To help dig out, dig deep.Even though the water was just a few feet deep in New Orleans, the damage has been unfathomable. Hurricane Katrina has devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States The Gulf Coast region of the United States comprises the coasts of states which border the Gulf of Mexico. The states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are known as the Gulf States. All Gulf States are located in the Southern region of the United States. and uprooted the lives of untold thousands of our fellow citizens, and many members of the paper industry as well. Pulp and paper manufacturing operations appear to have been spared from major structural damage; but the savage storm, which struck Louisiana and southern Mississippi and Alabama on August 29, caused major power outages, idled paper mills and sawmills, destroyed timberlands, and ravaged the region's supply chain. The packaging and converting industry has been affected as well, with many box plants located in the severely damaged areas. The damage has been staggering. One of the video images coming out of stricken New Orleans showed vast quantities of products scattered throughout an industrial era, with dozens of huge rolls of waterlogged containerboard clearly visible. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By the time you read this, we will be in the recovery phase of Hurricane Katrina. Modern economies have an amazing ability to recover from substantial damage, and this situation will be no different. However, more important than the economic damage is the ongoing suffering of the victims of Hurricane Katrina, including the possibly thousands of families who have lost loved ones. Up to a million people may be made homeless by this disaster, and will likely be dislocated dis·lo·cate tr.v. dis·lo·cat·ed, dis·lo·cat·ing, dis·lo·cates 1. To put out of usual or proper place, position, or relationship. 2. for months and possibly years. Many people in our industry family have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. We ask everyone who is able to donate what they can to the relief organizations of their choice for immediate assistance--including your time, services and funds. This will remain important well beyond the time that Hurricane Katrina recedes from the headlines. The rebuilding process will go on for years. See the list at the end of the article for some of the many charities that have responded to this unprecedented disaster, and please continue to donate what you can after this disaster has ceased to be a media event. KEEP UP TO DATE For news on the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Katrina, TAPPI TAPPI Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry has developed a web page (www.tappi.org/katrina) to help facilitate disaster relief communication among our pulp, paper, packaging and converting community. This Web page is open to everyone involved in the industry, not just TAPPI members. Through this Web page, TAPPI will post two areas for industry members to share specific needs or ways you can help your industry friends and colleagues. You can post your mill or plant's needs or review the needs of other facilities so that you can help. You can also post or read members' personal stories of the storm and its aftermath. We encourage members to use this page to let others know how they're doing, what they need, or what they have to offer. Also, the National Association of Manufacturers is urging manufacturers to log on to the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN HSIN Homeland Security Information Network (Dept of Homeland Security) ) web portal (www.swern.gov; www.nwwarn.gov; www.ian.in.gov; and www.seern.gov) to access the National Emergency Resource Registry (NERR NERR National Estuarine Research Reserves NERR Network Error NERR New Error Type ) by clicking on the link in the upper right corner of the page. Once registered, this resource allows HSIN-CI HSIN-CI Homeland Security Information Network-Critical Infrastructure members as well as the general public to submit information about resources that can support recovery efforts. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all those who have been touched by Katrina, especially the friends and relatives of our members who have suffered from this horrific storm. PHONE CONTACTS FOR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. : (800) 435-7669 /(800) HELP-NOW /(800) 257-7575 (Spanish) America's Second Harvest America's Second Harvest is a United States based nonprofit organization. It consists of a nation-wide network of more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations that serve virtually every county in the United States as well as Puerto Rico. : (877) 817-2307 City of Refuge City of Refuge may refer to:
Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity, nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization that enables low-income people to own affordable, livable housing. Headquartered in Americus, Ga., it was founded in 1976 by businessman Millard Fuller and his wife. : (866) 720-2800 Oxfam America - (800) 77OXFAM Salvation Army - (800) SAL-ARMY The United Way - (800) 272-4630 UNICEF UNICEF (y  `nĭsĕf'), the United Nations Children's Fund, an affiliated agency of the United Nations. USA - (800) 4UNICEF ALAN ROOKS Editorial Director Contact Alan at +1 847 998-8093, or by e-mail at: arooks@tappi.org |
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