Friday, December 02, 2005

Epsilon extends record Atlantic hurricane season - Yahoo! News

Epsilon extends record Atlantic hurricane season - Yahoo! News: "Epsilon extends record Atlantic hurricane season

1 hour, 46 minutes ago

MIAMI (AFP) - Tropical Storm Epsilon turned into the 14th Atlantic hurricane of the record-breaking year Friday, two days after the official end of the storm season."

Epsilon extends record Atlantic hurricane season - Yahoo! News

Epsilon extends record Atlantic hurricane season - Yahoo! News: "Epsilon extends record Atlantic hurricane season

1 hour, 46 minutes ago

MIAMI (AFP) - Tropical Storm Epsilon turned into the 14th Atlantic hurricane of the record-breaking year Friday, two days after the official end of the storm season."

news - UN Seeks Record $4.7 Billion For Humanitarian Crises In 2006

news - UN Seeks Record $4.7 Billion For Humanitarian Crises In 2006: "UN Seeks Record $4.7 Billion For Humanitarian Crises In 2006

/noticias.info/ The United Nations appealed Wednesday for a record $4.7 billion to ease major humanitarian crises around the world in 2006, with about a third slated for Sudan and the conflict in its Darfur region, reports The Associated Press.

The UN has never asked for so much money in its initial appeal to start the year. In the past, the UN traditionally split away major disasters and crises for their own fundraising. The appeal, which covers 31 million people mainly in Africa and Southeast Asia, is worth the equivalent of 48 hours of worldwide military spending, the UN said. Countries covered include a host of African nations that have long been in crisis, including Chad, Congo, Liberia, Somalia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Also on the list are Russia's breakaway region of Chechnya, the Palestinian territories, Colombia and Nepal. The $1.5 billion sought for Sudan reflects the gravity of the problem in Darfur, where humanitarian work is threatened by continued clashes between government-backed Arab militias and rebel groups, UN relief coordinator Jan Egeland said."

Storm victims praise churches - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Storm victims praise churches - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "Storm victims praise churches

By Audrey Hudson
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
December 2, 2005

Louisiana residents gave churches higher marks than government agencies in responding to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and most prefer that the federal government control rebuilding funds rather than local officials, according to a Louisiana State University study.
On a scale of one (not effective) to 10 (very effective), residents gave churches the highest mark of 8.1, and New Orleans city agencies and state agencies received the lowest rating of 4.6. "

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Hurricanes Katrina & Rita Web Archive

Hurricanes Katrina & Rita Web Archive: "Hurricanes Katrina &
Rita Web Archive


Keyword Search
Complete List of Crawled Seeds
11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=69477"

Chron.com | 'Donor fatigue' impacts Salvation Army fundraiser

Chron.com | 'Donor fatigue' impacts Salvation Army fundraiser: "Donor fatigue' a new impact from storms
At this juncture, giving to Houston Salvation Army is down 10% from same time in '04

By ANNE MARIE KILDAY
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Officials of the Houston Salvation Army are leaving no bell unrung in fighting 'donor fatigue' that already challenges the $2.3 million fundraising goal for the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas programs."

Carnival gives millions to help S. Florida, Key West, Cozumel in storm recovery: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Carnival gives millions to help S. Florida, Key West, Cozumel in storm recovery: South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "arnival gives millions to help S. Florida, Key West, Cozumel in storm recovery

By Tom Stieghorst
Business Writer
Posted December 1 2005

Closing the books on an extraordinary hurricane season, Carnival Corp. on Wednesday donated $7 million to hurricane relief, including $1 million earmarked for the United Way of Broward County.

The funds will help pay for repairs to buildings that house charitable agencies, and to continue programs disrupted by the hurricane, said Doug Weber, president and chief executive officer of the Broward charity."

Guidance Explains How Katrina Victims Can Access Their Retirement Savings

Guidance Explains How Katrina Victims Can Access Their Retirement Savings: "Guidance Explains How Katrina Victims Can Access Their Retirement Savings


Dec. 1, 2005 (SmartPros) -- The Internal Revenue Service issued guidance relating to the application of two provisions of the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (KETRA) for Hurricane Katrina victims and employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs.

Under one provision of KETRA, individuals who live in one of the four states affected by Hurricane Katrina and who suffered an economic loss as a result of that hurricane receive favorable tax treatment with respect to distributions from eligible retirement plans that are qualified Hurricane Katrina distributions, called 'Katrina distributions.'"

Hurricane Victims' Bills Coming Due

Hurricane Victims' Bills Coming Due: "Hurricane Victims' Bills Coming Due
Many Homeowners Face Deadline for Mortgage Payments

By Caroline E. Mayer and Terence O'Hara
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, December 1, 2005; Page D01

Katrina victims Ed and Elsa Gaskell realized only last week that their last three months' worth of mortgage payments on their damaged New Orleans home were due today.

After the hurricane, their mortgage company, like most lenders, suspended payments until Dec. 1."

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

New Orleans to offer free Wi-Fi | CNET News.com

New Orleans to offer free Wi-Fi | CNET News.com: "he Big Easy plans to be the first major city to offer free wireless Internet access to its citizens in an effort to entice businesses and people to return to the city after the devastating hurricane season.

On Tuesday, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin announced the city's plan to cover the city with Wi-Fi Internet access within a year. And unlike other citywide wireless networks that have been proposed in cities like Philadelphia and San Francisco, New Orleans plans to operate the network itself.

Part of the network will be secured so that it can be used exclusively by the city to provide communications for municipal agencies like police, fire, and building inspection departments. The additional bandwidth on the network will be opened to the public to provide free Internet access to all citizens."

Amazon's A-List [Fool.com: Motley Fool Take] November 29, 2005

Amazon's A-List [Fool.com: Motley Fool Take] November 29, 2005: "Amazon's A-List

By Alyce Lomax (TMF Lomax)
November 29, 2005

Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) has brought dot-com pizzazz to the old idea of the celebrity telethon for worthy causes. Tuesday, the online retailing giant introduced what it calls The Amazon A-List for Hurricane Relief, through which users will be able to get exclusive content from celebrities in return for donations to help people who were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Starting Wednesday and lasting until Dec. 20, Amazon.com will feature content from different celebrities every day, accessible to those who donate to the program. "

New Orleans says it's tuning up for tourists - Yahoo! News

New Orleans says it's tuning up for tourists - Yahoo! News: "New Orleans says it's tuning up for tourists

By Janet Guttsman Tue Nov 29, 3:58 PM ET

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - New Orleans, battered by a hurricane and then swamped by floods, is getting ready for the return of visitors, senior city officials said on Tuesday.


Speaking three months to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the city and sent its population fleeing to new homes around America, the officials said tourists should reassess their doomsday notions of New Orleans, a city of almost half a million people before the storm."

International Rescue Committee Awarded $200,000 by South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund for Pakistan Aid Operations - Yahoo! News

International Rescue Committee Awarded $200,000 by South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund for Pakistan Aid Operations - Yahoo! News: "nternational Rescue Committee Awarded $200,000 by South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund for Pakistan Aid Operations

Tue Nov 29, 1:01 PM ET

ADVERTISEMENT

To: National and Metro Desk

Contact: Ed Bligh, 212-551-3114 or ebligh@theIRC.org; Melissa Winkler, 212-551-0972 or melissa@theIRC.org; Web: http://www.theIRC.org

NEW YORK, Nov. 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has received a $200,000 grant for its emergency relief operations in Pakistan from the South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund, which is administered by the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy. The grant is the first awarded by the Fund."

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

First New Orleans public school reopens its classrooms - Yahoo! News

First New Orleans public school reopens its classrooms - Yahoo! News: "First New Orleans public school reopens its classrooms

Tue Nov 29, 2:53 AM ET

NEW ORLEANS, United States (AFP) - As Benjamin Franklin Elementary School became the first New Orleans public school to re-open since Hurricane Katrina struck, Layana Breashears' twin fifth graders offered a split decision on whether they are happy to be back.
ADVERTISEMENT

Lynnell is happy to be back in a classroom, but Donnell was more skeptical, shaking his head.

'There's no stores open,' he says.

Breashears enrolled her children eagerly on Monday morning. The family had just returned to New Orleans from Alexandria, Louisiana, over the Thanksgiving holiday."

Plainfield students give to Katrina victims

Plainfield students give to Katrina victims: "Plainfield students give to Katrina victims

By Catherine Ann Velasco
STAFF WRITER

PLAINFIELD — Plainfield School District students are getting a chance to spread some holiday cheer by donating unwrapped gifts for the children in Slidell, La., who were impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Donations can be dropped off at any of district's 24 campuses or from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m at the district's Administration Center, 15732 Howard St., Plainfield. The deadline is Thursday.

The school district and the village of Plainfield have been collecting new, unwrapped holiday gifts to be delivered to Plainfield's sister city, Slidell, by village representatives next week."

Pew Internet & American Life Project Report: Online donations following Katrina and Rita

Pew Internet & American Life Project Report: Online donations following Katrina and Rita: "3 million Americans made donations online after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

11/24/2005 | MemoMemo | John Horrigan

In the aftermath of the Gulf Coast Hurricanes, 13 million Americans made donations to relief efforts online and 7 million set up their own hurricane relief efforts using the internet. In addition to using the internet to respond directly to the crisis, 50% of online users sought out news and information online,"

Monday, November 28, 2005

Attitudes to Nonprofits After Katrina and Tsunami are Generally Positive: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

PRESS RELEASE
Attitudes to Nonprofits After Katrina and Tsunami are Generally Positive: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "Press Release Source: Harris Interactive

Attitudes to Nonprofits After Katrina and Tsunami are Generally Positive
Monday November 28, 1:24 pm ET
But substantial minorities are somewhat negative to nonprofits (charities, foundations, and other philanthropic groups), even though most highly visible charities enjoy very strong support

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The American public's attitudes to, and perceptions of, nonprofits, including charities, foundations, and other philanthropic organizations is generally positive, but substantial minorities hold somewhat negative opinions of nonprofits in general. Individual charities which were actively involved in helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina mostly receive strong positive ratings. However, FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is rated negatively by a 72 percent majority.

These are some of the results of a Harris Poll conducted online by Harris Interactive� among a nationwide cross-section of 1,833 U.S. adults between October 11 and 17, 2005. It measures, therefore, the public's reactions to how nonprofits responded to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the tsunami which devastated parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other countries in Southeast Asia."

Disaster Relief FAQ # A-3 from IRS

Disaster Relief FAQ # A-3: "What is meant by charitable class?

A charitable class is a group of individuals that may properly receive assistance from a charitable organization. A charitable class must be either large enough or sufficiently indefinite that the community as a whole, rather than a pre-selected group of people, is benefited when a charity provides assistance. For example, a charitable class could consist of all individuals located in a city, county, or state. This charitable class is large and benefits to it benefit the entire geographic community."