When Frank and I left the US, the “here-comes-Katrina” story sounded like typical media* weather hype. (Just last month, IIRC, hurricane Dennis was going to “devastate” my home town.)
Amazon is makes it easy to send the Red Cross money. (My browser couldn’t get through to the Red Cross’s own site, which is no doubt a good sign.)
Katrina may not (yet) have left tens-of-thousands-dead, but survivors are enduring real chaos and misery.
* While I’m bashing the big “liberal” media, check out Wonkette’s proof that white survivors “find” groceries in damaged stores, while black survivors “loot” them.