This may be off-topic but I think it's important. Hurricane Katrina has done substantial damage to many areas of our Gulf Coast, especially in New Orleans (which sits below sea level). Some news sources suggest the total damage could be as high as $16 billion.

As professionals and business people we're all busy trying to grow our businesses and improve our own communities. But events like this remind us that we are also part of a larger community that needs our help from time to time.

FEMA (the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency) lists some ways we can provide some help to people who have been most affected by this disaster.

*American Red Cross, 800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English, 800-257-7575 Spanish.
*Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348.
*America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070.
*Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171.
*Catholic Charities, USA, 703-549-1390.
*Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554.
*Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818.
*Church World Service, 800-297-1516.
*Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998.
*Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522.
*Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210.
*Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886.
*Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283.
*Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).
*Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, ext. 6440.
*United Methodist Committee on Relief. 800-554-8583.