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

Theodore, AL: A Personal Account From Julie Martin

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

www.PortCityRealty.com

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

Arizona - Link to Katrina Aid

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

http://www.az211.gov/

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!!!! 

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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.

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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

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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
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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
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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...

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

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:

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

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

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.