manufactured home)
  • Home repair cash grant
  • Home replacement cash grant
  • Permanent housing construction in rare circumstances
• Other Needs Assistance
  • Medical, dental, funeral costs
  • Transportation costs
  • Other disaster-related needs

Low-Interest Loans. Most, but not all, federal assistance is in the form of low interest loans to cover expenses not covered by state or local programs, or private insurance. People who do not qualify for loans may be able to apply for a cash grant.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), offer low interest loans to eligible individuals, farmers and businesses to repair or replace damaged property and personal belongings not covered by insurance.

Veterans Benefits. The Department of Veterans' Affairs provides death benefits, pensions, insurance settlements and adjustments to home mortgages for veterans.

Tax Refunds. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows certain casualty losses to be deducted on Federal income tax returns for the year of the loss or through an immediate amendment to the previous year's return.

Excise Tax Relief. Businesses may file claims with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for payment of Federal excise taxes paid on alcoholic beverages or tobacco products lost, rendered unmarketable or condemned by a duly authorized official under various circumstances, including where the President has declared a major disaster. Read more, (445 Kb Word Document)

Unemployment Benefits. Disaster Unemployment assistance and unemployment insurance benefits may be available through the state unemployment office and supported by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Crisis Counseling. The purpose of the crisis counseling program is to help relieve any grieving, stress, or mental health problems caused or aggravated by the disaster or its aftermath. These short-term services, provided by FEMA as supplemental funds granted to State and local mental health agencies, are only available to eligible survivors of Presidentially-declared major disasters. Those who may require this confidential service should inquire about it while registering for disaster assistance. Or they may contact FEMA's toll-free Helpline number 1-800-621-FEMA (TTY 1-800-462-7585) to find out where these services can be obtained. Crisis counselors are often on-hand at Disaster Recovery Centers (when they are established). Eligible survivors may also learn more about where crisis counseling services are available via the media, and FEMA's Recovery Times newsletters. Crisis counseling services are also offered by the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, other voluntary agencies, as well as churches and synagogues. Additional mental health information may be found on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Mental Health Services' website, www.mentalhealth.org.

Free Legal Counseling. The Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, through an agreement with FEMA, provides free legal advice for low-income individuals regarding cases that will not produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement which is awarded by the court). Cases that may generate a fee are turned over to the local lawyer referral service.

Individuals, families and businesses may be eligible for federal assistance if they live, own a business, or work in a county declared a Major Disaster Area, incur sufficient property damage or loss, and, depending on the type of assistance, do not have the insurance or other resources to meet their needs.

To apply for Assistance for Individuals and Households, all you have to do is call the special toll free telephone number, 1-800-621-FEMA (TTY: 1-800-462-7585) and register. Specially trained operators at one of FEMA's National Processing Service Centers will process your application.

Your rights: Each Federal agency that provides Federal financial assistance is responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination in the use of its funds. If you believe that you or others protected by Civil Rights laws have been discriminated against in receiving disaster assistance, you may contact one of FEMA's Equal Rights Officers (ERO), who has the job of ensuring equal access to all FEMA disaster programs. The ERO will attempt to resolve your issues. You can read more about your civil rights on the FEMA site.

Disaster Programs

FEMA and other federal, state, local and volunteer agencies offer disaster assistance in several forms:

The Disaster Assistance Process

Assistance for Individuals and Households. This program, which may include cash grants of up to $26,200 per individual or household, includes:

• Housing Assistance
  • Lodging expenses reimbursement (for a hotel or motel)
  • Rental assistance (cash payment for a temporary rental unit or a manufactured home)
  • Home repair cash grant
  • Home replacement cash grant
  • Permanent housing construction in rare circumstances
• Other Needs Assistance
  • Medical, dental, funeral costs
  • Transportation costs
  • Other disaster-related needs

Low-Interest Loans. Most, but not all, federal assistance is in the form of low interest loans to cover expenses not covered by state or local programs, or private insurance. People who do not qualify for loans may be able to apply for a cash grant.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), offer low interest loans to eligible individuals, farmers and businesses to repair or replace damaged property and personal belongings not covered by insurance.

Veterans Benefits. The Department of Veterans' Affairs provides death benefits, pensions, insurance settlements and adjustments to home mortgages for veterans.

Tax Refunds. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows certain casualty losses to be deducted on Federal income tax returns for the year of the loss or through an immediate amendment to the previous year's return.

Excise Tax Relief. Businesses may file claims with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for payment of Federal excise taxes paid on alcoholic beverages or tobacco products lost, rendered unmarketable or condemned by a duly authorized official under various circumstances, including where the President has declared a major disaster. Read more, (445 Kb Word Document) Unemployment Benefits. Disaster Unemployment assistance and unemployment insurance benefits may be available through the state unemployment office and supported by the U.S. Department of Labor. Crisis Counseling. The purpose of the crisis counseling program is to help relieve any grieving, stress, or mental health problems caused or aggravated by the disaster or its aftermath. These short-term services, provided by FEMA as supplemental funds granted to State and local mental health agencies, are only available to eligible survivors of Presidentially-declared major disasters. Those who may require this confidential service should inquire about it while registering for disaster assistance. Or they may contact FEMA's toll-free Helpline number 1-800-621-FEMA (TTY 1-800-462-7585) to find out where these services can be obtained. Crisis counselors are often on-hand at Disaster Recovery Centers (when they are established). Eligible survivors may also learn more about where crisis counseling services are available via the media, and FEMA's Recovery Times newsletters. Crisis counseling services are also offered by the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, other voluntary agencies, as well as churches and synagogues. Additional mental health information may be found on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Mental Health Services' website, www.mentalhealth.org.

Free Legal Counseling. The Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, through an agreement with FEMA, provides free legal advice for low-income individuals regarding cases that will not produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement which is awarded by the court). Cases that may generate a fee are turned over to the local lawyer referral service.

Individuals, families and businesses may be eligible for federal assistance if they live, own a business, or work in a county declared a Major Disaster Area, incur sufficient property damage or loss, and, depending on the type of assistance, do not have the insurance or other resources to meet their needs.

To apply for Assistance for Individuals and Households, all you have to do is call the special toll free telephone number, 1-800-621-FEMA (TTY: 1-800-462-7585) and register. Specially trained operators at one of FEMA's National Processing Service Centers will process your application.

Your rights: Each Federal agency that provides Federal financial assistance is responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination in the use of its funds. If you believe that you or others protected by Civil Rights laws have been discriminated against in receiving disaster assistance, you may contact one of FEMA's Equal Rights Officers (ERO), who has the job of ensuring equal access to all FEMA disaster programs. The ERO will attempt to resolve your issues. You can read more about your civil rights on the FEMA site.

All Temporary Housing Options Being Considered

Posted at 9:00 AM, Sep. 14, 2005

All Temporary Housing Options Being Considered Release Date: September 12, 2005 Release Number: 1603-05-004 » More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Katrina BATON ROUGE, La. - Following the extreme destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Louisiana, along with local parishes, are considering all possibilities for temporary emergency housing. Thousands of individuals and families have been displaced and will need to find a new place to live while the Gulf Coast of Louisiana rebuilds. The following questions and answers will help clarify the federal temporary housing process: What plans are in place to provide places to live? FEMA and the State of Louisiana are looking at all options to house people who were displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Among those considered are existing rental resources, such as hotels and apartments, and manufactured housing, such as travel trailers and mobile homes. Every possible alternative is being explored. Where will people be housed? Wherever feasible, FEMA provides temporary housing in or near individuals' and families' neighborhoods. However, safety is paramount. If an area is unsafe due to contamination or is unfit for habitation for another reason, alternate locations will be considered. Who is eligible to apply for housing assistance? Any individual or family who was displaced from their primary residence may be eligible for financial housing assistance. Individuals and families that cannot find a suitable housing alternative might be eligible to receive help from FEMA in the form of temporary emergency housing. What is the housing application process? Call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or log on to www.fema.gov and put in an application for federal and state assistance. For the speech or hearing impaired, call TTY 1-800-462-7585. Telephone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. FEMA representatives will then make contact to determine eligibility for temporary housing under this program. To help FEMA representatives contact applicants, it is very important when filing the application to give a call-back number where they can be reached. If applicants do not have a working telephone, they should inform call center staff at the time of their applications. Staff is trained to work around missing information. For how long will people be allowed to live in this housing? Hurricane Katrina caused widespread devastation. People in temporary housing will be allowed to stay until permanent housing solutions become available. Must people pay for this housing? Temporary housing is free. Individuals and families whose insurance does not cover rental expenses will not have to pay. FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Updated: Tuesday, 13-Sep-2005 06:45:02

Hurricane Katrina News from NAR

Posted at 4:11 PM, Sep. 13, 2005

Check out the latest Hurricane Katrina News from NAR at http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.nsf/pages/katrina

Today's story  - Real estate commissions in states surrounding Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi are heeding the need to provide emergency license reciprocity to real estate professionals from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Television, Newspaper, and Weblog Coverage

Posted at 2:12 PM, Sep. 13, 2005

Within comments, please recommend TV, Newspaper and Web Sites.  We will review and add them to this list.

TELEVISON:

• Eyewitness News on WWL TV Channel 4, New Orleans TV station operating out of Baton Rouge, is doing a FANTASTIC job!  
  This is the link to their site which offers a host of information and links, including a link to their constant LIVE news feed. They also offer a low-band width audio feed. 
• WWL TV news blog. Constantly updated with Katrina news across the country.
• THANKS, WWL TV!  
• WBRZ
• WLOX TV (Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascogoula)

NEWSPAPERS

• Times-Picayune Subscription based

WEBSITES / WEBLOGS

• MSNBC Weblog 
• NOLA.com 
• New Orleans MetroBlogging  We have requested permission to reprint, but in the meantime, be sure to read Chris Rose's Letter to America!
• Yahoo Combines AP reports, Video, Articles, Resources and More
• Kristina Chronicles A Weblog by Frances Thorsen of the Realty Blog Squad
• Mandeville Responds A Weblog by Vikki Morvant

Governor Blanco to address joint session of La. Legislature

Posted at 1:41 PM, Sep. 13, 2005

Austin Agent Volunteers

Posted at 6:54 PM, Sep. 10, 2005

Http://www.linktoaustin.com

MailTo:lmelnick@linktoaustin.com

CENTURY 21 Agents At Work

Posted at 5:28 PM, Sep. 10, 2005

	If you want something done, ask a busy person! CENTURY 21 Bessette agents Tony Cornner, Judy Fontentot and Debbie Winfree prepare to serve lunch at the Lake Charles Civic Center.   Volunteers report that the efficiency of the Red Cross makes it easy to volunteer and the appreciation and attitude of those affected makes it extra worthwhile.   Thanks to these agents for taking time from their busy schedules!   If you have a story or photo, please send to mkh@mkh.com.

Lake Charles ERA Agent At Work

Posted at 5:21 PM, Sep. 10, 2005

9/8/05 Grace Robideaux with ERA Moffett Realty works on the evening meal assembly line alongside volunteers with Sale Street Baptist Church.

Competitors Unite!

Posted at 2:43 PM, Sep. 10, 2005

Martha Polk of CENTURY 21 Mike D. Bono and Charmayne Crawford with ERA Bono unite to serve drinks to New Orleans evacuees housed in the Lake Charles Civic Center. They are joined by Martha's husband.

Another example of the REALTOR spirit.

Milwaukee Wisconsin People and Paws Report

Posted at 5:44 PM, Sep. 9, 2005

Our entire team, People & Paws Search & Rescue, arrived back home to Milwaukee, WI last night from New Orleans. I want to give a very heart felt "Thank You" to those that made donations to our team at www.peopleandpaws.org or mailed them to our Milwaukee address. Normally, we respond to searches and incidents within 3 hours of Milwaukee, however because of the size and scope of this incident, we could not in good conscience turn down the request made of us from the Louisiana Governor's office through the Bear Search and Rescue Foundation ( http://www.bearsearchandrescue.org ).

Because of the long distance and the need to replace alot of contaminated equipment, we are still collecting donations to restock team and personnel equipment, as well as pay off our substantial fuel expenses for the 4 trucks with 2 boats and our command/equipment trailer that we dispatched to New Orleans. As I mentioned before, we are a 100% volunteer team that is primarily self-funded. We do not charge law enforcement, fire & EMS, and local, state, or federal agencies for our services.

This assignment has taken a substantial toll on the teams finances and ability to provide services in the future. Any money donated to the team is spent solely on equipment, supplies, medical supplies, and travel expenses. Any money left over is used to offset the expense of our team's training and ongoing education. We do not have any administrative expenses as we are 100% volunteer.

If you could find it in your heart to make a monetary contribution, any amount would be greatly appreciated. You can visit our team website at www.peopleandpaws.org and make a payment via PayPal (credit cards) or you can mail it to our Milwaukee mailing address at:

Racine Journal Times

God Bless,

Lake Charles CENTURY 21 Agents Report to Shelter

Posted at 4:16 PM, Sep. 9, 2005

New Orleans REALTOR® Uses Website to Urge Donations

Posted at 3:54 PM, Sep. 9, 2005

Theodore, AL: A Personal Account From Julie Martin

Posted at 10:17 PM, Sep. 8, 2005

www.PortCityRealty.com

Donation Banners

Posted at 9:15 PM, Sep. 8, 2005

Red Cross

Text America PhotoBlog

Humane Society

Bush Clinton Effort

She also found Microsoft's List of Links to Katrina Relief Organizations

REALTOR Relief Fund Update

Posted at 1:51 PM, Sep. 8, 2005

-

In a short time frame, the REALTOR Relief Fund has exceeded $2.5 million. For the latest NAR Press Release, see the posting in the Katrina Blog at

http://realtown.com/weblogs/entry.php?u=MKH&e_id=476

How will the Relief funds be distributed and who is directing that effort? For answers I contacted Pat Kaplan, President of the REALTOR Relief Foundation. Pat is a past Treasurer of NAR and longtime REALTOR from Portland, Oregon.

>>

Hi John:

Thanks for helping to get the word out to the REALTOR community on this

incredible Katrina disaster. I really appreciate the 'on the spot'

help Internet Crusade provides.

The REALTOR Relief Directors have had conference calls about every 48 hours since the disaster struck. In addition to raising funds, we have worked with the three impacted state EOs for immobilization efforts. Perhaps you have already seen this very recent press release.

We are referring people to the three state association web sites for specific help/volunteer/aid info. They have organized and have their applications ready and on-line. The three sites are:

http://www.larealtors.org/

http://www.msrealtors.org/

http://www.alabamarealtors.com/

Other states, such as Texas, have set up sites to help coordinate housing efforts for displaced survivors.

http://www.texasrealtors.com/web/1/housing/relief.htm

The issue of designating funds only to displaced REALTORS is a tough one. Technically, the REALTOR Relief Fund (RRF) cannot play a preference as it is a charitable foundation since it is a public foundation and donations are charitable donations. The core mission of the RRF is to provide 'housing funds' during a disaster. However, knowing the rules under which the RRF must play was the impetus for NAR's donation of $1 million from their budget (again, separate from the RRF). These funds can be used for REALTORS displaced. I understand the 3 states have also been receiving funds specially for this purpose.

In addition, the Foundation directors are working on a more long-term

plan to help displaced survivors. We know there will be requests from

REALTOR associations in the states that are receiving the survivors and

we are working toward a plan for that.

I hope this information is helpful.

My best,

Pat

_____________________________________

Pat G. Kaplan, CIPS, CRB, GRI, e-PRO

President, Realtor Relief Foundation

MailTo:PKAPLAN@realtors.org

<<

Thanks for the update, Pat.

John

Alabama, Bayou La Batre Needs Help

Posted at 11:52 AM, Sep. 8, 2005

REALTORS® COMBINE RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE TO HELP KATRINA EVACUEES

Posted at 9:24 AM, Sep. 8, 2005

WASHINGTON (September 7, 2005)The National Association of Realtors® has raised $2,324,657 for the Realtors® Relief Foundation to provide emergency relief for hurricane victims in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, including displaced Realtors®. The foundation has received 5,906 donations totaling $1,174,657, which will be added to NARs $1.15 million seed donation.

Every penny that we raise will make its way to someone in need, said NAR President Al Mansell of Salt Lake City, UT. Not one cent will be spent on administrative costs.

Realtor® associations throughout the South have helped create tools to facilitate the search for evacuee housing. The Louisiana Realtors® Association has launched www.HurricaneHousing.net. On this site, Realtors® and property owners can submit available properties in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, and people displaced by the hurricane can search the database directly. Realtor® members in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas are combing their records and contacts to locate every available bit of spare inventory that could be used to house people displaced by the storm and its aftermath. Many of these associations have developed a special information template that Realtors® can use to forward the information to the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the National Emergency Resource Registry at www.swern.govthe U.S. Department of Homeland Security will use this data to help coordinate relocation efforts.

State and local sites have been developed, as well. The Houston Association of Realtors®, in partnership with local media and other organizations, has launched project Make a Home. At www.har.com, visitors can apply for shelter, donate shelter, and find short-term lease and volunteer opportunities.  The Traverse Area Association of Realtors® in Michigan is coordinating and maintaining a community information Web site for Northern Michigan hurricane relief efforts. The site, www.mikatrinahelp.com, will be a directory of available services for refugees and will include information about housing, health, social services, transportation, and schools. 

Mansell remarked, Realtors® are not only opening their wallets; they are scouring their databases and contacts to locate vacant homes, condos, apartments, and mobile parks, as well as other space such as warehouses, houses, schools, churches, and empty commercial buildingsanything that can house Hurricane Katrina evacuees for a week, a month, six months, or even longer. 

Realtors® are finding many ways to help Katrina victims. The Virginia Association of Realtors® worked with Sams Club and Lowes Home Improvement to assemble materials such as bottled water, non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products, and home repair items and delivered them via truck to the Mississippi Emergency Management Authority in Jackson, MS this weekend.

In their own communities, Realtors® are reaching out to evacuees. The Tuscaloosa, AL Association of Realtors®  has asked all brokerages to identify openings for clerical staff as well as displaced Realtors®. The Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors® in Pennsylvania is coordinating with the Lehigh Valley Red Cross to compile rental properties for longer term assistance. In the small town of Columbia, MO, 82 evacuees have already arrived. The Columbia Board of Realtors® has pledged, through its foundation, to cover upfront costs for displaced families and is paying for vouchers for hotel rooms to provide temporary shelter.

Contributions to the Realtors® Relief Foundation can be made online through the following secure site powered by NARs e-commerce system: https://www.realtor.org/RelFundTrack.nsf/Contribution?OpenForm.

Contributions are tax deductible. To make contributions by mail, checks should be made payable to the Realtors® Relief Foundation and sent to: Realtors®  Relief Foundation, Attn: NAR Finance Division, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

The National Association of Realtors®, The Voice for Real Estate, is Americas largest trade association, representing more than 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

New Orleans Visit

Posted at 5:32 PM, Sep. 7, 2005

Http://www.linktoaustin.com

MailTo:lmelnick@linktoaustin.com

Wedowee Alabama Agent Has Question and Offer

Posted at 2:40 PM, Sep. 7, 2005

mailto:leisel@advantagerealty.net

http://www.AdvantageRealty.net or http://www.LakeWedoweesBestAgent.com

Austin Agent Offers 2 homes

Posted at 12:45 PM, Sep. 7, 2005

We understand there is a mass Exodus from the badly hit Hurricane areas. My husband and I are willing to open 2 of our homes to Realtors and their families that are displaced from this terrible storm. We live in the Lakeway/Lake Travis area of Austin, TX. We have a vacant 3/2 home which is presently for sale and without much for furnishings but we will find or rent what is necessary. We also have 2-3 bedrooms and 2 baths in the downstairs of our personal home which would be available until mid-October if necessary. Both homes are for sale and will be on lockbox for viewing. If you hear of any Realtors (KW or not) severely displaced, we want to help! My email is Kelly@KellyMarvis.com.

RV Ideas

Posted at 11:09 AM, Sep. 7, 2005

We have decided to donate the 1977 Midas RV wherever it can do the most good for Katrina victims. Please ask around your network to find out what they might suggest. We do want it to go through a 501(c)(3) organization so we can take a tax write-off, but otherwise we're open. We could even accommodate a couple or small family in it for a short time here in the driveway (if necessary) until you guys find a place to park it. Please let me know how you think it best to proceed. Thanks for your efforts on behalf of all the victims of this disaster.

Carol Garr, broker, ABR, GRI, e-PRO

Garden Realty "where dreams grow" 520-883-4444

2343 W. Old Ajo Hwy, Tucson, AZ 85746

www.garden-realty.com carol@garden-realty.com

Blogmaster Note:  Carol's generous offer is posted here (Think Tank) as well as Housing Offers .  501(c)3 options are currently being investigated.  The donation or loaning of RV's can satisfy a REALTORS housing and transportation needs! 

Ideas? Thoughts!

Tuscon REALTOR to donate RV!

Posted at 11:01 AM, Sep. 7, 2005

Florida: SW Florida Agent offers home

Posted at 9:24 AM, Sep. 7, 2005

I am a Realtor in SW Florida, Marco Island. I have 2, 2 bedroom furnished condos that I am offering as a donation for anyone from the Realtor Association to use as tempory housing. They are available immediately, through mid Nov.. We can't take pets, but a family of four in each would be OK. Please call me of you are in need of housing for a few weeks. 800-423-2962 or 239-389-3200.
Steve Hackman. Re/max

Blogmaster Thanks/Suggestion: Steve, thanks so much for your offer and we proudly post. If you haven't done so already, all willing to donate shelter should register their offer with www.HurricaneHousing.net. HurricaneHousing net is a colloaboration of  a variety of real estate organizations as well as FEMA.

Another major database is www.HurricaneHousing.org.

News Links: Housing Highlights

Posted at 9:19 AM, Sep. 7, 2005

9/9/05 Keller Williams Set up Database for Missing Agents  Over 200 agents not accounted for

9/6/05 Disaster Centers Open In Shreveport and Monroe  FEMA Opens Disaster Centers

9/4/05 Cruise Ships To Help Housing Need September 4th FEMA to add cruise ships

9/3/05 Habitat for Humanity Plans Operation Home Delivery

FEMA Photo Gallery

Posted at 9:06 AM, Sep. 7, 2005

FEMA Photo Gallery

Employment Needs

Posted at 6:51 PM, Sep. 6, 2005

Until a system is in place to assist displaced members of the real estate community, please feel free to post questions and/or your availabiity on this "Employment Needs" category. 

This section was created as a direct result of offers from across the country so be sure to refer to the "Employment Offered" category.  Please allow a few days for this list to be complete as we re-categorized and research our e-mails to make sure all have been entered.

The number for Louisiana REALTOR's in need of assistance is 1-800-266-8538.

Question?  If you were a Katrina Victim and lost your home and source of employment, where would you go and what would you do?

Aggie Miracle!

Posted at 6:19 PM, Sep. 6, 2005

From: President Robert M. Gates [mailto:president@tamu.edu]

mailto:Jim@AustinTxMls.com

Website: http://www.AustinTxMls.com

Nashville - Office space, internet access offered

Posted at 4:54 PM, Sep. 6, 2005

From: Mark Miller [mailto:mark@xtec.us]  Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 12:42 AM To: mkh@mkh.com Subject: What Can We do to Help You as a Realtor to Realtor <http://xtec.us/images/logo?jpg=20050906cqnId5g3yyS11361371316137105224218> Hey Mary Kay,  I'm a Nashville Area REALTOR. Charlie and I own CDM, Inc. and XTEC. Our Nashville Area Clients and Buddies are all willing to help REALTORS and other businesses victim to Katrina. No money - just whatever we can do. If you are in a Devastated Area of the State and there is anything we do you for you from Nashville TN - don't hesitate to call. We have office space, warehouse space, internet and phones available in Middle Tennessee. If you are in a Safe / Secure area of the state and have resources to share with other REALTORS in need, please let us know.

Ohio, Kentucky Employment Offered

Posted at 4:39 PM, Sep. 6, 2005

HUD Program Information and Links

Posted at 11:36 AM, Sep. 6, 2005

Thanks to Fran of  www.TheRealtyGram.com, for alerting me that FEMA will be overseening the HUD properties.   Thanks, Fran

First Preston Management represents a large region with properties in Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennesse and Georgia. Their site reflects the HUD announcement.

As of today, HUD properties have been removed from the search capability of First Preston and the HUD database as well as the market, so it may take some patience and/or a search in MLS  (expired and withdrawn) to locate properties along with a call to FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.

HUD's resource page offers information on this program as well as as info regarding their other functons, such as a way to locate approved HUD agents that should be "in the know" as to local availability. HUD agents are encouraged and welcome to update us on this endeavor.  In fact, if someone wants to volunteer to assist in keeping this phase of the blog uptodate, please post or e-mail mkh@mkh.com.

As always, links will be added to the categorized list.

Austin Donation Update

Posted at 10:38 AM, Sep. 6, 2005

Vouchers can be used to purchase needed goods, and Goodwill will also include one free toy for each of their children.To donate goods to goodwill, see info here: http://www.austingoodwill.org/ I believe that this is true anywhere that the red cross shelters are set up, so you can bring your donations to goodwills anywhere. Here is the info from Goodwill Houston:

http://www.goodwillhouston.org/About%20Goodwill/Katrina_Assistance.shtml

Http://www.linktoaustin.com

MailTo:lmelnick@linktoaustin.com

Arizona - Link to Katrina Aid

Posted at 11:04 PM, Sep. 5, 2005

http://www.az211.gov/

Katrina Relief Banners

Posted at 10:14 PM, Sep. 5, 2005

By joining together, we can have an impact in helping those in need throughout this horrific event. The more people who see a reminder of the plight of those in need as the result of Katrina, the better. Advanced Access created an immediate and admirable opportunity for their website users to add a link to their websites which I've also taken advantage of. Occasionally, we all need to be reminded to do the right thing, just because it is the right thing. Judy

Mailto:Judy@JudyPete.com Website: http://www.JudyPete.com Pa License #195934-L

The idea to add a link to personal web sites giving visitors an avenue to contribute to the victims of Katrina is an incredibly elegant, yet simple way, we can all help! I immediately added a link to my home  page and encouraged all the agents in my company to do the same. Check out the home page at http://johnhetrick.com for one idea on how to add your link.  (I chose to link to the contributions page of FEMA so people could  choose from a variety of agencies they can contribute.)

HUD Link.....Important for all within 500 miles of affected area!

Posted at 8:01 PM, Sep. 5, 2005

This link, purposefully not embedded, http://www.hud.gov/news/katrina05response.cfm

will be posted in the categorized link section.

It appears that the HUD property offer is quite broad in scope.  REALTORS within 500 miles of the affected area need to read the information on this link,  locate HUD properties, then contact those who have victims in need and/or search the various databases for need.  

Thanks HUD!

Earlier Blogmaster Commentary continued ...we need  fewer databases, and more organization/communication regarding existing resources. It appears that the technology is ahead of the process and people.. A few "Think Tank Thoughts" for the current situation:

1. Maximize the value of www.hurricanehousing.net, www.hurricanehousing.org and other housing databases by having a point person within each board who can post and de-post to the various databases, and who is also aware of local databases.
2. Follow Kathie Moore's lead (see earlier post). Do the same thing for housing as the organizations she refers to do for missing persons.  That is, develop a group of volunteers across the country to search the multiple listings :) on the varied databases. 
3. If a volunteer is available in each area, great! Otherwise, REALTORS and other volunteers across this country stand ready to embrace the power of the internet toward this endeavor.

HUD offers to house victims in Texas REO properties

Posted at 7:22 PM, Sep. 5, 2005

This just came out from HUD. All HUD owned REO properties in Texas have been removed from the marketplace to house those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.These properties are unavailable for sale until HUD approves their re-listing in the market. Further info available on the website. I just received this from my office manager.Have a great day!

www.JuliePauly.com mailto:Julie@JuliePauly.co

Ways to Join the Effort to Locate and Match Missing Persons

Posted at 6:56 PM, Sep. 5, 2005

I am working on a project with a group called Life List out of California - they send out names of folks who are missing and the contact person who is seeking them - you search all the current databases to try to find the name of the missing person. Then you can either contact the "seeker" or you can contact Life List and they will relay the message. Other e-pro's might want to add their talents to this cause. I can tell you it is not easy - there are lots of lists out there. If you are interested in volunteering - here is the website: http://www.lifelist.us.

In the process of searching for survivor names, I found a site that is trying to consolidate all the data into a huge database. http://www.katrinaproject.com. They have banners available to post on websites at this location:

http://www.mamaloca.net/lostandfound/banner.htm

Las Vegas (Housing AND Employment!)

Posted at 6:32 PM, Sep. 5, 2005

 http://www.RonniLand.com

 mailto:realtalk@ronniland.com

St. Louis - Housing Needed

Posted at 6:15 PM, Sep. 5, 2005

Greg & Carolyn are New Orleans residents who had a wedding set there for September 23rd . Now, they are in St. Louis and need a home for themselves and their 3 well trained dogs. If you have housing available in St. Louis please contact Mary@StLouisRealEstateAgent.com

Mary Krummenacher

REALTOR, ePRO

RE/MAX Properties West

Saint Louis, Missouri

314/496-8286 - direct

636/532-5900 - office

888/633-0348 - toll free & fax

Mary@StLouisRealEstateAgent.com

From Sara

Posted at 9:02 AM, Sep. 5, 2005

Just received this e-mail from Sara Roberts, lady in the photo posted a few days ago.....

"Thanks for the kind words. It has been one of the worst weeks in the history of this Nation. The one thing I suppose I take from this experience is to take every day and make the most of it. Love your family and love your friends. Tell those that mean so much to you that they are special and try to make a better place for those that are most needy. I love you guys. Let's get together soon. I could use a group hug. Sara"

More comments from online communities

Posted at 5:38 PM, Sep. 3, 2005

Think Tank:

Well, I know many REALTORS own rental property or know of those that do.  Perhaps a call out to all REALTORS to open up currently empty rentals would be helpful? Or maybe even vacant homes that may be rented?

Sandra Carter Smith

BlogMaster Note: Excellent suggestion! And, contact owners, friends and relatives! This sort of thing is being done with success! If you are hesitant to call a seller with a specific need, at least expose them to the many options listed in the "Offers For Housing" Category on the right side of this page. MANY SELLERS ARE LETTING PEOPLE MOVE IN VACANT HOMES THAT ARE FOR SALE!  Some remain on the market with appreciative victims "staging efforts" assisting the marketing effort. Remember, this disaster also affects people with the means to pay.  SOME SELLERS ARE CHARGING MARKET RENT WHICH MEANS A SELLER'S NOTE IS COVERED WHILE HELPING A KATRINA VICTIM (hard to say "win - win" under these dire circumstances, but....), MANY DISCOUNT, SOME ONLY ASK FOR UTILITIES, AND SOME ABSORB EVERYTHING!!!! 

------------------------------

I just saw this website and this email address listed in one of my local newspapers, and thought they might be appropriate for the Hurricane blog you've got set up. The Next of Kin Registry is taking information about missing family and friends.  Administrators of this site will get the info out to local and state officials.   http://nokr.org/nok/restricted/home.htm NowPublic is an online news-sharing network, and they've set up a missing persons board.  Those concerned may send email to news@nowpublic.com I hope these are of some help.

Warmly,Ann

Ann Cummings, REALTOR, GRI, CBR, e-PRO
2004 NH State REALTOR of the Year
RE/MAX Coast to Coast
150 Mirona Road
Portsmouth, NH  03801

BlogMaster Note:  Thanks Ann.  When I verified to see that my helper (a New Orleans Victim) had inserted this one (she had), I found an  "I'm safe" feature, so added it as well.  These are wasted resources unless we get out the word.  I'm sad to report an agent that should of known better called today desparate for a home for a New Orleans victim.  Great agent and person, but she had not read her e-mail or MLS daily notes so was not aware.  Just as Ann is "heads up" on important links, we need everyone to be aware, utilize and INFORM fellow REALTORS and service providers.  Housing and missing persons are major now, but several of the resources go beyound housing and missing persons. Also,thanks to Ann for giving important support to fellow REALTOR Vikii Morvant who is "in the trenches" in Mandeville.

--------------

I got a phone call from my husband in Biloxi this morning.  They arrived late last night at ground zero and were heavily briefed regarding the

looting, killing, car-jacking and desperation going on and told to "watch your backs very carefully".Just thought I'd pass this news along to those who are thinking of driving supplies and/or water to these area's.  It is a big safety issue right now and they are requesting that everyone stay away and just donate money to help out.  More and more people who have good intentions and are sending vehicles with supplies are getting car-jacked , stampeded and/or killed. People are desperate, they are tired of waiting so long to be rescued and

they are not being very civilized right now.   It is not a good situation, but I'm sure we can all empathize with their plight.  There

are still many waiting to be rescued, thinking it would happen within a day or two, and still not much going on, no food, water, shelter, some have little ones they are concerned with.My heart goes out to them, but for safety's sake IF you are planning a trip, or know someone who is, be VERY careful, but also be aware that they have cordoned off the area and you will not get through  -  that is

my husbands job today, block it off, let NOBODY pass except LEO, Red Cross, verified support personnel.Say hi to Sam if you are in the area ;-)   You can leave your supplies and they will get them there somehow or another, but as far as you'll get is way beyond the city limits.

Paula Bean, REALTOR
e-PRO Certified Internet Expert
Certified Real Estate Consultant
Carib Gulf Realty 321.228.4663
http://www.HomeOrlando.com
-------------------------------

Hey everyone,
I am in Vicksburg, MS which is 200 miles north of New Orleans. I don't know anyone that has power. The Association office building was restored because it is on a nursing home/hospital circuit. Lines to gas stations are 4-5 hours long. Can't find ice or bottled water anywhere. The evacuated residents for south MS and LA are losing patience and tempers. Our church is helping a shelter which is housing some very ungrateful evacuees. That get mad when you don't have their favorite drink or have a 3 option meal for dinner. Our volunteers have endured days of abuse. Things are very sad here.
Alainna O'Bannon, Association Executive
Vicksburg-Warren County Board of REALTORS
1204 Mission Park Drive
Vicksburg, MS 39180
601-638-6667
www.vicksburgrealtors.com

-----------------------------

I got this in my inbox just now, and thought it was very nice.  I remember after last years hurricanes in Florida I got a call several

months later on an overdue bill.  LOL.....our mailbox got blown away, the post office got blown away and there was no power, no email, no phones.  After they realized where they were calling, they were apologetic, but hey, you can't pay bills if there is no mail, no phone, no internet.  So, I thought this was a great idea from alamode. If I were going to get another web site (which I may just!) I would definitely consider a company that had the hearts and minds that they have.This goes far in my book!

Paula Bean
Orlando, Fl

Friends,
The devastation in the Gulf Coast area and the continuing emergency in New Orleans have moved us all. Those of us with friends and family in the affected areas are particularly distraught, and that's nothing compared to victims of Hurricane Katrina themselves. Working together, we can make a difference and help victims through what's sure to be a long, extremely difficult time.At a la mode, we are deferring all fees and payments of any kind due us under service contracts, annual subscriptions, website renewals or anything else for our thousands of clients in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for as long as it takes. They don't need to do anything, we just won't ask for or expect payment till things are back to normal. That's the very least we can do.But we're going beyond the least we can do, and we challenge you to help out, too. Our founder and Chairman, Dave Biggers, will personally match up to $250,000 in donations by our customers, made through our website at this address: www.alamode.com/katrina. And if your response is really overwhelming, he'll go higher.

The link takes you to a secure area on our site where your donation will be routed to the American Red Cross, matched dollar for dollar by Dave. Visit right now and pass this e-mail or the link along to anyone you think didn't get it.As a company, we've also matched the $150,000 REALTORS Relief Fund donation to state REALTOR associations in Gulf Coast states. The Alabama REALTOR Disaster Relief Fund, Louisiana REALTORS Association Relief Fund and Mississippi REALTOR Hurricane Relief Fund will split the donation three ways.

We've got more details about our efforts and our challenge to you in a press release we put out on the wires today. You can read it here.

Communities stick together when disaster strikes, and help one another out.Real estate professionals like you and us know that better than anybody.Please visit www.alamode.com/katrina today and donate generously.Thanks in advance for your donation,

All of us a la mode, inc.

---------------------

If you can offer housing anywhere in the country, here is a website to put out the offer:

http://www.hurricanehousing.org/?id=5946-1839316-37kPnJlBVl_qNEL.L6dpsg

I'm just sick about this whole thing. I've called our red cross to volunteer and they already have over 100 people ahead of me waiting to be

placed somewhere.My prayers go out to all of you in the Gulf states!

--Lainey
--
Lainey Melnick, e-PRO
Austin, Texas

-----------------------

For anyone in the Coldwell Banker (NRT) franchise, below is an excerpt on how they will match funds for donations to Katrina relief

As stated in todays earlier memo from Bruce Zipf, NRT president and CEO, we have in place a simple and convenient way for our employees to make donations to support this relief effort. From now through September 30, employees may make donations through The NRT Foundation to the American Red Cross that will be matched by a donation from the Cendant Charitable Foundation up to a total of $500,000. In addition, our sales associates will also be able to have their donations matched by The NRT Foundation up to a total of $100,000.

Laurie Furem, E-Pro, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
metro Atlanta, GA  (770) 597-6373 - Cell
(678) 947-7410 - Direct/VM
----------------

From: Kitty Jubran [mailto:kitty@kitty-lana.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 12:21 PM
To: RealTalk@InternetCrusade.com
Subject: Re: RealTalk: Katrina Help

-
My daughter and her family live in GA. Evidently some of the refugees are being sent to Atlanta and nearby towns.  She and her husband called and volunteered to have a family move in with them.   She doesn't know yetif they will take her up on it. That is truly giving.

Kitty C. Jubran P.A., e-PRO Certified
SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist)
RE/MAX Realtec Group
http://www.Kitty-Lana.com
Serving: Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey,

Hudson, and Spring Hill all in the Tampa Bay area of Sunny Florida!
direct - 727-514-3519     fax - 727-379-0713

-------------------------

Bless your daughter...You're so right, Kitty.

Houston TX, here....Heartwarming to see others thinking as I do... My sister and I have each thought we each could take in just one single displaced person (pets okay in my case).....it is a tricky thing to do, and too easily abused, I would rather take in someone  directly referred to me by someone that already knew them....and I'm sure the Red Cross or FEMA will eventually have a list of displaced people or a sign up sheet for those of us willing to take in someone....and our Realtor buddies in New Orleans "area", and Biloxi "area", etc., surely will know of trustworthy people that need help, perhaps they themselves need help?....I am ashamed to say I'm rather picky, as this could be "the guest that never leaves"....but I would say to them, as I've said to friends in the past (going thru divorces, break-ups, lost jobs, returning to Houston, or whatever..): "You can stay with me for free, for one month, while you regroup, after that you'll have to start paying rent..."  I'm not rich, no big fancy house, no big fancy car...but I do try to help as much as I can.I happen to know where there are some dilapidated apartments, a really huge community, only about 10%-20% occupied, with the permanent "$99 Move-in Special" sign....after seeing the RT posting from the Tennessee Realtor about FEMA wanting Realtors to be on the alert for potential

housing solutions, it occurred to me that I could contact several apartment buildings in my part of Houston, and present FEMA with a nice

tidy list & all the info they need. These are not great apartments, but it sure beats living in a tent or under a  ridge.....perhaps FEMA or the

Red Cross will pay or augment the rent....I'll post here as I find out more.....If nothing else, it let's me feel like I'm helping in a small

way..... I'd be willing to pay that $99 for one family..... and I encourage any other Realtors in the Gulf Coast, to call all the apartment

complexes in their area, and find out how many vacancies they might have, how much they may be willing to help (ie, one month free rent?, etc.)....

Lindy

Lindy Clarke Hall, ePro,
Realtor Since 1977
PrudentialGaryGreeneRealtors,
12850 Memorial #1155, Houston TX  77024
--------------------

Good idea but these people have no home, and now no job, how can they pay, how are they going to buy food and the clothing they need, thousands have nothing but the clothing on their backs. We are forgetting the big picture our government sent money to help rebuild but I have not heard of anything going to help them survive

Donna Slemp

-----------------------------

I am a Rotarian in Boca Raton Florida. We are  putting on a fundraiser and collecting donations for the relief effort if you  are local you can

actually come to our fund raiser on October 8th. Please check  our Rotary website _www.bocasunsetrotary.org_ (http://www.bocasunsetrotary.org)  If you are  far away and buy a ticket it will be given to a less fortunate child locally,  the money will go to the relief fund.

Jacqueline Wiesenfeld,  ABR,CIPS,RECS,e-PRO,SRES,MNAEA(overseas)
Broker

World Property  Group
2385 Executive Center Drive #100
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Tel:(561)  962 2723, 1-866 962 2723
Fax: (561) 279 0940 Cell:(561) 789 6823
Direct:  (561) 279  4009
www.worldpropertygroup.com
www.worldpropertymortgage.com
------------------------

To everyone:  Like most of you all, I have given money till it hurts to many different hands-on relief organizations, and like many, I watch in

disbelief of the suffering. We have all seen it, mothers holding dehydrated babies, everyone filthy, hungry, people dying from the heat

and lack of water and/or  totally left unattended. How the hell can this be happening in America? Why couldn't food and water have been brought in as the helicopters made return trips to get evacuees, or food and water dropped on the dry road ways?  Or megaphones used to broadcast help news...anything?.........My heart is breaking and I feel powerless to do more. I am so overcome with grief and anger that it is nearly unbearable.

Kit Parker

Kit Parker, Buyer's Broker, ABR, e-PRO
Aiken Homes Realty, Aiken,SC 29803
803-643-0747 ofc     803-646-1823 cell
WEBSITE: http://www.AikenHomes.net
---------------------------

I saw this website on another listserv.   www.OpenYourHome.com

You can post if you need shelter or if you are willing to offer shelter.  As I understand it, they will do background checks before placing someone with you.Worth looking into if you want to help, but are concerned about who you are opening your home to.

Becky Lloyd
REALTOR, e-PRO
Cell 254-366-4786
Office 254-741-1500
http://www.becky-lloyd.com
 ---------------------------------

Blogmaster Note: Thanks Becky! It has been added!

-
Donna and RT, getting the refugees out, and to a clean/dry/safe place is what I'm hoping to enable....once resituated, they will be qualified for FoodStamps/Unemployment/etc, and whatever FEMA will help with....after a few weeks, they can get interim/temp jobs here in Houston easily, just yesterday my friend and I commented on how many "Now Hiring" signs we saw (these were stores and restaurants...but it's better than nothing.All churches in Houston are pulling together clothing drives....I am still hoping to hear that other Gulf Coast Realtors are

investigating how many apartment vacancies they have in their areas....Once we get the refugees out, we have to put them someplace, and then help them put their lives back together......it can be done...I can't do anything about rebuilding the city, I can't do anything about the gunshots and crime, but we can all help a little....but if we imagine ourselves in their position, how mind-boggling! Many organizations here are assembling information for the refugees, and assembling bags of food, etc... So that we can help them once they get here....my one bag of food may not be much, but with all the others, it can be a help....later, the FoodBank, FEMA, and other gov't assistances can come into play. IMO, everyone in America should contribute something....even $5 would mean the world to someone....since Houston is so close to New Orleans, I'm sure we'll be hearing more about other ways to help....
(ps...am intentionally leaving entire original msg intact, in case anyone missed it)
 
Lindy in Houston

BlogMaster Note: Lindy, you sound like a kindred spirit! I agree with everything you said in your post and want to assure you that the Gulf Coast Realtors are pulling an extremely heavy load that includes working with apartment vacancies, vacant homes for sale, empty buildings,etc.  Realtors in the affected areas as well as fellow Realtors and Americans across the country are offering rooms in their own homes!  We need to make sure everyone enters their resources in the various databases and alerts all of their availability.

--------------------------------

My heart hurts too.  The photos of families, children, babies, the infirm, seniors, etc. is so horrific as to defy reality.

It is absolutely unfathomable to me that this is happening right here at home.So many many people whose lives have been unalterably changed.  Without hope or resources. Not meaning to open a political pandora's box, many wonder what on earth FEMA is doing (or not doing).  Frankly, I don't care about the answer - just get help to those people.Thanks for letting me vent.

Laurie Furem, E-Pro, Realtor
------------------------------

Here at CARMLS, our multiple listing service I have posted the following message on our message board:ATTENTION REALTORS:

If you have properties for Rent or have homes in which sellers are willing to RENT, please keep the hurricane evacuees in mind. Please post

your rental properties in our Rental section so that we may compile a database list that can be distributed to organized relief fund

coordinators. We believe this will help victims find temporary housing and what may result in permanent.

Amanda Tester, Executive Officer
Cooperative Arkansas REALTORS MLS, Inc.
Little Rock, AR 501.224.3339
-------------------------------

Meridian is on the east side of the state, at the intersection of Interstate 20 and Interstate  59., approx 200 miles north of the coast.
Glad to report that although there is a lot of damage here, I do not believe there are any deaths reported in our area.  Believe me, we are

fortunate and I am not complaining, but I can only report on our situation here as a reference for you as to how bad other areas must be.
I have not had TV or internet since Sunday, so excuse me if the info is dated.  Still no TV, but  now on dial up internet service.
Appears that the eye went between Meridian and Jackson, directly over Laurel and Hattiesburg.  Power was out Monday afternoon for everyone in 2 counties in our Board Jurisdiction for sure.  Winds shifted during the night due to the pressure system out of  Texas and what services were not taken during the day, were taken during the night.  Our phone was out Tues AM As of late afternoon today, 40% of the City of Meridian, that's about 20,000 residents did have power restored.  Our major issues at this point are power and communications. Electric lines in this area are above ground in our largely rural area, and huge pine trees took most of them down.  When lines were put back up, or even where they were left,  we had huge transformer lines that needed to berestored to get power to the substations.   I heard estimate of 750 poles had to be replaced in our immediate area.  We have fuel tanks in our area, but without power, cannot pump from them. Fuel is being brought in from Memphis area. Without power, many, including me, were on generators, thus using gas

more than usual.  Lines to the stations that still have gas are the norm.  Those that had power earlier, are out of fuel, those just getting power back up are open.  Trucks are delivering, but demand is still great. Water and Ice has been trucked in via FEMA, and we are receiving regular shipments at designated locations. We still have some water systems that are not functioning.  No power, no

water.  We had thousands of evacuees in our area in hotels thinking that we should have been well out of reach of the storm.  Many of our hotels were without power.  Restaurants for them are at a minimum as well. We are grateful for the support that has come to our area, the Red Cross, churches (one huge men's group from North Carolina).  We have power crews from all over.  The ones working in the area of my residence were from CT, and others from MO, NY etc. they are doing a fantastic job, and power grids are being restored. Please let those family members at home know how much we appreciate them being here. The second issue is communication.  Phone lines, cable, TV have also been off in this area.  Our local radio station has been doing a great job of

keeping us informed, but it has been difficult in even hearing from other parts of the state.  The REALTOR community is very good at networking, and we have been able to hear good news on some of our members. Areas to the south of us, south of Interstate 20, I can only assume are in much worse shape than us.  We had sustained winds of 80 MPH and we felt that inside my house. Hattiesburg  was reported at over 100MPH, can't imagine the winds on the coast. Members of the 238th ASOS and 248th based out of Meridian have deployed to Gulfport to attempt to establish communication and open the airport for relief supplies to be brought in.  Keep in mind that our State's National Guard and Reserve have been doing it's part in Iraq, and the Army's 155th( the largest unit in MS) is currently deployed in Iraq.Members of the 186th ARW are involved in water and ice distribution in a huge part of the middle part of the state. I am sure others are activated as well, I just don't have personal knowledge of it.As I understand it, Meridian is to be distribution center for supplies

etc going south, so our area will be busy for quite some time. As far as what you can do, I understand a REALTOR disaster relief fund

has been established and funds there would be greatly appreciated.  The Red Cross, Salvation Army and others will definitely need funds as their shelter support will be more than the usual 2-3 days and they will be dispensing meals, lodging food and supplies to individuals.  Please

continue to keep our members to the south in your thoughts.  90 plus degrees during the day without shelter, water. They are definitely in
survival mode.   Homes, personal possessions & business structures lost as well as their livelihood.  On behalf of those who cannot communicate yet, THANK YOU.

Laura Miller, Association Executive
Meridian Board of REALTORS, Inc.
4927 Hwy 493  Meridian, MS 39305
601.485-7113   Fax 601.482-1493
www.meridianboardofrealtors.org

-------------------------------------

Watching the news programs and following the story of Katrina's effect on the people of New Orleans and other Gulf Coast regions has been sobering. The evacuation & assimilation of 100's of thousands of people into our communities will be an incredible undertaking.  According to reports, the population of neighboring Louisiana cities is burgeoning --- places like Baton Rouge and Lafayette are swelling with displaced families.  Houston's population has increased by approximately 100,000.    The current evacuations and shelters are only a temporary step.  There are plans to establish more permanent housing close to New Orleans, but this could take months --- what to do in the mean time?

Getting New Orleans back into habitable condition could take a long time. The NO levee system has been inundated with water for days and it's possible that as they repair some breeches, others will open.   Many of the pumping stations are under water.  Once all the repairs are made, it could take several weeks and perhaps months to dry out the flooded areas - and then the clean up & rebuilding begins.  Most of the dwellings will be waterlogged and uninhabitable.  We're looking at years to rebuild --- and it's possible that many won't go back.  My nephew just returned from New Orleans where they were relocating prisoners.  His comment:  "so that's what Armageddon looks
like".   And that's just New Orleans.  According to news reports, 90,000 square miles of the Gulf Coast region was affected.  The Biloxi area

casinos employed over 16,000 people --- none will be able to return to work for months.  And the list goes on and on.

With long-term prospects looking so unsure, the evacuated people will need to move beyond the basic temporary shelters being provided today.  The local Red Cross is overwhelmed and has never dealt with a disaster in the US with such large numbers.   While the Red Cross and other disaster relief programsare among the best in the world, they will not be able to maintain the current level of support.  Additionally, housing 10's of thousands of people at the Astrodome and other similar facilities is not a solution for more than a few weeks at best.  Yesterday the Astrodome -- after accepting just 12,000 people ---  was temporarily closed to new people because the facilities can't cope with all the needs --- fortunately, it opened again this morning.  Some have already acknowledged that the

current system cannot deal with this disaster on a long-term basis.  So, some good news.  People are now recognizing the enormity of the

relocation and organizations are springing up to deal with the long term prospects of moving evacuees beyond temporary shelter and are working toadopt families.  One such program is www.CrawfordCares.com.   While this is a local program meant to work with those relocating to Houston, maybe other communities can start similar programs for displaced families that have relocated to their communities.  The idea is to provide employment and temporary housing  for the displaced in a similar line of work.  One local restaurant owner has hired six former New Orleans restaurant employees and is providing support, housing, necessities and a job to one family member until they can return home.  Our fellow RT'r, Vikki Morvant is working with www.kwcares.org to provide relief to her own neighbors in Mandeville, Louisiana.  She's off to Mandeville this weekend to scout things out --- when we spoke by phone yesterday, she still didn't know about condition of her home.  I'm posting her response to my email from yesterday: "Thank you for your offer of help. On Tuesday, I am joining the team of KW Cares. I can contact you then, or you may wish to tell everyone about http://www.Kwcares.org.  This organization spends 100% of the funds on the victims, as the parent company provides all of the administrative costs.  You may write my name on the lower left corner, and they will be earmarked to help our area."

John Huval
Sterling Residential, RealtorsR
Bellaire, TX 77401
-------------------------

ATTENTION REALTORS®:

If you have properties for RENT or have homes in which sellers are willing to lease for 6 months to a year, please keep the hurricane

evacuees in mind. Please post your rental properties in our Rental section so that we may compile a database list that can be distributed to

organized relief fund coordinators. Please keep in mind we need larger homes also to accommodate executives from businesses such as Entergy, USDA offices, Domino Sugar, etc...We believe this will help victims find temporary housing and what may result in permanent residency.
  
Amanda Tester, Executive Officer
Cooperative Arkansas REALTORS® MLS, Inc.
Little Rock, AR 501.224.3339
501.325.0598 eFax, 501.912.4722 vm.
http://carmls.com
 
 -----------------------------

If anyone know's of any fellow REALTORS who are in need of a place to stay because of Katrina, my wife and I have a guest room in our house that is available. I have an office with internet, fax, copier etc that would serve one of my colleagues well as a temporary office.

Please contact me off list if you know of someone with a need. "Some people are very generous. They are constantly giving away their

friends".If any of your friends need real estate assistance you can give them to me with confidence they will receive the highest degree of professional service.I love referrals,Lou Sansevero, e-PRO
Keller Williams Realty Lakewood Ranch
cel: 941.447.0032 Fax: 866.231.5580 Off: 941.556.0500

Mailto:Lou@LouSansevero.com http://lousansevero.yourkwagent.com

When you need real estate services on the Florida Sun Coast, Don't ask

who?
Ask SCUBA LOU...

----------------

REALTOR Office as Collection Point

Posted at 1:01 PM, Sep. 3, 2005

Now we are talking about something real important. Kudos to all for thinking about our neighbors in the South. I just sent the following to my Team Leader as a thought for pitching in - beyond our immediate office members.

Following is my suggestion:

"Here's an idea for contributions to those most desperate in the lower 3 states (LA, Mississippi, and Alabama).

Some real estate companies serve as the collection point for Christmas presents for children.

The previous company I was associated with did this: A large banner was printed and hung on the front of the buildingthat this office was a collection point for donations; companies, individuals in the community dropped off gifts; a deadline for the deliveries of gifts was established and publicized; the donations were then delivered to a central point for distribution to the needy. A similar program was operated over Thanksgiving and food was distributed to the needy.

We are in a large commercial building on a street with massive traffic passing our location --we have a good possibility to pull in donations from those passing by; and those patronizing our neighboring businesses. And I think those in power (think buildling landlord) would not object to us doing the same type of collection.

What do you think?"

Julie Gray-Roller, Real Estate Consultant ABR, E-Pro, E-Buyer, CRS (designate) Keller Williams Realty, 8521 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100, Vienna, VA 22182

website: http://www.JGRollerSellsHomes.com

Sources to Offer and Find Housing (Rentals and Donated)

Posted at 12:58 PM, Sep. 3, 2005

While most displaced families do not have access to the internet, assistance providers and the real estate community do.  REALTORS attempting to assit the neverending streams of phone calls and walk ins, can use the search capabilities of these programs to help make a match. These sites contain rental properties as well as a great deal of donated homes and/or rooms. www.hurricanehousing.net is a REALTOR led initiative. The search capability should be operational soon, but enter properties now.  www.hurricanehousing.org.  is the list Craig's list points to. Making phone # public is optional. Your e-mail address is not given out. Site forwards e-mail to you. Realtor.org led me to https://www.swern.gov/index.php , the National Emergency Response Registry. Site itself requires simple registration to receive a user name and password. A fellow Realtor suggested http://katrinahome.com/. Whether you place listings on all or one, be sure to return and pull the offer or update the status once you have found a family. Some of the above sites, noteably,  www.swern.gov have multiple categories (medical, skills, commercial buildings,etc.) Let's build these databases for now and the future.  If you have additional resources similar to these, please add as a comment.  Thanks!

Texas, Dripping Springs: 1 Bedroom Plus Pull Out in Living Room

Posted at 11:23 AM, Sep. 3, 2005

Internet Serves as Communication Link During Disaster

Posted at 3:26 PM, Sep. 2, 2005

http://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/pages/News2005090202?OpenDocument

(September 2, 2005) --   With phone lines destroyed in many areas of the Gulf Coast, and spotty cell phone service at best, REALTORS® affected by Hurricane Katrina are relying heavily on online communications to reach out to friends, family, and colleagues.

Online discussion groups, message boards, blogs, listservs, and e-mail are on the front line of communication in the aftermath of the hurricane. I think its indicative that the Internet has entered our lives as a full-fledged medium right alongside voice, print, and broadcast, says Mark Lesswing, vice president of the Center for REALTOR® Technology at the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Lesswing returned Thursday from a personal trip in Memphis, Tenn., not far from the Gulf Coast, and has posted his personal observations of the disaster on the CRT Blog, including the story of meeting a man on a rental-car bus who had lost everything in the hurricane.

In the middle of a disaster its not surprising that this full medium is our main mode of communication right now, Lesswing says. This wouldnt have happened even five or six years ago. If the medium wasn't critical in our lives, it would be the one dropped first in a disaster.

NAR has launched a Hurricane Katrina Discussion Board at REALTOR.org for people to communicate and coordinate assistance efforts (a REALTOR® log-in is required).

R. Scott Brunner, CEO of the Virginia Association of REALTORS®, has been monitoring similar discussion boards and using e-mail to learn and share for news about family and friends who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. Brunner led the Mississippi Association of REALTORS® for 11 years before moving to VAR last month.

Out of a feeling of helplessness, Ive become the conduit of communication, Brunner says. Im hearing via e-mail that … the immediate need is for gas and generators and plywood to board up the damages to homes.

Brunner has been using every online vehicle at his disposale-mail messages, listservs like InternetCrusade's AETalk, and blogs. In one e-mail dispatch on AETalk, Brunner writes:

Angela Cain, the Mississippi CEO, is without power, and can only receive calls. No outgoing calls on her cell for some reason. The phones at the Mississippi Assn are still down. I'm talking with Angela 4 and 5 times a day to relay info and find out what they need. She's in communication with Cheryl Bullock, the Jackson Assn CEO, who is well, too, I'm told, though her home is without water AND power. Jackson is still a wreck, though not on the scale of the Coast devastation. Schools are out, trees and phone lines down, there's no gasoline to be had, cell coverage is spotty at best, and 70% of that town is still without electricity.

Luckily, there also has been some good news to share. Brunner says that he was relieved to learn through an e-mail that a past president of the Mississippi Association of REALTORS® who lives along the Gulf Coast managed to get to safety and is doing OK.

Here is a list of active online destinations for REALTORS® and friends to share information about Hurricane Katrina:

Field Report, Lake Charles

Posted at 3:05 PM, Sep. 2, 2005

Numerous agents and agencies, local and across the nation, have offered to help with this weblog and I thank you.  Right now, I want to especially thank Gwen Queenan and Cory Bond! In order to satisfy the need for "in the field reports", Gwen Queenan agreed to visit the Lake Charles Civic Center and Burton Coliesum.  These two facilities host over 2200 displaced victims. Photos should be posted by Monday.

Lake Charles: Field Report by Gwen Queenan, Coldwell Banker Legacy and Local Writer, Cory Bond

The relief efforts seemed well organized under the circumstances. Security personnel manning the metal detectors, weary from handling the sheer number of people entering Burton Coliseum, nevertheless reported no problems or disruptive behavior. Cots and mattresses were laid out in rows, and those that were uninhabited were covered with neatly folded blankets. Both sites were overflowing with donations of food, clothing, bedding, and other essentials.

Make no mistake; the situation is dire for those forced to seek shelter here. These people have lost their homes, their worldly possessions, and are desperately waiting for some word on the fates of their family members. Many are stranded, without money or personal identification. However, everyone we spoke with was gracious and stated that all of their immediate needs were being met.

Most are eager to share their experiences, and telling their stories, to each other and to volunteers, seems to be a cathartic process. The horror stories that they can so quickly conjure, and from which they have so recently escaped, makes their collectively calm demeanor all the more remarkable.

Although the Civic Center has been transformed into a refugee camp, the scene at the lakefront just across the street appears the same as always, with parents resting under shade trees as their children play joyfully in the park and fountain. There we spoke with Deondra, a single mother of three, who had been in Lake Charles since Sunday. Planning to relocate her family here, she has already secured employment at both a restaurant and a local casino. In need of a place to live, she is currently on a waiting list to receive housing that is being made available as quickly as possible by local realtors and the community.

In the front of the Civic Center, evacuees relaxed on benches and lawn chairs while Prien Pines Nursery beautified the grounds and planters with new foliage. Nearby, a displaced woman visited her dog at the tent that volunteers had set up for pet registration and housing. She was surprised but happy to discover that they had freshly groomed him earlier in the day.

As more shelters are opened, the need for food and supplies of all types continues to grow, and anyone interested in making donations should contact the Red Cross. Some people are without transportation and need to be shuttled around town, while others simply want bus fare to other cities so that they can be reunited with friends or loved ones.

I'd Rather Be in Boots

Posted at 1:12 PM, Sep. 2, 2005

Shirely Gutierrez echos the sentiments of many! She is a CENTURY 21 Bessette Realty agent and says "Hey, give me a can of bleach!" 

Shirely means it when she says! "I'd rather be in boots!  I'll be a driver, a yard worker, whatever it takes. Count me in when the volunteer outreach starts....and I'm ready to start today!"

Washington State Agents to Hold Fund Raiser

Posted at 12:01 PM, Sep. 2, 2005

Great to hear from you and so glad to see the effort that Realtors are making to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. When I think about the long-term effects so many will feel in their business and lives, and yet to be giving so much of themselves is really impressive. Even though I am far away, I have been so horribly upset by everything that I am seeing on the news, it's just devastating. I pray for you all.

Up here in Washington state we want to help. I am organizing an effort with other individuals in my office of Windermere to do a fundraiser for food and monetery donations for the Realtor's Relief Foundation and also to America's Second Harvest. We will be sitting outside area grocery stores, and contacting our spheres, farms, whoever we can, to help raise money and non-perishable food for these two organizations. My belief is that these are good ways to help meet the two most basic human needs of food and shelter.

The lady at our local office of ASH says they need to raise $2M to create a food distribution network into the area (warehouses, trucks, setting up feeding stations etc.) and they also need food to keep the supply of food stable for hungry people here, as they divert resources to the hurricane victims. So both kinds of donations can really help.

Do you have any insight into how the funds for the Realtors Relief will be distributed? How it works to actually find homes for these people?

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. You can post it to the blog. It might give other Realtors across the country an idea for a great way to help even if we are too far away to open our homes.

From: Sandy Kaduce [mailto:sandyk@windermere.com]

Report from Shelters in Lake Charles

Posted at 11:32 AM, Sep. 2, 2005

Numerous agents and agencies, local and across the nation, have offered to help with this weblog and I thank you.  Right now, I want to especially thank Gwen Queenan and Cory Bond! In order to satisfy the need for "in the field reports", Gwen Queenan agreed to visit the Lake Charles Civic Center and Burton Coliesum.  These two facilities host over 2200 displaced victims. Photos should be posted by Monday.

Lake Charles: Field Report by Gwen Queenan, Coldwell Banker Legacy and Local Writer, Cory Bond

The relief efforts seemed well organized under the circumstances. Security personnel manning the metal detectors, weary from handling the sheer number of people entering Burton Coliseum, nevertheless reported no problems or disruptive behavior. Cots and mattresses were laid out in rows, and those that were uninhabited were covered with neatly folded blankets. Both sites were overflowing with donations of food, clothing, bedding, and other essentials.

Make no mistake; the situation is dire for those forced to seek shelter here. These people have lost their homes, their worldly possessions, and are desperately waiting for some word on the fates of their family members. Many are stranded, without money or personal identification. However, everyone we spoke with was gracious and stated that all of their immediate needs were being met.

Most are eager to share their experiences, and telling their stories, to each other and to volunteers, seems to be a cathartic process. The horror stories that they can so quickly conjure, and from which they have so recently escaped, makes their collectively calm demeanor all the more remarkable.

Although the Civic Center has been transformed into a refugee camp, the scene at the lakefront just across the street appears the same as always, with parents resting under shade trees as their children play joyfully in the park and fountain. There we spoke with Deondra, a single mother of three, who had been in Lake Charles since Sunday. Planning to relocate her family here, she has already secured employment at both a restaurant and a local casino. In need of a place to live, she is currently on a waiting list to receive housing that is being made available as quickly as possible by local realtors and the community.

In the front of the Civic Center, evacuees relaxed on benches and lawn chairs while Prien Pines Nursery beautified the grounds and planters with new foliage. Nearby, a displaced woman visited her dog at the tent that volunteers had set up for pet registration and housing. She was surprised but happy to discover that they had freshly groomed him earlier in the day.

As more shelters are opened, the need for food and supplies of all types continues to grow, and anyone interested in making donations should contact the Red Cross. Some people are without transportation and need to be shuttled around town, while others simply want bus fare to other cities so that they can be reunited with friends or loved ones.

Thanks to Realtor Blood Donors!

Posted at 8:39 AM, Sep. 2, 2005

ERA Moffett Realty, Inc. Agents Donate Blood!
Lifeshare will be open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 9-3:00.

Sara In Action

Posted at 10:18 PM, Sep. 1, 2005

  If there is such a thing as a good bad day, this has been one!  None of us want to be entrenched in this ordeal. Regardless, the strength of our faith and the goodness of others makes us persevere. For example,  I received this photo minutes ago along with a tagline that went something like "Sarah Roberts, local CPA helps in New Orleans relief effort."  On a normal day, I would have known what my friend SARA (not "Sarah") was up to. These are not normal days and Sara is anything but normal!!!!  Regardless, I'm taking a WebLog master moment to brag about her and express my hope that her children (one or both will probably be Governor and/or President one day!)  and gorgeous husband obtain a superior copy of the photo. Love ya, Sara!!!

Another e-PRO at Work!

Posted at 6:14 PM, Sep. 1, 2005

address: www.alamode.com/katrina. And if your response is really overwhelming, he'll go higher.

Communities stick together when disaster strikes, and help one another out. Real estate professionals like you and us know that better than anybody. Please visit www.alamode.com/katrina today and donate generously. Thanks in advance for your donation,

Mailto:Virginia@Tatseos.com

HTTP://Tatseos.com

Great Ideas from Atlanta Agent

Posted at 6:05 PM, Sep. 1, 2005

Mary Ann Payne has given permission to extend the following great ideas. 

"I challenge all ePRo's on this listserve to put a link on the FRONT page of your web site to the hurricane charity of your choise--I have put a link to the Red Cross and KW Cares (A KW organization to help it's agents and families in bad times). Also, instead of sending out referral gifts this week like restaurant cards, I donated $25 in the referralee's (sp) name to the Red Cross--easy to do online and they send you a receipt and a card to your honoree--pretty cool--did three so far today."

Mary Anne Payne, REALTOR, ePRO

Keller Wiliams North Atlanta

678.762.1227

Selling Atlanta Since 1984

www.maryannepayne.com

Visit my New BLOG at http://realestatemama.blogspot.com

Message from Al Mansell, NAR President

Posted at 5:27 PM, Sep. 1, 2005

Dear Fellow REALTOR®

As we witness the horror and tragedy caused by Hurricane Katrina, we don't have to sit silently by. We can do something now to help.

More than 40,000 REALTORS® have been affected by Katrina--more than any other disaster in history. Many have lost their homes and their businesses. Almost all REALTORS® in the region devastated by the storm have lost their livelihood because the real estate business in their communities will be shut down for months to come.

REALTORS® raised over $8 million to help the families of 9/11 victims keep their homes and we raised more than $1.8 million in record time for the victims of the Tsunami. Now we must help the victims of Katrina--so many of whom are our friends and colleagues.

But this miracle can't happen without your help. I need you and other REALTORS® like you to make a contribution that will have a huge impact on the life of a fellow REALTOR®.

The REALTORS® Relief Foundation is raising money now to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in those states. NAR has kicked off the effort with two contributions totaling more than $1 million, but we will need a lot more. Won't you join us? EVERY PENNY donated will go directly to help victims of Hurricane Katrina get back on their feet. You can find out more about the REALTORS® Relief Foundation at www.realtor.org/relief.

You can make tax deductible contributions online through the following secure site powered by NAR's e-commerce system: https://www.realtor.org/RelFundTrack.nsf/Contribution?OpenForm.

Please join me and thousands of others in this vital cause. Let's show our fellow REALTORS® and all Americans that they can count on us in this time of need!

Sincerely,

Al Mansell,
President

Commercial and Warehouse Space

Posted at 4:28 PM, Sep. 1, 2005

Southwest Louisiana: Just hung up from Matt Redd, CCIM and owner of Redd Properties. 

Thanks to the outreach effort to create awareness, Matt heard about the WebLog.  Tomorrow, he will post availabe warehouse and commercial space.  Thanks outreach people, thanks board office for posting on MLXchange!

Update on Housing Success!

Posted at 4:08 PM, Sep. 1, 2005

As of 3:00, Rose Holland w/CB Legacy reports 11 owners have now made their homes available, 4 donated! 

Southwest Louisiana Houses AND jobs

Posted at 3:08 PM, Sep. 1, 2005

Sherry Weydrt w/C21 Mike D. Bono Real Estate reports that every other call and walk-in is someone from New Orleans in need of temporary (whatever that is!) housing.  

In one of many examples, a young couple walked into their office, desparate! Even with a discounted hotel room by our new gaming facility it is still cost -prohbitive. Bound and determined to "get on with their lives" the displaced couple sought aid from agent Sharon Johnson. One of her sellers initially agreed to rent what could have commanded $900 rent for $350.  The seller ended up declining rent completely!

There's more! Sherry made a phone call and made arrangements for a job interview. The couple broke down and cried.  Sherry and Sharon cried.  (Suspect the tears really flowed when he got the job!)

Sherry told me, "It gives me chills! I feel for these people! I have another fellow who is trying to find a home for his wife and child. Imagine, they no longer have a home, basically the clothes on their back and a few possessions. He has to find a place before Monday as he has to fly out.  They are in a life-changing situation but are so grateful to have a job.  I am really amazed that they are able to think so quickly and, in this horrible trauma, exhibit such incredible strength!"  

Rooms Available

Posted at 1:54 PM, Sep. 1, 2005

A Lake Charles REALTOR and her husband have 2 rooms available in their personal home.

Her setting is such that she cannot accomodate children over 3 years or wheelchairs due to safety issues. She has a basonet and crib so this would be an ideal setting for a small family. E-mail gwen@cblegacyre.com

Another, similar possibility should be posted this afternoon. 

REALTOR PRIDE

Posted at 1:07 PM, Sep. 1, 2005

For the record, here and now, let me say how incredibly PROUD I am of the Southwest Louisana REALTORS and the REALTORS across this wonderful state and nation. Within this Weblog, you will learn much of the generosity of our REALTORS as well as the grace under pressure they are witnessing that brings them to their knees.

Please be patient as we work to keep up with your supply/demand housing efforts, along with some incredible ideas. So bear with and come back often to learn all the things the state and national associations are doing as well as the local efforts.

Thanks to Gwen Queenan with CB Legacy for volunteering to make calls and serve as sort of a roving-reporter.  If each office wants to appoint a "point person" or, better yet, a "post person", please do so.

If you want to be auto-notified of new post, send your e-mail address to darlene@mkh.com

A Realtor's Ping!

Posted at 7:52 AM, Sep. 1, 2005

Rose Holland of CB Legacy provides a perfect example of REALTORS responding!

When Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church directed a family in need of a temporary rental to CB Legacy's managment department, Rose Holland had nothing to offer. 

Turns out, the "family" of 10 is related, but represented 3 New Orleans households.  Rose was on the verge of placing them in an apartment complex game room (pretty good idea!) when a "ping"* came to her that she simply had to find them a home!

Rose did what some other agents are doing, but we ALL need to follow her example!  She called owners of vacant homes that are currently on the market. She rapidly hit paydirt. The New Orleans family was more than willing and capable of  paying rent but the homeowner declined rent AND insisted on paying the utilities. They rented furniuture for $200.00 for a month, the lockbox stays on and the home continues to be shown!  Other employees, REALTORS and friends donated blankets, ktichen items, shower curtains, sheets, coffee pots, etc. Not the classic case of "staging", but darn close!

It gets better! Rose's outreach, started yesterday, to listing clients has produced 6 rental properties. She is currently calling her "need list" but welcomes calls from others in need.  The phone # is 474-8877. Linens, toiletries, and other household items will be needed for these homes as well. Those interested in donating are invited to drop off at 1601 West Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles, LA 70601.

*"Ping" is Rose's term for "an inspiration from God".

Southwest Louisiana "A Roof is A Roof"

Posted at 7:19 AM, Sep. 1, 2005

"A Roof is a Roof, Damn It!!!"

                                 Jade Walker,  Executive Assistant
                                   Southwest Louisiana Association of REALTORS

As part of the Soutwest Louisiana board effort to assist with the housing shortage, Jade Walker is, like us all, frustrated.  She questions...."Why not let these people stay in some of our vacant commercial buildings! A roof is a roof, damn it!  

So.....fellow REALTORS and COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS are asked to consider donating vacant buildings to the cause.  As Jade said, "a cot in a vacant building with a bathroom trumps the civic center."  

Posted at 7:13 AM, Sep. 1, 2005

Freeway is a bow-legged, mixed breed CairnTerrier in need of a home. He was in a shelter in New Orleans with 20 cats, 1 ferret, a rabbit and a mouse(!). While his New Orleans shelter is probably history, the effort to find him a permanent home goes on! Freeway is cat, ferrett, and mouse tolerant, but prefers adults over children!

Photos of the cats, etc. will be posted when they are available.  All have been spayed, neutered, checked for disease and are  FREE to good homes. To inquire about Freeway or the others, call Darlene, the shelter owner, at 337-439-1079.  A temporary e-mail address has been set up for her at Darlene@mkh.com.

Blood Donations Needed

Posted at 6:42 AM, Sep. 1, 2005

Because of the loss of their New Orleans office, and the growing # of patients being transported across the state, Lifeshare Blood Centers is appealing for blood.

This has been a previous (and easy)  project for the Southwest Louisiana Association of REALTORS, so Lake Area REALTORS, please go to the Lifeshare location at 214 South Ryan Street.

The Lake Charles office hours are 8-5:30.  They will also be open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday....Labor Day weekend,  from 9-3:00.

If you know if extended hours are available in other parts of the state, please post.  

Let's show America what Realtors are made of !

Posted at 2:04 AM, Sep. 1, 2005

REALTORS all over the country are ready to pitch in and help fellow REALTORS and citizens in those areas seriously affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Here's a glimpse at some of the postings appearing today, August 31, 2005 on several of the listservs maintained by InternetCrusade, notably RealTalk and e-PROTalk. 

----------------------
As I watch in disbelief the pictures of devastation coming from the vulnerable belly of our nation, of a vibrant city destroyed, the area's

citizens now homeless refugees in a land of plenty, I see firsthand the spirit of outreach and caring we Americans possess, both individually and at the corporate level...

"Dear Associates,
RE/MAX Allegiance has donated $10,000.00 to The American Red Cross for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. We strongly encourage everyone associated with RE/MAX Allegiance to donate something ...
Sincerely, Charlie Bengel
Chairman - RE/MAX Allegiance"

... and I am proud.

Donate where and what your heart dictates, but do give. This disaster will drain more than any levee could begin to contain.

Rani Covington, CRS, e-PRO, JIM66 -- "Ronnie"
RE/MAX Allegiance ~ Serving Northern Virginia
 www.RaniCovington.com
-------------------------------------

Peggy,

Responses like yours to the devastation in our Gulf Coast states is very heartening.  We had a call yesterday from Joy Lane, an AE in Concord,  North Carolina as well offering assistance from her board.  I am in an area that was only mildly impacted by Katrina and I have power & sporadic internet & e- mail  We haven't been able to hear from our MS AEs in areas from Meridian (90 miles south of us) and towns further south like Hattiesburg, Gulport, Biloxi etc.  We are very concerned and praying they are all safe, but we wait to hear as we are unable to contact them. Our State Association is working to set up a disaster relief fund.  Their office is in Jackson and most there are without power as well, so we are limited at this time as to what we can do. We will be in contact

concerning this.  In the meantime, we ask for your continued prayers for those affected.

Lois Laird
Executive Officer
Golden Triangle Association of REALTORS
Columbus, MS

---------- Original Message -----------
> Is there anything the AE's across the country can do to help the AE's
> in the areas devastated by Katrina?
>
> I know NAR has their relief fund, but I would be willing to donate > specifically to an AE fund to help out fellow AE's.
>
> Peg
>
> Peggy J. Kayser, CAE CIPS RCE
> Chief Executive Officer
> REALTOR(r) Association of NorthWest Chicagoland
-----------------
I am an AE in Lafayette, Louisiana which is only 120 miles west of New Orleans.  We are doing fine here but our community of 125,000 people has been greatly affected by the devastation in New Orleans.  I don't know where Missy Whittington, the AE in New Orleans is right now - hopefully safe somewhere with her family.  Cellular phone service is difficult to use.  Over 1 million people are homeless and scattered all over the state.  They have lost everything they owned except the few clothes they may have brought with them when they evacuated, expecting to come home several days later to a damaged New Orleans, but not a completely destroyed city.
 

I know personally because my son, wife and daughter have (had) a home there that has over 8 feet of water in it.  However, they are one of the "lucky" ones because they can stay with us and they have careers that can be mobile.  I have had calls asking what people can do to help.  We don't know yet.  To give you a feel for what is happening, I can tell you that the emotions are similar to 911.  It's unbelievable and there is no one we can blame or be mad at like 911.  Everyone is doing what they can, but it never seems enough because there is so much devastation to lives and property.  People have no homes or jobs to return to. NAR has graciously started a fund and so has the Louisiana Realtors, but I'm not aware of AE fund.  However, thank you for your concern but I think these funds will help everyone. 

This is not just a New Orleans tragedy or a state tragedy, it is a national tragedy of larger proportions than I think we can even imagine

at this time. I'm not sure what else I can say.

Mary Jane Bauer, CEO ePRO
REALTOR Association of Acadiana
1819 W. Pinhook, Ste.115
Lafayette, LA 70508
Phone: (337) 233-0086  Fax: (337) 234-0663

www.LafayetteRealtor.com
-----------------------------
As I mentioned before, we are organizing a fundraiser for hurricane relief, but in the meantime a couple of our members - Dan Norman and

Gerry Staninger (and possibly more?) - are heading down to Meridian, MS, with a group of 60 to serve meals (approx. 11,000 per day) to those in need.AWAR is giving $100 from the Community Action Committee fund to help pay for gas for the trip. As we all know, that doesn't buy much gas these days... Anyone who would like to contribute to help with transportation costs for their trip may drop off a check at Martin Real Estate or the AWAR office. PLEASE NOTE that checks should be made out to FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH and should be dropped off by TOMORROW (Thurs, Sept. 1).
Thanks!

-----------------------------
We are hearing from the Salvation Army workers near Ground Zero in Mississippi that their number 1 priority is Sports Drinks like Gatorade.
Apparently they are getting lots of water - but need gatorade, propel,etc because of the severe dehydration of workers and residents.  The government has stores of water, diapers, clothing, MRE's - but apparently the warehouses don't have enough sports drinks.

Kathie Moore
Crye-Leike REALTORS
Franklin, TN
615-351-4736
-------------------

>> " ... One of our local radio stations filled up an 18 wheeler with bottled water and it's on it's way ..."

A word (or two) of caution. Some may be aware of the terms "car jacking" or "highway robbery" etc.

Sending supplies into an area such as the Gulf Coast devastation isextremely risky. People (who may be, or think they may be dying of

thirst) will not politely stand in line to accept a bottle or two of bottled water. A vehicle may not even successfully get anywhere near the destination before they are waylaid, or perhaps killed for the cargo.

Dan Wild
Las Vegas, Nevada
-----------------------
I am so glad someone else is thinking about the animals.  Sometimes in dealing with the human problems we forget there are pets in need too.Not being there and directly affected is one reason but I'm sure the families who are missing their pets are scared and grieving for them. On television I have seen several dogs and cats on roofs of flooded homes.  They can't help themselves but we can.

Any assistance we can give to rescue, house and feed these animals will be put to good use and hopefully a family will can be reunited with their beloved pet.I have made my donation at the Humane Society of NW Louisiana via the link provided below by Ann Cummings.  I know we are all giving at this time but imagine your pet lost, confused, hungry, thirsty and possibly hurt.  I think we can all find a few more dollars to spare for the animals if we do that.Karen Rhodes, ABR, e-PRO Certified, BB-99 Realty Center/GMAC Chattanooga,

TN http://KarenRhodes.com 
 
Ann Cummings said:

>
> "If you are an animal lover and want a place to donate money that will  help the devastated pet population please consider these groups.  They are on the ground doing important work right now.
>
> http://www.hsnwla.org/

> If you are an evacuated resident of the Gulf Coast and you need somewhere to house your pet, please bring them to the LSU-S campus in southeast Shreveport. Click here for a map to the location. The Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana has partnered with the Louisiana

Veterinary Medical Association, the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux, Caddo Caring Canines, and Animal Welfare, Inc to set up an emergency shelter for pets of all sizes at no charge to you.

> Also   http://www.noahswish.org/index.htm
> http://www.hsus.org/  "

This information came from Lynda Bloom in Maryland, for those who remember her on RealTalk in the past.
----------------------
Thanks to all of you who have contacted me privately and my apologies to you who prefer not to have non-education business on the REEAline.
 
My family and I are fine.  We had lots of rain and wind and some tree damage but my lot is  almost 20 feet above sea level so there has been no flooding in my neighborhood and the streets are also dry.  We can reach doctors, food and all other necessities.  Our electricity was restored Tuesday night and we have sporadic telephone service.We are and will be working to make the thousands of evacuees from the New Orleans area as comfortable as we can until more permanent arrangements can be made for them.  So many of my friends and relatives are from the low lying areas and have no idea whether their homes or jobs will ever be restored.  Usually when this many Cajuns get together there's a party of Biblical proportions but today there's no partying going on. Even those of us who do not live in the close area have life long memories connected to New Orleans.  It is hard to comprehend that the places and some of the people that we've enjoyed and taken for granted have been destroyed.
Carmel Streater
(High and dry in Baton Rouge)
-------------------------
Vikki, our prayers are with you, and we love you too!  Please stay in touch. I Just talked to my husband who is en route as we speak with airboats, ATV's, and a couple helicopters...    they will do search and rescue, along with body recovery (eeuuuwww!) He said it is will be so bad that he won't be able to call me anymore, and gave me a central command post number to call for the Sheriff's

office in case I get worried about him without any word for weeks. Stay smart, don't try to go where you shouldn't be, let others handle

that. I know you are concerned and want to help, but the last thing we need is you getting hurt!  Stay where you are and do like I'm doing, form a coalition to help others, spearhead a relief effort, send money, but do not try to go where there is danger.

Much Love and stay safe!!!

Paula Bean
----------------------------
-
Sarah, you are NOT "too far out".  Hopefully, by tonight, a website donated by the Internet Crusade will be open for this sort of thing. 

Also, courtesy of IC and Real Town, we've started http://katrinablog.realtown.com, also in its infant stages. 

Mary Kay Hopkins,

John's note:

Mary Kay is too modest. She is the driving force behind the blog and a campaign to address the tremendous housing needs that face the area.

John

-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Rummage [mailto:SarahRummage@comcast.net]
-
It's wonderful to respond to immediate needs.  Those impacted by the storm can't think beyond their immediate need for a drink of clean water.  They probably can't think of their future right now, past today. But, I am thinking of another way we, who are in the housing business, might help.....that is, if the city has to be evacuated to repair the infrastructure, and residents have to relocate to other cities for housing and jobs.  John and I have been thinking that we could probably make available 1, maybe 2, small dwellings for temporary
housing to someone who needs to resettle.   What do you think?  Isthis getting too far out there in the social services, rather than real

estate, field?  Does anyone else have dwellings/condos that you know of to be vacant and available for a couple month's use?

Interesting thing.....I sold a foreclosed property and we closed a couple of weeks ago.  The buyer emailed me today that she has a house full of evacuees from New Orleans, and that they want something to do and she has them working on the house.  They are glad to be useful. Also, she may move them and their pets into the house if they have to stay awhile.  It also has a fenced yard for the dogs......how convenient!

Sarah and John Rummage
Keller Williams Realty - Green Hills
Nashville, TN 37215-2033

-----------------------------------------
Vikki,

Our thoughts and prayers are with your, your family, and your friends and

neighbors. 

Your post speaks volumes for your resilience.   Good luck with your trip
home; I know it will be difficult.  My office was 3 blocks from the WTC,

and I was in shock for over 3 months.  Be patient, and be honest with

your feelings.  Believe me; things will get better.

Sally Hardman, REALTORR, ABR, e-PRO
Century 21 Island Development Company
St. Simons Island, GA
----------------------------------
From: "Sally Hanson"

 I have just e-mailed our brokerage president and here is what we would

like to do....While we cannot do this for the whole country, I am happy

to do balloons and ties at cost for anyone else.
 
    - We will donate Orange & Black Balloons and Closure Strings to all

FWG offices statewide for use on a     publicized open house weekend tied

to Open House Signs (Just tell us the quantity)
         - In Newspaper, Our Website, Any Agent's website we would

advertise that any home with balloons can be a location for donating

------------; We are finding out most needed besides money to the  Red

Cross and if we get food or other donations make sure we have a way to

get them there....otherwise  we would restrict it to money.
       - We can have our print shop print signs for all offices as

donation points for the month of Sept.
       - Send press releases to TV, Radio and Newspaper - Most effective

would be with the balloons filled with  helium and delivered....David & I

would do that locally.
       -  Challenge the WRA Agents to donate $x per transaction written

or closed in Sept. and further take this challenge to NAR
        - Creative fund raisers welcome...hot dog roasts for Tues.

Meeting..blind auction
        -  This doesn't take a lot of time or effort on any one person's

part and it can mean soooo much to sooo many who are truly in need.
 
  I  CHALLENGE RT-ers $100 a closed transaction Or written contract in

September to be donated
 
             Let's show America what Realtors are made of !
 
                       Sally K. Hanson, ABR, e-pro
                         www.HansonRealEstate.Net
--------------------------
Hi to all

I donate blood - this is a wakeup call for me to go to the blood bank.

Regards  Sherry
---------------------------
I just wanted to dash out a quick email before I hit the road.  While many Realtors are members in Kiwanis, Rotary, or other community groups....my civic duties and talents lead me to People and Paws Search & Rescue. We are a 100% volunteer K9 search and rescue team based out of Milwaukee, WI.  We primarily respond to incidents within a 3hr drive time of Milwaukee, however on occasion, we have been requested to travel further.  For those of you in the Milwaukee and Chicago areas, we were recently on multiple TV stations and some newspapers for organizing Wisconsin's first K9 "Play Day" and bringing together K9 Urban Search and Rescue resources from all over the
Midwest to work and train at our rubble training facility in Butler, WI. (NW corner of Milwaukee)

This evening (Wednesday) we received an official request to deploy to the New Orleans area.  We will be leaving tomorrow morning as soon as the trailers and trucks are packed.  We are tentatively expected to be there for a little less than a full week, only because the teams being deployed to this area must be 100% self-sufficient (food, water, shelter) for the near future.  Because of the distance we are traveling, we are somewhat limited in our cargo.

What our team does need is donations.  As a 100% volunteer team, the members support our finances through yearly dues as well as the occasional corporate gift and fundraising when we attend public events.  Because this incident is a far greater distance than we normally deploy to, it has quickly added to our costs.  As well as being an extended deployment.

After you have donated to the Red Cross (my favorite) and if you have a few dollars left over, I and my team would greatly appreciate it if you would visit our website at www.peopleandpaws.org and make a small (or large) tax deductible donation.  If you have any additional questions about our team, or on making donations, you can contact one of our team leaders, Lynn Gardiner at (414) 531-4098, she will be staying behind with a part of our team to cover anything that happens at home, to coordinate the teams fundraising activities, and as our Public Information Officer to keep the media updated.  If you office would like to make a donation, please contact Lynn, she can supply a letter for tax purposes.

My company has started by donating $300 to our team and effective immediately, will donate $100 per closed transaction to the American Red Cross for the foreseeable future.  I can't tell you how much it would be appreciated if everyone found it in their heart to make even a $10 or $20 donation to our team.

All donations go strictly for the purpose of training, equipment, and to defray unexpected costs of our deployments.

I will update everyone when I return sometime next week, please keep myself, my team, and the people of the affected areas in your prayers.

God Bless.

Sincerely,

Chris Schlechta
Vice President, REALTOR
American Homes Realty, Inc.
1015 S. Green Bay Rd
Racine, WI 53406
***********************  Sorry if RT gets any of my autoresponder messages

John's note:

Don't worry about the auto replies, Chris, I'll take care of those. You take care of yourself and your wonderful team.
I'll add your link - www.peopleandpaws.org - to the blog at http://KatrinaBlog.RealTown.com

NAR Donates $1 Million More to Katrina Relief

Posted at 1:36 AM, Sep. 1, 2005

NAR Donates $1 Million More to Katrina Relief

CHICAGO (September 1, 2005) -- The National Association of REALTORS^® announced today it will contribute an additional $1 million to funds established by REALTOR^® associations in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi to provide emergency relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Earlier this week NAR made an initial donation of $50,000 to each of three state REALTOR^® associations to help them establish funds to provide emergency assistance.

As the extent of the suffering and devastation caused by Katrina becomes clear, NAR is stepping up its efforts to raise funds from Realtors for emergency relief in the Gulf Coast.

"Hundreds of thousands of families lost their homes in this disaster. More REALTORS^® have been affected by Katrina than any other disaster in history. Today Im asking the REALTOR^® family to rise to the challenge, just as we did after 9/11 and the Tsunami in Southeast Asia earlier this year," said NAR President Al Mansell of Salt Lake City. Mansell is making a direct appeal today to the nations 1.2 million REALTORS^®.

All administrative costs of the project will be absorbed by NAR. Every penny raised will go directly to aid the victims. Contributions can be made online through the following secure Web site powered by NARs e-commerce system: http://www.realtor.org/relief. Contributions are tax deductible. To make contributions by mail, checks should be made payable to the REALTORS^® Relief Fund and sent to: REALTORS^® Relief Fund, Attn: NAR Finance Division, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611.

The National Association of REALTORS^® , The Voice for Real Estate, is Americas largest trade association, representing more than 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Information about NAR is available at http://www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the Web sites News Media section in the NAR Media Center.

Hurricane Katrina — Lessons to Learn

Posted at 12:43 AM, Sep. 1, 2005

The current issue of RISMedia contains several articles on the impact of Hurricane Katrina. http://RISMedia.com

One  concerns the Insurance Implications and another focuses on some of the mass Economic Fallout

Activity Breeds Activity!

Posted at 9:31 PM, Aug. 31, 2005

The success of this very young Weblog (less than 12 hours!)  supports an old, but core mantra.... "Activity Breeds Activity!"

Positive activity has already come from this effort. Some are obvious in the post, others via private, supportive e-mails. 

For now, we ask contributors to accept a very sincere "Thank You." 
Your support, suggestions, links, and/or e-mails are greatly appreciated.

A few things you can expect by tomorrow afternoon:

1) A categorized list of links along with a brief summary

2) More links regarding animal rescue services

3) More links to housing related inititives

If equipment is needed for a presentation, send an e-mail.

RSS Feed

Posted at 4:08 PM, Aug. 31, 2005

You might want to try receiving these postings right on your desktop shortly after they are released.

If you do not yet have a RSS Reader, I recommend

http://www.sharpreader.net
http://www.Attensa.com

For those with a RSS Feed Reader on their desktop, here is the URL to copy and paste into your reader.

REALTOR Relief Efforts Site

Posted at 3:25 PM, Aug. 31, 2005

The National Associations of REALTORS has dedicated a special web page for the REALTOR Relief Efforts For Hurricane Katrina.

Go to http://realtor.org/realtororg.nsf/pages/katrina

Housing Resources

Posted at 2:03 PM, Aug. 31, 2005

Since housing is one of the major purposes of this Weblog, we are in search of every resource possible.

NOLA.com is an extremely informative site in a variety of of aress, including a "missing" forum and a "reach out" forum.  Besides well wishing and prayers, the site also lists those who will take in evacuees. 

We will be adding this list.  In the meantime, if you have other resources or want to make an offer, please do so as sharing is what we all need to be doing right now.

Bottled Water On The Way

Posted at 1:51 PM, Aug. 31, 2005

There's a lot that can and needs to be done right now........today.... to

help out along the Gulf Coast.

NAR has set up a fund and is picking up 100% of the administrative costs

so that all the money gets to where it's needed.

One of our local radio stations filled up an 18 wheeler with bottled

water and it's on it's way as of about 2 hours ago and they're working on

a second one.

My local title company set out yesterday with a U-Haul type trailer full

of bottled water and canned foodstuffs.

Our office has a huge stack of bottled water in the lobby that we're

putting on the next truck heading south.

"REALTORS® Relief Foundation Provides Funds for Katrina Relief Effort

WASHINGTON, DC (August 30, 2005)­The REALTORS® Relief Foundation is

spearheading donations to REALTOR® associations in Alabama, Louisiana and

Mississippi this week by contributing $50,000 to each of three state

REALTOR® associations impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

REALTORS® Relief Foundation President Pat Kaplan said the initial

contributions will help fund the establishment of state relief funds.

However, much more will be needed to help the many who have lost their

homes or businesses, she said.

"There are so many on the outskirts of New Orleans who have lost

everything," says Sandy Lash, an executive at the Louisiana Association

of REALTORS® in Baton Rouge. The storm left 6-7 feet of water in areas

around New Orleans, including Metairie and Kenner, where virtually every

structure sustained damage. "It will be weeks or months before full power

is restored to these areas, and the entire water system in the area has

been compromised," says Lash.

In Alabama, communities around the Gulf, still recovering from Hurricane

Ivan a year ago, are once more digging out. "We have thousands who lost

everything in Ivan and had built their homes back up only to have them

destroyed again," says J. Danny Cooper, association executive at the

Alabama Association of REALTORS®.

NAR CEO Terrence M. McDermott is calling on REALTORS® to reach out and

help their colleagues in this time of tremendous need. "We would probably

all like to run down and pitch in and help, but since that's not

possible, we should all pray that our REALTOR® community finds the

strength to make it through this trial," he says.
"We ask that you send whatever you can to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation

and we will pass your donation along in a rush."

All administrative costs of the project will be absorbed by NAR; 100

percent of all donations will go directly to aid the victims.
Contributions can be made online through the following secure site

powered by NARs e-commerce
system:
<https://www.realtor.org/relief>https://www.realtor.org/relief
. Contributions are tax deductible. To make contributions by mail, checks

should be made payable to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation and sent to:

REALTORS® Relief Foundation, Attn: NAR Finance Division, 430 N. Michigan

Ave., Chicago IL 60611.

For those who would like to make donations directly to the states, in

Alabama please send checks payable to the Alabama REALTOR® Disaster

Relief Fund, P.O. Box 4070, Montgomery, AL 36104.
Donations can be made by credit card by calling the Alabama Association

of REALTORS® at
334/262-3808 or by going online to
<http://www.alabamarealtors.com/relief.cfm>www.alabamarealtors.com/relief.cfm
.

For Louisiana, checks payable to the Louisiana REALTORS® Association

Relief Fund should be sent to P.O. Box 14780, Baton Rouge, LA, 70898, or

to Regions Bank, attn: Louisiana REALTORS® Association Relief Fund, 5353

Essen Lane, Suite 150, Baton Rouge, LA 70809."

Jim Lee, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-PRO, e-JIM
Realty Executives Associates, Knoxville, TN
www.KnoxvilleMLS.com     mailto:JIM@JimLee.com

Time For Us To Give Back

Posted at 1:48 PM, Aug. 31, 2005

Paula Bean provides an update from Jacque Stanly at NAR on how we can help our fellow agents dealing with the Katrina disaster.

I emailed the CEO and the VP of communications at our Board in Orlando as to how they dealt with last years hurricanes in Florida, and how we could help with this years Katrina catastrophe.   They responded back immediately, as I knew they would.  Our Board here is so awesome! Here is what I found out (copied below).  IMHO, I think we should all form a coalition from RT and EPT to make a lump sum distribution to all of these programs... what does everyone else think?

 Tres Amigo's - are you in?  It would be very nice, as well as a powerful statement on the numbers of RT to contribute to these very worthy causes. {John's note: Thanks for the update, Paula. Yes, we are in. We're setting Up a special blog, along with Lake Charles, LA REALTOR and NAR Certified e-PRO Trainer, Mary Kay Hopkins - "The purpose of this Weblog is to match needs resulting from Hurricane Katrina with the talents and resources of the real estate community." More to follow later today.}

Then again, everyone could do what they want on their own, but there is power in numbers, and I'd be more than happy to spearhead it if need be. Let's talk Realtalk!!  It is time for us to give back, help out others and make a difference!

Paula Bean, REALTOR
e-PRO Certified Internet Expert
Certified Real Estate Consultant
Carib Gulf Realty 321.228.4663
http://www.HomeOrlando.com

REALTOR RELIEF FOUNDATION PROVIDES FUNDS FOR KATRINA RELIEF EFFORT

WASHINGTON, DC (August 30, 2005)?The REALTOR Relief Foundation is spearheading donations to REALTOR associations in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi  this week by contributing $50,000 to each of three state REALTOR associations impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

REALTOR Relief Foundation President Pat Kaplan said the initial contributions will help fund the establishment of state relief funds.
"However, much more will be needed to help the many who have lost their homes or businesses," she said.

"There are so many on the outskirts of New Orleans who have lost everything," says Sandy Lash, an executive at the Louisiana Association of REALTORS in Baton Rouge. The storm left 6-7 feet of water in areas around New Orleans, including Metairie and Kenner, where virtually every structure sustained damage. "It will be weeks or months before full power is restored to these areas, and the entire water system in the area has Been compromised," says Lash.

In Alabama, communities around the Gulf, still recovering from Hurricane Ivan a year ago, are once more digging out. "We have thousands

who lost everything in Ivan and had built their homes back up only to have them destroyed again," says J. Danny Cooper, association executive at the Alabama Association of REALTORS.

NAR CEO Terrence M. McDermott is calling on Realtors to reach out and help their colleagues in this time of tremendous need. "We would

probably all like to run down and pitch in and help, but since that's not possible, we should all pray that our Realtor community finds the

strength to make it through this trial," he says. "We ask that you send whatever you can to the REALTOR Relief Foundation and we will pass your donation along in a rush."

All administrative costs of the project will be absorbed by NAR; 100 percent of all donations will go directly to aid the victims.

Contributions can be  made online through the following secure site powered by NAR's e-commerce system:

https://www.realtor.org/RelFundTrack.nsf/Contribution?OpenForm. Contributions are tax deductible. To make contributions by mail, checks

should be made payable to the REALTOR® Katrina Project and sent to:REALTOR Katrina Relief Project, Attn: NAR Finance Division, 430 N.

Michigan Ave.,Chicago IL 60611.

For those who would like to make donations directly to the states, in Alabama please send checks payable to the Alabama REALTOR Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 4070, Montgomery, AL 36104. Donations can be made by credit card by calling the Alabama Association of REALTORS at 334/262-3808 or by going online to www.alabamarealtors.com/relief.cfm.   For Louisiana, checks payable to the Louisiana REALTORS Association Relief Fund should be sent to P.O. Box 14780, Baton Rouge, LA, 70898, or to Regions Bank, attn: Louisiana REALTORS Association Relief Fund, 5353 Essen Lane, Suite 150, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.

The National Association of Realtors, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1

million members involved in all aspects of the residential andcommercial real estate industries.

The Spirit of Outreach

Posted at 1:46 PM, Aug. 31, 2005

As I watch in disbelief the pictures of devastation coming from the

vulnerable belly of our nation, of a vibrant city destroyed, the area's

citizens now homeless refugees in a land of plenty, I see firsthand the

spirit of outreach and caring we Americans possess, both individually and

at the corporate level...

"Dear Associates,
RE/MAX Allegiance has donated $10,000.00 to The American Red Cross for

the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. We strongly encourage everyone

associated with RE/MAX Allegiance to donate something ...
Sincerely, Charlie Bengel
Chairman - RE/MAX Allegiance"

... and I am proud.

Donate where and what your heart dictates, but do give. This disaster

will drain more than any levee could begin to contain.

Rani Covington, CRS, e-PRO, JIM66 -- "Ronnie"
RE/MAX Allegiance ~ Serving Northern Virginia
800-344-7253 x4391 ~  Cell Ph: 703-980-6063 Mailto:Rani@realtor.com

www.RaniCovington.com

Communicate with the Blog Master

Posted at 12:57 PM, Aug. 24, 2005

1. Post a message on this thread by clicking "comment"

2. e-mail Mary Kay Hopkins at mkh@mkh.com

3. call May Kay at 337-310-7701