Note: ALA has just established an “adopt a library” program. Ask if your library is participating. Also see the revival of New Orleans Public Library’s website! (To see what it will offer when it is back up, take a peek at the Wayback Machine entry for November, 2004.)
I get daily updates from librarians affected by Hurricane Katrina, and this I can warn you: put some cold green cash somewhere you can hopefully get to it after the Big One hits (whether it’s a hurricane, an earthquake, or a very special delivery from Dear Leader). It’s going to take a while to even apply for FEMA aid, according to the librarians I communicate with. They report that the FEMA website crashes repeatedly (guess it’s not really set up to handle big disasters–what size disaster are they ready for?) and that the phones are impossible to get through.
I’ve asked if I can somehow help by being a “FEMA buddy” to a displaced librarian. I would gladly take a day or two of vacation to stand in line at government services, hang on the phone, make enquiries to elected officials, etc. From what I’ve been told, the best I can do is hang in there, donate, lend moral support, and spread the news. But I am really, really good at waiting in line, so if I can help that way, I will.
