Heard on the local (Tampa) news that Walgreen's donated and

[lpbk2713]

shipped truckloads of bottled water to Punta Gorda. It was sorely needed and they are to be commended. I have only heard of a few local grocery chains (Publix & Kash n Karry) doing the same. Other than that there aren't many other large corporations doing much. Wally World is collecting goods from the public and passing them on but I haven't heard that they are donating anything themselves.

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Don't know much about what's needed, but

when watching the news shows over the weekend, one of the FEMA officials had stated that in the early stages money is what is most needed. He said that with Andrew, people sent tons of things and it was a "logistical nightmare". Aside from the necessary water and food, I guess the money makes them able to buy what they feel is necessary. :shrug:

Like I said, I don't have any idea about this. In some ways, it seems like the money would actually delay getting needed items because of the time it takes to collect, count, order, pay, deliver, distribute...with a somewhat unknown budget. But I can understand what he was getting at.

[TheWatcher]

2. What should scare you more is this......

HOW do you know that the money you send is even reaching those it needs to go to or to help. The Criminal Thugs in the White House have stolen everything that wasn't nailed down, and when they encountered something that was, they got out the Claw Hammer.

Sorry to be cynical, but I think with the level of corruption we have witnessed with this administration top to bottom, there is NOTHING they would not use to line their own pockets.

NOTHING.

That really bothers me.

These poor people are on their own.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. Thought of that too.

My heart goes out to those people in FL who have lost everything as well as to the relatives of the ones who died.

I'm sure there are specific items that are urgently needed. The thing I don't like about sending money vs. items is there is 1) there's no guarantee it will all be spent on what is truly needed and 2) There's no guarantee 100% of every dollar won't have some sort of 'administrative fee' attached to it.

BTW, have they signed up any no-bid contracts for Florida yet?

[jean]

4. WalMART could easily afford to ship massive support to victims

[BeFree]

5. An idea of what's happening...

Everything not being distributed by 'officials' such as the Red Cross and the state, is being inflated by the sellers.

Only half the people needing assistance are being served by the officials, if that. So the other half is being gouged.

Water for drinking and sanitary matters is crucial. Most folks who planned ahead stored water. Those who didn't are at the mercy of officials and gougers. But even the stored supplies will run out eventually.

Since it will be weeks before electricity is fully restored, wells and pumps will not come back to work before then. So a constant stream of water will need to be delivered to these people.

If ya want to send money and have no other means to do so, the Red Cross will be the best place to send it too. Yeah, they may squeeze a few pennies from every dollar but I have the feeling they are doing the lions share of making assistance available.

Thank 'nature' that the storm's fury was spent on the least populated parts of Florida.