Hurricane Katrina, has wrought untold destruction and damage to people and property in Louisiana, Mississippi and New Orleans. According to various news sources, eighty percent of New Orleans is under water, and large parts of Mississippi lie in ruins. Hundreds, maybe thousands, are dead; thousands more are still at risk for their lives. In the weeks and months ahead as we understand the full impact of  nature’s fury there is one paramount immediate need : to reach out to all those affected by this disaster. 

According to a report in the Hindustan times, there are around 6000 Indians in this area . In response to a question by a press correspondent on the role of the Indian-American community in the wake of the Katrina tragedy, Ambassador Ronen Sen said " I appeal to all my fellow Indian Citizens in the U.S to contribute generously to the American Red Cross and other U.S. organizations which are in the forefront of the rescue and relief operations. I am also confident that the Indian-American community will actively assist their fellow American citizens by volunteering their services, particularly as doctors and specialists and by making large financial contributions. America has been good to the Indian community and this critical moment of trial and tribulation offers both a challenge and an opportunity for all people of Indian origin to rise to the occasion when this great and good country needs them. In doing so, they will also honor the traditions of their country of origin."

 Many local and national organizations are helping in the relief efforts. To make your contribution please refer to the list that we have compiled below

KATRINA RELIEF FUND

Many Indian American organizations have issued an appeal to the community to rise to the occasion and open their wallets to help the hurricane victims, just as they did to help the Tsunami victims.
 
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• Art of Living and IAHV National Trauma Relief :

IAHV National Trauma Relief team has rapidly set up a base in partnership with volunteers of The Art of Living Foundation in Houston. They have been working diligently with local officials to offer trauma relief programs to evacuees presently hosted at the Houston Astrodome.

“We are very pleased that Art of Living is able to provide much needed Trauma relief. Our successes at the Tsunami Relief Camps  gave us great credibility and we were able to actual work with the officials, enter  the astrodome and provide relief.” said  Nilendu Srivastav of Chelmsford Ma who was involved in making this happen.To help , click on this link http://www.iahv.org/katrina.htm

·                                 AAHOA, Asian American Hotel Owners Association
As we see the full impact of Hurricane Katrina, it is clear that hundreds of thousands of people are in need of help, some of whom now lack the most basic necessities of life. In response, AAHOA will be making a contribution of $100,001 toward the relief efforts through the American Red Cross and other initiatives. On a local level, AAHOA members are doing a tremendous job in helping people in need in many places. It is heartening to hear that our members are doing such things as:
* Extending complimentary rooms
* Providing food and other essentials to storm refugees
* Opening up lobby areas as sleeping quarters
* Traveling on site to hoteliers in need with baskets of food
* Collecting tens of thousands of dollars in donations for relief efforts.
We, the AAHOA members, are part of a diverse American culture, which has enabled us to achieve our “American Dream.” To show our commitment, loyalty and solidarity with our fellow Americans we have launched a campaign to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf States. All funds collected will be turned over to the American Red Cross and other charities.
While AAHOA will be making a contribution of $100,001 toward the relief efforts, we also want to encourage each of you to help in any way you can. Here are some ways you can do that:
* Send a check, payable to the AAHOA - Hurricane Relief Fund, to the AAHOA office at 66 Lenox Pointe NE, Atlanta, GA 30324. All funds collected will be turned over to the American Red Cross and other charities.
* Donate free room nights at your property by:
* Visiting your local American Red Cross to donate rooms.
* Sending an E-mail to the AAHOA office at roomnights@aahoa.com with your complimentary room allotment. All rooms collected will be coordinated with FEMA and/or the American Red Cross.
* Coordinating with FEMA to donate rooms. While FEMA would certainly appreciate complimentary rooms, they may be willing to pay for rooms as needed. Send an E-mail to FEMA with your room allotment at private.sector@dhs.gov. If you are allotting rooms on a complimentary basis, please indicate as such in your e-mail. We will continue to explore other ways in which AAHOA and its members can assist in the national effort to recover from this disastrous situation.

·                                 Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, GOPIO
GOPIO is a secular, non-partisan, not-for-profit, international
organization based in USA with chapters in various parts of the
globe, representing the interests and aspirations of People of Indian
Origin (PIOs), and promoting awareness and understanding of issues of
concern -- social, cultural, educational, economic, or political, to
global NRI/PIO community.
Checks to: GOPIO International
c/o Haresh Panchal, Treasurer
134 Sweet Berry Ct., San Jose   CA 95439
408-772-8745

·                                 National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA)
6912 Winter Lane, Annandale VA 22003
(703) 642-3156
ranand2@csulb.edu
www.nfia.net
Rajen Anand (703) 642-3156
Radha Krishnan (248) 682-2106
Pramod Kamdar (210) 408-0959
Niraj Baxi (408) 307-9845
Aug. 30: NFIA WILL RAISE FUNDS TO HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS
The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), an umbrella organization of various other associations representing Americans who trace their roots to India has launched a campaign to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina that has caused havoc in the Gulf States. All funds collected will be handed over to the American Red Cross and other charities.
“Images on television of helicopters plucking frantic survivors from rooftops, the catastrophic destruction of entire towns left in the path of powerful hurricane that has caused the loss of life of thousands of people and made hundreds of thousands homeless in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are bound to affect every human being,” observed Rajen Anand, president of the NFIA. “The hurricane Katrina’s howling, lethal force has dealt an immense blow to the region and the dimensions of destruction are unfathomable,” he added.
The tax deductible checks payable to the NFIA-Hurricane Relief Fund should be sent to NFIA 6912 Winter Lane, Annandale VA 22003.
Further information can be obtained by calling (703) 642-3156.

·                                 American Hindu Association http://www.americanhindu.net/Katrina.htm
The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), an umbrella organization of various other associations has set up a Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. The entire amount of money collected will be handed over to the American Red Cross for providing assistance to the hurricane victims.
Tax deductible checks payable to NFIA Hurricane Relief Fund should be sent to
NFIA
6912 Winter Lane
Annandale VA 22003.
Further information can be obtained by calling (703) 642-3156.

·                                 Islamic Council of North America - a humanitarian relief and development organization responding to human sufferings in emergency and disaster situations at home and abroad.

·                                 HOUSTON-BASED EFFORTS

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