Katrina Aid from Northern Nevada

The Regional Transportation Commission, Reno Radio Representatives, and local News Channels sponsor one of the largest fundraiser for the victims of Katrina. Setting up contribution areas in certain areas on specific days throughout the city, the outpouring of funds being raised is phenomenal for a small city like Reno and Sparks. Northern Nevada has already sent Red Cross relief team driving toward the devastated areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. In addition, four C-130's, loaded with medical supplies, water, food, Nevada Air Guard, and medical personnel have flown from the Reno/Tahoe Airport to Las Vegas Nevada to add more supplies and troops to aid in the rescue efforts and protection for the city.

In the fundraising effort, located temporarily at Kietzke and Moana, in eleven hours, $53,000 was raised on Friday, September 1st in a twelve-hour period. With other locations for fundraising throughout the Reno/Sparks area, the total amount raised, as of Saturday at 7 p.m. is $270,000. There was a donation site at Kietzke and Moana Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon. Then the location was set up at the Silver Club Plays Card Booth in the heart of the Nugget Rib Cook-Off. Another location throughout this Labor Day weekend is at the Customer Service area at Meadwowood Mall. Another location will be at one of the local high school football games this Saturday, and a car wash is expected for sometime Sunday. In a 24 hour period of donations for the Katrina effort reaping $270,000, the Biggest Little City in the World will most likely surpass most of the larger cities.

The Red Cross team plans on helping with temporary shelters, meals, water, and much more. All of that takes money, which is why the community set up the fundraising events because the Disaster Relief fund will definitely take a huge hit on the current funds. Another relief agency in Reno, which is assisting in lending massive support, is the Salvation Army. They plan on preparing four hundred thousand hot meals a day to residents and first responders. All residents have Any donation made, either to the Red Cross or Salvation Army, is tax deductible.

The local Veterans Association represents another effort by the citizens of the Reno/Sparks area. They recently held a raffle and has excess monies left over, which was approximately $15,000. They had a meeting this morning to determine where the money could best be used. It was determined that a committee would call around and find the best value/deal on generators. As a result, six generators were purchased and shipped to Mississippi this afternoon.

Six volunteers from the Reno swat team have volunteered to spend two to three weeks away from family and friends to travel the three days to Louisiana. This is the result of a meeting of the Department of Emergency Management. They are driving because there is a lack of electricity in the affected area of Louisiana. John Tyson, a local newscaster, went with the C-130 aircraft that left from the Reno/Sparks area yesterday, September 1st, and reported the conditions in Louisiana. When a plane lands, the typical landing procedure is to follow the landing lights and arrow provided by a back-up generator. Once landed, truck lights and flashlights are used to unload and load the planes. Each plane is asked to leave immediately as the conditions only allow for one plane at a time to land. As that plane takes off, another is waiting to land--this makes it extremely difficult to get needed supplies to areas that in critical need of assistance.

There are four C-130 aircraft, loaded with cots, blankets, water, food, and medical supplies and other various needed necessities that will leaving from Reno, arriving at Las Vegas Airport Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Thank goodness the BRAC declined the Sierra Nevada Army Depot from being eliminated because most of the supplies came from that location. One team was scheduled to arrive in Baton Rouge where it will be placed under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Upon departure from Baton Rough, instead of carrying the items stated above, their plane was transporting women, children, ailing, and elderly to Texas. This Compact was set up between 49 states. Other teams can be doing anything from plucking people off of rooftops to wading in the waters and handing out medicine. There was a National Guard Bureau conference earlier call today between the 50-national guard units. Nevada's guard is expected to release black hawk helicopters and signal communication units if needed.

One side effect of Hurricane Katrina is the higher gas prices at the pump. It was to be expected when, three thousand miles away, Katrina is having her way with the Gulf Coast with wind gusts and sheets of rain rattling energy markets and sending crude oil to a new high of more than seventy dollars a barrel. This situation sets the stage for a spike in retail gasoline prices. Gas prices in the Reno/Sparks area jumped from 2.78 a gallon to 3.39 within a five-hour period. However, there is very little complaining as people can observe that parts of Louisiana and Mississippi not only do not have power, but gas is a rarity. The Attorney General for the State of Nevada has requested that everyone be on the lookout for price gouging at the pumps and report any abuse.

Another support for victims of the Hurricane Katrina victims is higher education. The University of Nevada, Reno is opening its doors for those misplaced because of the disaster. Late fees will be waived and credits will be transferred to any school local students have been attending, but were misplaced due to circumstances beyond their control.

In this time of Internet technology there are many people who are using this unfortunate situation for scamming, fraud, and other unlawful acts. To check to make sure that your contribution is being used appropriately, please check this list of other legitimate charities providing assistance, including the American Humane Society. www.networkforgood.org.

On the lighter side, one person had a website that was katrina.com...her actual first name was Katrina. She has dedicated her website to the relief and recovery efforts of the disaster. For information on loved ones, please use her website to find information.

It's good to know that there are so many people showing their support for friends and family during the world worst national disaster in years. Reno/Sparks are doing their share in the efforts of contribution, as I am sure other cities are as well. Together, all of us as a nation will overcome this tragic outcome and become a stronger nation.