Storm victims in need of large relief response

News broadcasts in recent days have been filled with images of death and destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The powerful storm ravaged New Orleans and blazed a water-logged trail of devastation across much of southern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Thousands of miles away, here in Alaska, as we enjoy the waning days of summer, it is difficult to completely soak up the real-life horror of such a scene. Countless thousands of people are homeless, and most relief and emergency people on the ground in the hurricane zone expect the death toll to mount substantially as more of the scattered rubble and broken pieces of civilization are sorted out and cleaned up.

The destruction is so thorough that some survivors may remain homeless for more than a year, and rebuilding efforts are likely to take even longer.

As it does whenever such tragedy strikes, the American Red Cross quickly mobilized its troops in the area. A spokeswoman for the organization told the Washington Post that the relief effort is expected to exceed last year's response to the four consecutive hurricanes that battered Florida.

That effort included providing the equivalent of 430,000 nights of shelter and 16.5 million meals. So the task ahead is nothing short of monumental.

Working in concert with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross says its plan to house and feed tens of thousands of people is the biggest response to a single natural disaster in the organization's 124-year history. That the Red Cross is able to pull off such an undertaking is a testament first and foremost to the generosity of Americans who rise to the occasion and extend a helping hand in compassion for those in need.

While everyday items such as clothing and nonperishable food are needed, the expense and time it takes to box, ship and organize these makes them less desirable. The best way to help, Red Cross officials say, is through a financial gift, which enables the organization to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

Unfortunately, times of tragedy also provide fertile ground for fraud. Potential donors should be aware of the possibility, especially when considering an unsolicited phone or e-mail request for donations.

Mat-Su residents who would like to help can safely make a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund several ways: by phone, call 1-800-HELP NOW; by mail, contributions may be sent to the local American Red Cross chapter at 262 E. Nelson Ave., Wasilla, or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013; Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

The scope of the tragedy may seem incomprehensible, but every donation really does help.