New Orleans Is Dying -- Please Help

Conditions are horrible and worsening:

New Orleans descended into anarchy Thursday, as corpses lay abandoned in street medians, fights and fires broke out and storm survivors battled for seats on the buses that would carry them away from the chaos. The tired and hungry seethed, saying they had been forsaken.

"I'm not sure I'm going to get out of here alive," said Canadian tourist Larry Mitzel, who handed a reporter his business card in case he goes missing. "I'm scared of riots. I'm scared of the locals. We might get caught in the crossfire."

Four days after Hurricane Katrina roared in with a devastating blow that inflicted potentially thousands of deaths, the frustration, fear and anger mounted, despite the promise of 1,400 National Guardsmen a day to stop the looting, plans for a $10 billion recovery bill in Congress and a government relief effort President Bush called the biggest in U.S. history.

New Orleans' top emergency management official called that effort a "national disgrace" and questioned when reinforcements would actually reach the increasingly lawless city.

About 15,000 to 20,000 people who had taken shelter at New Orleans convention center grew increasingly hostile after waiting for buses for days amid the filth and the dead. Police Chief Eddie Compass said there was such a crush around a squad of 88 officers that they retreated when they went in to check out reports of assaults.

Donations can be made here and here. If you haven't given yet, please do. The city of New Orleans is dying.

I dropped off food at the Sunset Valley City Hall today. They're collecting for the Capital Area Food Bank. According to an email I received this afternoon they need:

• Peanut Butter
• Diapers (all sizes)
• Canned Tuna
• Granola or Breakfast Bars (without chocolate)
• Bottled Water

Please give whatever money, supplies, volunteer time, or whatever help you can spare.