September 8, 2005


Hurricane Katrina Missing Persons Database:
A resource for family members to find dislocated persons

If you are concerned about the condition and/or whereabouts of someone who was impacted by the recent hurricane, the Family Links Registry is a resource available from the ICRC and the Red Cross.

Current information may be obtained by going to the RedCross.org site (right side of home page) or calling 1-877 LOVED-1S (1-877-568-3317).

The Red Cross Web site is managed by the ICRC in close cooperation with the American Red Cross and with other national societies working in the disaster area.

Westfield Oakridge and Valley Fair to accept donations
to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina

Over 60 Westfield Shopping Centers in the United States, including two in San Jose, will serve as donation sites for residents looking to provide aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Westfield centers will coordinate with local charities all over the country such as The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and others to collect cash donations at local centers.

Locally, Westfield Valley Fair and Oakridge will accept donations at their Shopping Concierge Center from now through Sept. 30. Customers can donate cash or checks at specially marked collection locations at each center. In addition, the Salvation Army, local officials and local radio stations will be on site at Westfield Valley Fair and Oakridge on Saturday, Sept. 10 for a special event.

Americans to host Hurricane Help parties and
events across the country on Saturday

Americans will open their homes for Hurricane Help parties and events on Saturday, Sept. 10, to raise funds for hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Simultaneous parties across the country will raise money for the Red Cross International, Convoy of Hope, Habitat for Humanity, and the Humane Society of the United States.

People sign up to host or attend an event by visiting: www.partylaunch.com/hurricanehelp. Volunteers from around the country are organizing The Hurricane Help Day of Action. PartyLaunch.com has donated the use of its Web site. All contributions will be made at the Web sites of the featured charities, so all funds go immediately to the groups.

“We all want to help the hurricane victims. It’s frustrating to watch the scenes of destruction and not be able to do something—anything—to help. That’s why we decided to organize Hurricane Help parties. It’s a way to raise funds for the charities working on hurricane Katrina relief, and also a powerful way to show hurricane survivors that Americans hear them and stand with them,” PartyLaunch co-founder, David Salie, explained.

“The Hurricane Help Events will bring Americans together. Hosts can invite just their friends, or they can post their event publicly and invite members of their community to join them. Some people are even hosting ‘virtual’ parties and inviting friends to contribute directly to these relief organizations,” Salie said. “Everyone wants to help the hurricane survivors. So much help is needed. Red Cross International is on the front lines in the disaster area. Convoy of Hope is trucking water, ice, and food in. The Humane Society of the United States is rescuing and caring for the displaced animals. Habitat for Humanity is preparing for the rebuilding. Guests can choose which charity they want to contribute to. In some areas, hosts may also be collecting canned goods and supplies for refugees.”

Event hosts are encouraged to start their event by 6:30 p.m. E.T., so that they can dial into a
conference call that will link all of the events together. The call will begin at 7 p.m. E.T. and will last about 20 minutes. Details on speakers for the call have not been announced yet.

“When our city was attacked four years ago, the rest of the country came to our aid. Now it is our turn to give back,” said Michael Beys, a candidate for New York’s City Council. “I am honored to participate in this important effort.”

Simultaneous parties first gained popularity in the 2004 presidential election. During the campaign, Democratic presidential candidates and President George Bush all used parties to reach supporters across the country. Since the election, associations and charities have used www.partylaunch.com parties to recruit volunteers and raise funds for a variety of non-political causes.

Vietnamese Americans in Silicon Valley to hold fund-raiser on
Friday to assist American Red Cross relief efforts

Vietnamese Americans in Silicon Valley are joining in the national effort to assist the victims of the recent Hurricane Katrina. A fund-raising event is being hosted at the Capital Club Athletic, 196 North 3rd St., in downtown San Jose, on Friday, Sept. 9, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Representatives from American Red Cross, Santa Clara Valley Chapter, will be on hand to accept donations.

Immediately following the American Red Cross presentation, a spectacular entertainment program is scheduled for the attendees until 1 a.m. Thousands of Vietnamese Americans living in New Orleans, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi have lost their homes and livelihood to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

“This is an incredible tragedy for our country,” said Dang Pham, board member of American Red Cross, Santa Clara Valley chapter. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters. We will do our part in this national effort to help the victims who have suffered so greatly. While we are saddened by this catastrophe, it also shows our humanity, love, and compassion for one another.”

The magnitude of the loss and damage is unfathomable. Federal disaster declarations encompass approximately 90,000 square miles—nearly 55 percent of the size of California. Estimates of the regional damage reached $50 billion, by far the highest ever associated with a U.S. natural disaster.

Death tolls are estimated in the thousands. If the estimate proves correct, it would make Katrina the worst natural disaster in the United States since at least the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, which was blamed for anywhere from about 500 to 6,000 deaths. Katrina would also be the nation’s deadliest hurricane since 1900, when a storm in Galveston, Texas, killed between 6,000 and 12,000 people.

Please make checks payable to the American Red Cross and write “Hurricane Katrina” in the memo line and bring them with you to the event.

For more information, contact either Ryan Hubris at (408) 505-7388, Debbie Nghiem at (408) 888-7483, or Dana Contey (408) 206-5202.