Mississippi College will open have a special registration for students affected by Hurricane Katrina. Registration will begin Tuesday, September 6 at 8:00 AM and conclude Wednesday, September 7, at 4:30 PM.

Any questions or comments need to be send to Landon Howell at Mississippi College (lhowell@mc.edu).

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING OF BELAIR SUB. OFF AIRPORT ROAD SLIDELL IT'S AT THE AIRPORT

Mary, please visit http://slidell.weblogswork.com/ to see if anyone there has the information you seek.

Eric,

I think you're right to be circumspect about posting anything right now, even stuff that's helpful. Even on this post you've already had a fairly desperate sounding request.

Video footage probably attracts some "legitimate" users, but also gawkers. With the situation in the affected areas seemingly getting worse by the hour, more and more people will probably be trying to get information anyway they can as the realization of just how bad a disaster this is hits home.

I've seen links to relief organizations popping up on some blogs without generating comments such as the ones on your previous post.

It may all be due to your international readership and incredible popularity :)

The winning smile doesn't hurt either I'm sure.

Could you please email me the link for the feed? I have been researching information about the Slidell area since Katrina struck. My husband is from New Orleans, we both lived there a while, and my father-in-law and brother-in-law lived in Old Town Slidell. They BOTH got out in time and are safe. However, we are making plans for them to possibly live with us now, and am looking for reliable, realistic information about the extent of the damage.

Thank you very much!

-Trish

Trish, it's on its way!

The winning smile doesn't hurt either I'm sure.

Yeah, everyone's a sucker for a gap-toothed redneck grin. (Look how much Letterman's milked it!)

Eric,

Good thoughts. I hadn't thought much about the idea of bloggers needing to take care to not add to confusion in an effort to help. Good post, a good reminder to slow down and think about how we can do the most, help the most, with what's at our disposal.

I'm for more information instead of less. In the absence of knowledge, people get crazy thoughts. Here is a good story from today: Jennifer Watson saw a link to CNN video of Slidell on the blog I've been working on. She wrote me to express her gratitude -- she's been looking for him since Sunday and now knows he's safe, as a result of the video. Work the hive mind, folks.

Yeah, I feel kinda noise-ish, too. Heck, I want to be out there with a chainsaw doing something. Clicking with a credit card doesn't feel very...helpful.

Brian, I'm all for adding to the information. My post was intended to address the noise, of which there is an increasing amount. When you get right down to it, there's not much that a blogger in west Texas can add to the dialog when it comes to specific reports on the conditions in the Gulf Coast. Now, I do think I can play a role by publicizing efforts like yours, just to ensure they get the widest possible exposure, and I've done that...and if you can think of any other ways I can help in that fashion, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Scott, based on what I saw on tonight's news, if you hopped in your truck and headed that way, they'd welcome you with open arms anywhere along the Gulf Coast, especially if you're packing a chainsaw. Sic 'em! (But the credit card thing is muy bueno, too.)

You are so responsible. What you are suggesting here takes blogging ethics to a whole different level. Very admirable...

Well, now you're making me blush!

I just think that if we want people to treat bloggers as grownups, we ought to act the part. Sometimes, it really isn't all about us, you know?

They say if you show up on your own, you better be able to self-sustain for a minimum of 7 days. Which, I ain't got a truck big enough to haul that many gas cans.

Yeah, good point...the problem with individual volunteers is when they can't support themselves and become another burden on the "official" relief team.

I figured you had your own tanker truck for The Tiny Bidness. ;-)

I'm thinking about going there too. I've done it before (North Dakota, 1997) but I signed on with WorldVision then. If (a big if) I go this time, I'm sure I'd choose to go with a reputable relief organization that was welcoming volunteer involvement.

Maybe when the time comes there will be other bloggers considering the same thing.

Maybe we ought to organize something, Jim. I'm pondering logistics (smell the smoke?).

Jim, you're an inspiration to us all. You're also fortunate to be with a church that understands the importance of doing work like that. Not all congregations are willing to do without staff.

Maybe when the time comes there will be other bloggers considering the same thing.

Of course, now you've stopped preaching and started meddling! ;-)

This sounds good in theory, but the organizations are likely to find out that most bloggers can't do anything else! (JUST KIDDING, FOLKS!)

Scott definitely doesn't fall into the "can't do anything else" category. Anybody who can organize a music festival in Texas in August has got some serious skillz. I'd take him up on that, Jim. He can even work with Yankees, if need be. ;-)

The information coming from the local officials and folks in need in the affected areas is a bit different from the news that comes from "higher ups". No matter what the details might be, there are ongoing needs for medical supplies, generators (especially larger generators), equipment for cleaning and clearing and that sort of thing. And yes! It's very important that anyone going into the areas is aware of just how bad the conditions are. The rescuers don't want to add outsiders to the casualty count. If you aren't trained to work in severe conditions, you could actually end up being a liability. But they can certainly use supplies and equipment. The local people are begging for help, and that includes the mayors and parish leaders. There is also going to be a need very soon for folks with building experience to help get more housing built. Eric, keep spreading the word. If that's all we can do, that's fine if it gets one more piece of equipment in there.

Deb, I didn't mean to imply that any of us should stop passing along potentially useful information. I simply think that not all bloggers have equally valuable voices in this situation and we need to think about whether our posts are designed to attract traffic or to impart something of importance. Sometimes those goals aren't compatible.