Helping Animals Weather the Storms

Help San Leon Texas "A small drinking community with a large fishing problem..."

2008-10-02T22:59:00.001-05:00

shared by someone today on the WU blogs
SAN LEON TEXAS
"A small drinking community with a large fishing problem..."
Devastated by Hurricane Ike September, 2008

Includes:
RECOVERY BLOG PHOTOS VIDEOS IKE-TV Media Coverage
ways to donate to the San Leon Relief Fund
CLICK HERE
even $1 or $5 will help

Ike Dogs I Transported

2008-10-02T22:40:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, September 30th, I posted a blog titled about having just returned from a "whirlwind trip to Anahuac, TX" and transporting some dogs from a shelter to rescue in the TX Hill Country. Below is a news story related to that transport.

That's not me in the picture & I'm not mentioned in the article, but I swear I'm the "arranged [volunteer] transport" about which they speak. LOL I could not possibly care less about not being mentioned. If someone is in this for recognition or thanks, they don't need to be in it (and there are those in it for or the other, or both, sadly). This story gets across the points that need to be made, and that is awesome!! I love an article that can do that!! WOOHOO! Kudos to them!!

From the Kerrville Daily Times

Courage and compassion
Christine McEntyre holds one of the dogs rescued from Bridge City, Texas, after Hurricane Ike.
Photo by Jack Parker

Courage and compassion
By Alyson Chapman
The Daily Times

Published October 2, 2008
The tales of survival from Hurricane Ike are dramatic, chilling and heart-wrenching.

One group of people in Bolivar Peninsula rode out the massive storm in a church with a lion. Another couple clung to rafters until daybreak after their house began to break apart.

These are the stories told by the people who lived through Ike.

But there are stories of survival that cannot be told by the victims themselves.

They are true tales of beating the odds.

One such story is about five dachshunds, which now are living in Kerr County.

They were left at home in Bridge City when their owners evacuated from Ike’s rage.

The storm’s surge filled the house and yard with about 5 feet of water.

“The dogs were outside and were washed over the 4-foot fence,” said Christine McEntyre, who has taken in the dogs at her facility, Diamond Dachshund Rescue. “They apparently swam a distance together, and got onto something to get out of the water.”

The five dogs — three females and two males — gently were rounded up by an animal search and rescue team and were brought to the safety of the Beaumont Humane Society.

The dachshunds — although their specific ages are not known, range from very young to old — were covered in black sewage and salt brine.

The dogs were bathed in Beaumont and housed in a temporary emergency shelter for about two weeks.

The shelter then contacted McEntyre who arranged their transport from Beaumont to Kerrville.

Upon their arrival in Kerrville, the five dachshunds were excited. Not timid, they jumped up and licked on McEntyre.

“All are understandably uncertain of what’s happened in their lives, but they are all really sweet dogs that seem to be very personable, like laps, dislike cats and bark at the goats at my house,” she said.

It is unclear if the family of dachshunds are related.

Mariah, the obvious matriarch of the group, is white and tan. McEntyre estimated she may be older than 10. Miranda is middle-aged and has a maturity that suggests she may have had a litter of pups. The baby girl of the group is Marissa, who is quick and hard to catch.

There’s a black and tan male who’s now been named Rufus, and the red male is now named Wilbur.

The next step for this crew is a trip to the vet next week for heartworm testing, shots and spay or neutering.

After that, the doxies will be ready for adoption.

To the rescue

McEntyre and her Companion Animal Rescue & Response Team were deployed Anahuac to help care for animals affected by the storm.

McEntyre, Cayce Kovacs of Comfort and Tom Coker of San Antonio left Sept. 16 and returned four days later.

“When people evacuate, they need to take their pets,” McEntyre said. “There are resources available to house pets in hotels, boarding kennels, veterinarians, shelters and animal control facilities during disasters and emergencies.

“Never leave a pet behind because you don’t know how long you will be evacuated. As discovered with Ike, many people didn’t expect it to be as bad as it was, so they left their pets behind and no longer have homes or pets. The guilt and emotions suffered can be overwhelming and preventable.”

In Anahuac, the CARRT team joined with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and cared for 47 dogs, six cats and five goats.

The Humane Society and SPCA took in and rescued hundreds of animals after Ike, but that number doesn’t compare to the 10,000 pets rescued in Louisiana and Mississippi after Katrina.

In 2006, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, which required states seeking FEMA assistance to accommodate pets and service animals in their plans for evacuating residents facing disasters.

Last year, Texas passed a similar law.

During the Katrina evacuation, many pet owners were not allowed to take their pets on evacuation buses and stayed behind, leaving them to perish with their beloved animals.

McEntyre did see animals who didn’t make it through Ike.

“Not all animals can be saved due to lack of resources, trained volunteers, time, shyness, fear and injuries the animals can have after a major event, and the delay in obtaining permission to enter the affected areas,” she said. “For trained national teams to get called in to help go into a disaster areas for search and rescue of animals over a large area is very difficult and time consuming.

“We need more responders who are able to take time away from home or work and are willing to go through the training required to deploy to help pets and animals.”

In the weeks since Ike roared ashore, volunteers slowly return home, but many pets won’t have a home to go home to.

“Many pets will go unclaimed by owners who lost everything and have no place to bring their pets home to,” McEntyre said. “There are others still left behind that need to be relocated and re-homed.”

For Mariah, Miranda, Marissa, Rufus and Wilbur who survived Ike’s fury, making it to the shelter was half the battle.

Now, they need a home.

See why I do this??? I love it!!!!! Diesel is expensive, so if anyone would like to donate a brand new Toyota Prius, just e-mail me and I will send you my street address. Any color is absolutely fine, and I mean that! Of course, there's a waiting list for those so I guess I could do with a Chevy HHR, they hold good-sized crates.

Houston Rescue Needs Some Assistance

2008-10-02T00:18:00.003-05:00

THIS IS COURTESY POST
I am not personally familiar with the rescue seeking donations, but according to their PetFinder site, they are “an all-breed, no-kill, Not-For-Profit 501(c)(3) animal rescue organization committed to bringing Courage, Character and Compassion to Houston’s homeless pet population and making a positive difference in the lives of these stray and abandoned animals and the Houston community as a whole. 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to saving the life of a homeless animal.”

Houston, TX - HELP - Donations needed for Scout's Honor to help dogs

HELP - Donations needed for Scout's Honor to help dogs rescued from IKE and other rescued animals!!From: cperini@velaw.com
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:20:31 -0500
HELP - Donations needed for Scout's Honor to help dogs rescued from IKE and other rescued animals!!

Friends -- We NEED your help!!! Scout's Honor DESPERATELY needs your donations to help with animals taken in before and after Ike! Scout's Honor took in over 14 animals before Ike hit from the La Porte pound, then we rescued 9 puppies that were found under a maintenance building and 2 of these babies were injured when their little bodies were caught up in the plastic rings that cokes come in. They are requiring hydro-therapy and surgery too. Bentley and Lizzie were both rescued after Ike, along with little Bingo and Snoopy and the little kitty Dissy. The costs of taking in this many animals have been very high and we are once again having to close Scout's Honor intake program until we get enough donations to payoff our current vet and boarding bills for all of these doggies. We need to raise about $6,000 to get things back on track.

All of these animals are checked by a vet, given their shots, spayed or neutered, microchipped, given heartguard and flea control and any other medical conditions that they may have. It just quickly adds up. Scout's Honor also has to continue to care for the 80+ animals in their program. Here are just a few pics of the babies that have been saved.

You can the animals currently in Scout's Honor Adoption program at: www.scoutshonor.petdfinder.org -- a donation will help all of them.

Please consider making a tax deductible donation today by going to: http://www.scoutshonor.petfinder.org/

Or sending a check payable to 'Scout's Honor Rescue' and mailing it to:
Scout's Honor Rescue, Inc.
1302 Waugh Drive, PMB#245
Houston, Texas 77019-3908.
ANY AMOUNT HELPS AND NOTHING IS TOO SMALL! $15 pays for one day of boarding, $30 pays for shots, $35-125 pays for spaying and neutering ...anything helps!

Thanks so so much for your help and support!! Here are just a FEW of the babies you are helping!!!

Thanks. Cindy Perini

Opinions Regarding Donations for Animals Following Disasters

2008-10-01T18:25:00.002-05:00

There are lots of animal rescues needing help right now! If you donate, please make sure you are donating to ones that actually do help rescue from the areas affected. Sometimes that can mean one in Houston, in TX, or sometimes even OK, LA, well, that's what I had been saying...now that I have time to take a breath, or at least now that I'm making time to take a breath, let me give my opinion on donating to the large, national groups vs. the smaller, local groups...

I am still having a hard time with my thought process, so this might be about as clear as some of the standing water along the coast, but let me try here. There are a lot of e-mails circulating discouraging people from donating to some of the larger organizations and instead encouraging donations to local groups. Uhm, I kinda do that here ;) I want to offer an explanation of what are just my personal opinions on this. Granted, I do have some knowledge of how things work, but I certainly don’t claim to know it all or even nearly as much as I should. I’m no good to those whom I choose to help if I have too many irons in the fire so I have to choose my battles wisely.

Here goes...one argument people often offer when they ask that people not give to the large groups, for instance the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) is that the HSUS does not have shelters to which they actually take the animals. That may be true because even though you will see names like “Humane Society of Southeast Texas”, they are not a HSUS shelter; however, and this is a big however, the HSUS has expenses related to rescue! Take a look at this article. That had to be paid for somehow!

Now, where do I stand on donating to the HSUS? Well, if I could be assured that my donation went to rescue relief vs. a campaign to save the blind white salamander that lives in an aquifer in San Antonio, sure I’d be willing to donate! Do I think the blind white salamander isn’t important? Nope, didn’t say that. Just not my thing, no room for him on my plate (yuck, nasty thought). Have I had time to check into it to see if I can donate to a rescue fund only? Nope. Wait, since I first posted this on my Weatherunderground.com blog, I have! I found this, information about how donations made directly to the HSUS Disaster Relief Fund are used! Here's more info on their Emergency Services Animal Rescue Team.

Another reason that I personally believe it is important to give directly to the shelters/rescues in the affected areas immediately after a disaster is because they need the assistance immediately and getting the assistance and supplies from the state and charities such as PetsMart Charities, SPCA, & HSUS takes time (especially the assistance from the state). Also, once those charities & organizations pull out and the attention moves on, they need those funds to help them keep chugging along. The affects of these storms are felt so long after the clouds have passed, after the media attention has moved on, after America’s short attention span has waned.

And, one final reason (though there are so many) is... There is one group, I’m still not quite sure I want to give their name so, I’ll just say it’s not SPCA and it’s not HSUS, that keeps just regurgitating everything that they pull out of newspapers, verbatim, and even from flippin’ e-mails from Yahoo! rescue groups (that is what put me over the edge) and then just throwing all their “donate!” “give!” “NOW” buttons and links all over the place on the e-mails they send out. If you could see these messages (I have GOT to go find one and put it in my blog), you would see how much they blanket the message with pleas. If you click on their website, you will find that they are a heavy-handed animal rights organization. Now, there is nothing wrong with being an animal rights organization; however, there is absolutely, positively something wrong with using a disaster to further your agenda and raise funds that you then use for that agenda vs. for rescue of animals in disasters.

There are lots of excellent rescue groups out there, just watch out for those who are less than reputable or those that are less than straight forward. Have a favorite breed? Give to a breed rescue in honor of hurricane victims. Need a recommendation? I really do have good contacts in 501(c)3 rescue organizations across the country and will be happy to pass along any info you’d like.

Aye, Chihuahua!

2008-10-01T15:54:00.003-05:00

O.K., It's not Ike-related, but it could easily result in a flood of Chihuahuas in shelters, much like we saw after the Taco Bell commercials. Please see this article from the Best Friends Network.

Consider printing a few posters and asking your local theaters if they will do the responsible thing and allow you to post one or two. Come on, it's good Karma!

Beverly Hills Chihuahua: Are you bracing yourself for the movie’s release?

September 30, 2008 : 6:36 PM

We can help!

Like the movies “101 Dalmatians” and “Beethoven” before it, the release of “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” has animal welfare organizations concerned that Chihuahuas will be the next victims of our trend-crazed and impulse-purchase culture—even more than they already are.

Since word of the movie first began to leak out, those in the animal welfare community have been wondering what they can do to slow the rush of Chihuahua-buying surely to follow the movie. So were we at Best Friends.

After careful consideration and a little background research by our A Puppy Store Free LA staff, we discovered that the movie does have a rescue angle. That’s good news! It turns out that the movie’s main Chihuahua character, Papi, was rescued. (click here to read his story)

But still—some people will probably want a Chihuahua after seeing the movie, and we hope they don’t head to the classified ads in their local paper, to the Internet (unless they’re going to Petfinder) or to a pet store. To read Best Friends’ press release and position on the movie, click here.

Shelters around the country are already bursting with Chihuahuas, particularly in Los Angeles, the very place where the movie takes place. So we put our heads together and came up with ways that we can all spread the word that if you’re in the market for a Chihuahua, adopting one is the way to go.

How you can help spread the message: ADOPT a Chihuahua
**COMING SOON: A PSA from Best Friends about adopting a dog**

1.) Download, print and hang up the poster (click the poster to download)

2.) Send this story to anyone you know who might be considering getting a Chihuahua

3.) Check out the hundreds of Chihuahuas available for adoption right now in Los Angeles shelters
-Los Angeles city shelters
-Los Angeles county shelters

4.) Find an adoptable Chihuahua near you. Go to: www.petfinder.com or www.adoptapet.com. (You’ll see that Drew Barrymore, voice of Chloe in the movie is on their home page with her rescued dog!)

Link to this story

Ike's Animal Victims Still Need Your Help!

2008-09-30T10:54:00.002-05:00

I've just returned from a whirlwind trip to Anahuac, TX. I spent about $500 (all donated by 2 people, much more by 1 than another), drove about 600 miles, delivered I don't know how many hundreds of pounds of pet food & supplies, and transported 5 dogs -- all in just over 48 hours.

Those dogs could've been put to death. Instead, they will be spayed/neutered, nurtured, and adopted into carefully screened & approved homes, only when they are deemed ready. One poor momma dog had teets that literally dragged the ground. It was all she could do not to step on 'em with her back paws :( They sure were happy doggies. It was almost like they knew they were on a journey to a new life. That's why transporting is so rewarding, worth every mile it puts on a vehicle (and a rear-end)!!! Of course, one pupper wanted to listen to sports talk radio, one wanted the All Elvis station, and the others just couldn't decide. I told them that if they didn't settle down, I'd sing. That threat worked for a while. The rest of the afternoon, we were flippin' stations.

The supplies that were delivered to Anahuac are available at the vet clinic, for distribution to the people in the community who are in need. Dr. Whitten is a true animal angel. She had been providing supplies at her own expense before the supplies were delivered. Dr. Whitten has also been providing care to rescued or abandoned animals, at her own expense, without having to be asked, since day one.

I may be making another trip soon, this time to Beaumont, if they do not get a shipment very shortly. Houston may be returning to normal, with 99.9% of power restored and supplies being trucked in daily. Galveston has a lot further to go, but is also getting supplies on a regular basis; however, the smaller communities are desperately waiting for the most basic supplies. It was next to impossible just to find stainless steel dog & cat bowls in various sizes! Things that we take for granted, that we can pick up on a run to WalMart (well, our little Wally World in da' boonies only had 3 cat-sized ones), are a commodity there.

The 5 dogs from HS of SE TX are now safe in the arms of rescue in the TX Hill Country, on their way to a wonderful new life, never to produce for another backyard breeder! WOOHOO!!!!

There are still links here in the blog for the different animal-related non-profits that could use your help. Now that I've been there, I'd like to put in a plug for one :) I would like to encourage donations for the Humane Society of Southeast Texas. Their website appears to be down right now, but I'm sure it's a glitch because I've been in there quite a bit. I'll update as soon as it's available. This doesn't mean I don't think the others are worthy causes!! I'm not discouraging donations to any of them. I'm just putting it out there, saying I have seen the need, I've met in person a wonderful, wonderful woman named Ann whose character was immediately apparent. The bottom line is that there are animals in need.

Dr. Whitten is someone else whom I'd trust with my animals' lives and with my last dime. She is not a non-profit, but she has given from her own pocket and the bottom of her heart. I can't begin to tell you all she's done. She loves not only animals, but her community. I truly feel like I'm a better person just for having met her and her staff. I will never be able to pass through there on one of my many trips to Louisiana without stopping by just to say hello and thank you. There aren't enough people in the world like Dr. Whitten.

I'm too tired to be too organized or do much photo editing, so here's all ya' get. I didn't photograph damage, I would've been too ashamed to have anyone see me taking those pictures & I just didn't think it was necessary. I wanted the happy shots. I'm a picture freak, but I actually didn't take many because everyone down there really is so dang busy. The lady in the Humane Society shirt is from Beaumont, the HS of SE TX. Her name is Ann (great name! lol). As busy as she is, she brought the 5 dogs from Beaumont to cut my drive down a bit. Dr. Whitten is pictured with her staff and Pitty, a Staffordshire Terrier that she and my friend Christine rescued after Ike. Pitty is being treated for what was a bad skin infection, starvation, and heart worms. She is on the mend and will go to rescue when she is well enough. She has beautiful hazel eyes and a gentle, wounded soul yearning to heal. There's a bit of mischief in those hazel eyes!

Galveston Donation Management Team Announcement

2008-09-26T10:41:00.000-05:00

City of Galveston
News Release
Thursday, September 25, 2008

Donation Management Team Announced for Galveston
Galveston - Galveston Island survived Hurricane Ike, but the damage the storm left in its wake has devastated many islanders’ homes and businesses.

Generous offers of aid and assistance have poured in from around the state and the nation. City officials are busy coordinating relief efforts with local, state, and federal agencies. All volunteer teams, donation of tangible items such as water, gift cards, and cleaning supplies, as well as offers of donated services such as construction and roofing will be organized through the city’s central management team.

Effective tomorrow, Friday, September 26, anyone wanting to assist with the recovery of Galveston Island can contact Carolyn Cox, Assistant City Manager, City of Galveston. To reach the city’s donation management team, please make contact by phone or email:

Phone: (409) 797-3650
Email: coxcar@cityofgalveston.org

Pets
The Galveston Island Humane Society is accepting monetary donations, pet food, and pet supplies to support, feed, and shelter all animals rescued after Hurricane Ike. For more information, please visit http://www.galvestonhumane.org

***** ***** ***** ***** end copy/paste ***** ***** ***** *****

Note from Ann:

The Galveston Island Humane Society is not to be confused with the Galveston County Animal Shelter!

It is strongly recommended that you call and speak to a someone physically located at the Galveston Island Humane Society before making donations, other than monetary one, to be sure that they are donations they will be able to accept.

This Just In...Regarding Taking Donations to Shelters in Texas

2008-09-25T15:27:00.008-05:00

Galveston County [9/26 am - let me clarify here -- not referring to the entire county, just the Galveston County Shelter which is what would have been called, in the old days, "the pound"] AND the Humane Society in Beaumont both have state requests for supplies and have received donations from manufacturers as well, in addition to additional items being requested and the state paperwork being worked.

People should NOT just drive in. If they have something they want to donate, they need to contact the shelter directly and arrange for delivery. The Galveston Co shelter has also had two PetsMart Charities Waggins delivered with all that comes off of those, including cages. (2 - 18 wheelers full!).

In order for their sites to not become a donations management nightmare, people considering taking donations directly to these shelters need to talk directly w/the shelters, NOT just start collecting things and driving down, AND not relying on what volunteers may be stating (including the postings from Best Friends Animal Society). They need to talk to the shelters in Galveston or other shelters like Beaumont, Mont Belvieu, Texas City, Etc.

(this post addresses many, many posts circulating on the www, including some from the Best Friends Network, and some right here on this blog -- this post, for example)

Remember, this does not mean that there are no shelters or rescues still in need of supplies! This only means that you need to actually speak to someone at the shelters you wish to help before you actually make the trip, verify that they will actually use the supplies and are not inundated or full to the brim with no storage space for the items or no need for them. Also, one thing that almost all shelters and rescues can always use is cold, hard cash! Just make sure that your donations are going only to responsible, reputable rescues/shelters!

If you have already collected items and can not find a shelter or rescue that is willing to take the items, please do not get discouraged. The shelters that are in the news are definitely not the only ones out there, they are just the ones that get more attention. There may be other, smaller, more rural shelters that don't know about the options available to them or may not get the attention the others do (we know there are communities where the people aren't getting the attention they deserve, so...). There may also be groups that are reaching out to people in their communities who need help with their pets in their homes. There are some of us looking into that as well.

I will continue to try to keep you updated as I get information. Special thanks to those who take time out of their busy schedules to help me get answers/set me straight! They are appreciated :)

Unpleasant Pictures

2008-09-24T03:36:00.002-05:00

It's late (or early), I'm sick, and I'm tired -- but I can't even imagine how weary the people who lived on the Bolivar Peninsula or Galveston Island, in Winnie or Bridge City, in Chambers County or Calcasieu Parish Louisiana must be.

Take a look at some of these pictures. Think about skipping that Starbucks Coffee or that Krispy Kreme donut and instead donating $5 to Portlight Strategies, Inc. or one of the non-profit animal rescues/shelters mentioned in Monday's or Tuesday's posts instead. I guarantee it's a better investment. How about doing that every week for a month or a year? Think of the difference one small sacrifice could make for another person, for an animal, or even for you!

Believe it or not, those aren't even close to the worst of it. I'm just too tired to bring out the "best", the before & afters. I'll try to get to it in the morning.

All I can say right now is, God Bless Texas.

Quick note (9/24 a/noon) - didn't want anyone thinking I'm taking credit for these pics!! If you click on them, you'll be taken to the sites from which they come :)

WWWUD

2008-09-23T19:43:00.001-05:00

That's "What Would Weather Underground Do" to help after Hurricane Ike

Well, if your WU screen name is Patrap, you start making plans as soon as Ike makes landfall, and if your screen name is Presslord or Stormjunkie, you jump right in. Together, the 3 of you start kickin' ass! You raise over $14,000 in cash from WU bloggers and others, get a bunch of walkers, crutches, and electric wheelchairs donated, & get trucks and drivers donated by the FL chapter of the American Red Cross to deliver that medical equipment to TX, -- that's all within just one week of Ike hitting the Texas Coast!

If you're Patrap and Mrs. Patrap, you make plans and start working there in New Orleans, soliciting donations of bulk items, giving up your valuable family time to help your Texas neighbors by filling the truck that the two of you will drive.

If you're Stormjunkie, within the first week, you're on the road with Presslord's wife ( Wait, how'd that happen? ) with a truckload of goodies -- and we're not just talkin' water and ice -- reaching out to some of hard-hit rural communities in Texas, those that are most in need, the ones that aren't being reached by the bigger aid foundations, the "forgotten" communities, with the people that can't stop thanking you when you arrive, that shed their first tears of happiness since Ike has hit.

When your truck is empty, you don't immediately head back. You go out into the communities, make connections with the proper authorities, and make assessments to determine what the needs are so that you can return and meet those needs.

Wait, someone is missing here. Hmmmm. Who could I be forgetting? Oh, that'd be Presslord! I think I heard something about him staying back, drinking scotch and dressing in drag. But hey, if that's what it takes for him to keep rakin' in the dough, make all the phone calls (for which he's paying), hook up the air-freight connections, secure the trucks at awesome rates, get the medical equipment donated (the value of that alone is staggering), get the cooperation of the Red Cross chapters that have helped, accept the donations from people who have come to his office, etc., then I'm willing to spring for a bottle of scotch and, well...Paul, what is your dress size and how much of a hem would you like on that?

Let's not forget all the work that Pat (Patrap), Paul (Presslord), John (Stormjunkie), and many others are doing behind the scenes. There's so much involved that there's just no way to mention it all or thank everyone -- Plus there are all of those in the WU community who are reaching into their pockets and donating, spreading the word far and wide, and cheerleading.

But, that's not all, folks. You then get more trucks rented, with one sweet hook-up from the rental companies who want to do their part to help, and keep working on donations of goods and cash, you have more trucks lined up before the first ones are even empty. You decide you are in this for the long haul despite the other commitments in your life. You see a need and you aim to fill it. You even inspire others along the way, whether you realize it or not.

So, that's the answer to the WWWUD question. Now, WWUD (What Would You Do)? Click here & here for more information, pictures, and donation information. All donations are tax deductible.

Ann
A proud member of the WU Community :)

Animal Victims -- Rescues & Shelters That Could Use Some Help

2008-09-22T16:42:00.002-05:00

Here are some additional shelters/rescues in the affected areas, although the list is by no means meant to be all-inclusive. Listing them here also does not mean that I am offering my endorsement ;)

** read about this one in my blog post from earlier today, 9/22** Bay Area Pet Adoptions, from San Leon, is now operating out of the Katy Special Pals Facility. Read about the special people at Katy Special Pals who are so kindly assisting the animals, and people, from Bay Area Pet Adoptions. *

The Houston Humane Society
In need of gift cards for PetSmart, PetCo, WalMart, & gas stations. Capacity at HHS has nearly quintupled due to the care of animals from La Porte, Pasadena, & other municipalities in & around Houston. Resources are getting scarce. Kitty litter, towels, and blankets are desperately needed! Donations can be dropped off or mailed -- Alameda Rd (no street #), Houston, TX, 77053. For information about how to donate by phone or online, please visit this page on the HHS site.

Humane Society of Montgomery County
Located in Conroe
Last I heard, they really needed some help to relieve their over-burdened volunteers, some kitty litter and disposable litter pans, and monetary donations; however, because things often get confused in such chaotic times, the only things I can be sure they need are the monetary donations :) Please contact them to verify any other needs. (936) 441-4762

Noah's Ark
Located in Cypress (Harris County)
Has been damaged by Hurricane Ike -- cattery flooded, outside kennels crushed, roof of the horse barn damaged by fallen tree limbs. Among many of their immediate needs? Rebuilding a 7'-9' fence that partially encloses the dog yard, which would allow the dogs supervised free-play time & free volunteers to work on other projects instead of spending that time walking the dogs on a leash.

The Humane Society of S.E. TX
Located in Beaumont
Their greatest need at this time is for money, please see their home page for an excellent explanation.

Hopeful Haven Equine Rescue
Located in Louisiana
See my blog post date 9/21 for details of a great deal on hay if donations reach a "magic number'!

No Fences Hurricane Ike Horse & Cattle Relief Fund
Online Donations – Texas AgriLife Extension
Phone-in Donations – AgriLife Extension Conference Services 979-845-2604
If you can make in-kind donations of items such as hay or feed, or are able to help with transportation, call the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Hay Hotline at 877-429-1998 or 1-800-835-5832 and press zero.

The Houston SPCA

Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP)

Animal Shelter is Sheltering Animals & People

2008-09-22T12:52:00.004-05:00

*updated 2:09 pm to correct original location of Bay Area Pet Adoptions

The story below was posted here on 9/21/08. It is a wonderful story. It led me to this -- Basically, Bay Area Pet Adoptions, from San Leon, is now operating out of the Katy Special Pals Facility. Read about the special people at Katy Special Pals who are so kindly assisting the animals, and people, from Bay Area Pet Adoptions. Here’s how I found it:

Katy-area animal shelter takes in 100 from flooded San Leon shelter

Donations Sought as Special Pals Animal Shelter Takes in 100 Bay Area Homeless Pets

Houston, TX (September 18, 2008) -- A Katy-area pet rescue shelter has opened its doors to help Bay Area Pet Adoption Shelter after it evacuated 100 animals from its San Leon location.

Special Pals on Greenhouse Road near Clay Road is now dealing with the sudden influx of animals, and it is also temporarily hosting the staff of the Bay Area shelter, who are working at the Special Pals location to care for the animals they brought in. Eventually, the Bay Area shelter will require new facilities, as three of its five buildings were destroyed by Hurricane Ike and the remainder may be uninhabitable.

It's important to note that the animals evacuated are adoptable animals which had been in the care of the shelter, and are not lost or stray animals due to the storm.

Donations from the Katy and Houston community are urgently needed to help people and animals evacuated from San Leon, said Special Pals Executive Director Yvonne David. "We have plenty of pet food, but we didn't expect to be hosting displaced people as well. We hope a local hotel might donate a few rooms for them so they can shower and sleep."

What's needed most:
Cash donations
Grocery store gift cards
Gasoline gift cards for animal rescue transportation due to a 120 mile round trip
Donated lunches or restaurant gift cards for volunteers
Furniture dollies to move animal crates
Heavy-duty dollies to move pet food bags and litter
Rubber gloves
Cat litter (clay only)
Pressure washers
New Commercial Washers and Dryers
Lawn & garden carts (wagon style)
Roof repairs
Plumber - drain cleaning
Minor building and kennel repairs
Storage containers - Bay Area
Mini Mobil Buildings with A/C - Bay Area
Land & tree removal - Bay Area

Note: donations of pet food are not needed at this time

For additional information and donation opportunities, please contact Special Pals,
281-579-7387 or visit www.specialpalsshelter.org or Bay Area Pet Adoptions at 281-559-1359 help@bayareapetadoptions.org and visit www.bayareapetadoptions.org.

Horses Victims of Gustav, Need Help

2008-09-21T22:51:00.005-05:00

I received this e-mail from a good friend in the Dallas area. We have been dealing with Ike's aftermath, but we can't forget that there are still victims of Gustav that need our help! Here's what Mary Anne says:

I have posted to the group re: HHERO before & their ongoing efforts to help the livestock victims of Hurricane Gustav. I received another email tonight from Debra with some very graphic pictures attached, so I didn't forward them to the group. If anyone wants to see them, please email me privately & I will forward them to you. Debra has located someone to sell them 4x4 round bales of hay for $8.00 a bale. It sounds like they have to buy 400 bales in bulk to get the deal & the delivery = total $3200.00 all together. She had a donor pledge to match the first $1001.00 all the way from Rhode Island. I know we all are stretched these days with our own issues at home, but $8.00 and one 4x4 round bale can really go a long way to feed some livestock in salt water flooded & oil covered fields. The web address for HHERO: www.hopefulhaven.com from this site you can make donations via PayPal or the address is also on the page for mailing. They are also needing buckets, halters (all sizes), lead ropes, feed (any), fencing, etc. These are also listed on the site. I will be making a trip over there next Sat. I already offered to do any dog transports at that time, so I will include transport of any donations for HHERO as well. If I have enough I will bring the horse trailer to make sure I get everything over to them. She also wanted to thank everyone for their prayers & continued support of all the rescue communities.

Thank you-

Mary Anne Barnett
Independent Rescue (Decatur, TX)
rvt1213@yahoo.com

Best Friends Left Behind in Ike's Path

2008-09-20T12:32:00.006-05:00

From the Best Friends Network

Disaster Response

“Sad and Emotional Day”

September 18, 2008 : 5:48 PM

Many Hurricane Ike evacuees chose to leave without their pets

“Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single-family one- or two-story homes will face certain death,” noted a National Weather Service advisory to Galveston Island residents prior to Hurricane Ike.

Unfortunately, many of those same people did not give that same consideration to their pets.

The situation in Southeast Texas is far more dire than anticipated, not only because of the tremendous destruction caused by Hurricane Ike, but because of pet guardian apathy.

The Rapid Response team, along with Galveston Animal Control officers and a sheriff performed search and rescue throughout the day yesterday, saving six animals including one kitten, one wart hog (who will be released) and four dogs, one of whom was found chained and caught in a fence. However, those victories were bittersweet as the team encountered many deceased animals who had been abandoned by their guardians prior to evacuation.

“Wednesday was a sad and emotional day for everybody,” noted Rich Crook, Best Friends Rapid Response Manager. “It is difficult to see that people would leave their animals.”

The team estimates that at least 50% of the evacuees left without their pets. Despite repeated warnings from local officials of catastrophic flooding, numerous animals were left behind - chained or crated - many of whom have paid the ultimate price for their guardians’ indifference.

Outrage following Hurricane Katrina, when people were forced to evacuate without their pets, prompted the national passage of H.R. 3858: Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006. This law ensures that both local and state emergency plans are to include companion animals.

Such legislation leaves no excuse for anyone leaving a pet behind during the Hurricane Ike evacuation or any other emergency situation.

“Any pet owner who willfully left their pet behind, chained up outside or left in crates, after advanced warnings of catastrophic flooding, should be charged to the fullest extent of whatever cruelty laws are on the books there in Texas,” said Paul Berry, Best Friends, CEO. “Such careless, thoughtless neglect for another life is absolutely inexcusable.”

What those guardians did when they left their chained dogs behind was not only inexcusable, they actually broke the law. H.B. 1411 passed during the last Texas legislative session and became effective 9/1/07. The new law specifically prohibits guardians from leaving dogs tethered outside between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or in extreme weather conditions, including hurricanes.

So the clock is ticking for those abandoned animals who survived the storm, now going on five days without food or water. Best Friends will continue to search for those unfortunate pets whose guardians chose to leave behind and will provide the medical care and assistance needed (see Rapid Response in action in Hurricane Ike – Left Behind).

Best Friends is assessing the situation. Additional measures must be in place to encourage residents to evacuate with their pets, to prevent a reoccurrence. Please check back regularly for updates on how you can help avert such catastrophes in the future.

Take action now:

The government includes pets in evacuation plans, so it is important for all caregivers to take personal responsibility and never leave in an emergency without your animals. Keep in mind, disasters are not limited to hurricanes, so whether or not you live in a coastal area, it is important that you prepare now, so you are ready in case disaster strikes.

FEMA offers plans on care for animals prior to, during, and after emergency situations. Additional links to informative sites can be found here.

Remember, your pets are entirely reliant on you for their care and safety. Possessions can be replaced, but family can not. You can start immediately by preparing an emergency kit for your pets as well as an emergency plan.

Do not spend a lifetime of regret because you failed to prepare today.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. You don’t have to be on-site in Texas to help. Be a part of Best Friends’ efforts to save companion animals in emergency situations. Please make an online donation to the support the Best Friends Rescue Fund. It is through contributions like yours that Best Friends is able to provide assistance in disasters such as Hurricane Ike.

2. Donations are needed by the The Joe Vickery/Galveston County Animal Shelter. Supplies such food, collapsible wire cages, de-wormer, disposable cat litter pans, and Frontline® flea & tick control are in great demand. Donations may be brought to the shelter at 3412 Loop 197 North in Texas City, Texas (map to location).

3. Interested in helping in future emergency situations? See Hurricane Ike Is Coming! for more on what you can do to prepare in advance to join the Best Friends Rapid Response team.

For more information:
• The Houston SPCA has activated a disaster hotline. If you need to report lost or found animals, please call 713-435-2990, 877-661-0161, or 713-861-0161.
• The Orange/Jefferson County disaster hotline is 409-980-7280 or call the Humane Society of Southeast Texas Rogers Spay and Neuter Clinic at 409-838-2510.
• Thousands of Cattle and Horses Roaming in Texas
• ‘Like Katrina without the water’
• Best Friends Animal Society Rapid Response Community

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends staff
Photo credit: taken by Pam Crook

Link to this story

Galveston CO Animals Need Help NOW

2008-09-18T10:27:00.008-05:00

Two e-mails - the first is from someone working on the ground in Galveston, dated 9/16/08; the second is requesting help getting media attention, the links to the news stations she mentions are on the left side of my blog

From: "Finneman Farm" <finnefarm@wildblue.net>
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:56:30

I am a large animal first responder with Habitat for Horses, an equine rescue group based in Hitchcock, Texas. I was personally on the West end of Galveston Island for 6 hours yesterday. You may want to know that horses were removed from the West end of Galveston, and are being housed at the Jack Brooks Park arena In Hitchcock (the site of the Galveston County Fairgrounds on Highway 6) under the care of Habitat for Horses. Additional horses are being collected today.

A convoy of trucks and animal rescue personel left the Galveston County Animal Shelter today bound for the island. Companion animals rescued will be housed at the Galveston County Animal Shelter, located at 3412 Loop 197 North in Texas City, Texas (just off of Highway 146). Participants in the convoy included Galveston County Animal Shelter personel, and equipment and rescuers from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary of Knabe, Utah. Best Friends are the great folks with a No-Kill shelter which is the home to several of the pitbulls that were seized from Michael Vick, the football player turned dog-fighter who is now doing prison time for animal cruelty. The progress of these dogs is chronicled in the TV series "Dogtown").

If you are missing your pet, go to the shelter to file a missing pet report. Be as specific as possible, and try to provide a photo of the animal. Be very complete with yoru description of your residence or barn, pasture, etc. Remember, many areas have no street signs or house numbers, as they were obliterated in the storm.

The shelter, as of 1:03 pm today, has no electricity or running water. It also sustained moderate flooding . The shelter has not been able to respond to phone calls. So, please visit, and when you visit, why not assist the pets and staff by bringing some of the following needed supplies? You will be helping them help your animal.

1) Clay cat litter
2) Canned good quality cat and kitten and puppy and dog food
3) Bottled water
4) Soda for the staff and rescuers (especially Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Coke and Diet Coke).
5) ICE! Desperately needed!

Also, if there is a real Animal Angel or Sugar Daddy out there, a commerical generator would be ideal to help restore power to the shelter building. I would need to coordinate with the facilities folks concerning kilowatts needed, etc.

Please do not try to phone the shelter at this time, as phone service is seriously limited. It might make sense to combine your inquiries with several of your friends and neighbors'. Then, only one person would be making the visit to lthe shelter. Naturally, when power is restored, communications will be easier.

I hope I've provided you with information which is useful. Please try to be patient, gather your documents and photos of your pet, and file a report. And the next time...
1) Take your pet with you
2) Microchip your pet (available for as little as $20 )
3) And, you can get yourself ICS certified if you truly want to help with the next animal disaster.

Good luck,

Lark Tedesco
President, Shelter Buddies of Texas

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Hi everyone I want to ask all members of the group to start e-mailing/calling all TV news, radio stations, etc.like we did after Katrina.

This is was also vital when Katrina hit, as people really started to pay attention when standed aniamals where shown on TV. So far the only one saying anything about pets(very little) has bee Fox news.
We know the situation is bad and there is total devastation due to Ike in many parts of TX's Galveston I believe being the worse..
Since in many areas they are not letting people in yet we need the media to cover the pets affected by Ike, they are there, they have cameras, they can air it and they have the power to bring people together.
The goverment is only going to pay attention to the animals, I mean real attention to the animals once the media gets involved.
People need to see the need on TV, so these animals get rescue or at least as many as possible.
Please write or call.
I don't have the time really to put the list of News stations as I did 3 years ago with Katrina.
But if anyone on this group has the information please share it so it will be easier for all members.
Thank you for being here.

Celene Albano
HPR Rescue CEO
Website: www.hurricanepetsrescue.org
ADOPTIONS:www.hurricanepets.petfinder.com
Telephone:786-999-8239

Animal Rescues Post Ike

2008-09-15T22:42:00.007-05:00

Some Hurricane Ike Cats, Dogs Headed to McKinney Shelter

American Humane Moves into Texas Following Hurricane Ike

Waco - Shelter Has Hands Full with Evacuated Pets

Houston SPCA Needs Monetary Donations

2008-09-15T21:55:00.003-05:00

A story today (that I can not for the life of me find again to link to here) on one of the Houston t.v. station's websites, said that the SPCA in Houston actually had a good number of volunteers. People who themselves had issues at their own homes were still taking time to volunteer at the shelter. They said that their greatest need right now was for monetary donations.

The contact info for the Houston SPCA is:
Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
713-869-7722
www.spcahouston.org

Livestock in S.E. TX Needs Help!

2008-09-15T21:34:00.004-05:00

September 15, 2008 - 7:20PM
Scott Lawrence

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - At least 20,000 head of livestock roamed loose throughout several Southeast Texas counties Monday, said state officials who are working to get feed and water to the cattle and horses that have been without either since Hurricane Ike came ashore Saturday.

Agriculture and animal health officials said Ike's winds and storm surge tore down fences throughout Chambers, Jefferson and Orange counties, allowing the livestock to flee from enclosed pastures - and away from water sources.

Dead cows lay stiff on the sides of roads in Orange County.

Without feed and water for three days, livestock become stressed and many are drinking salt water left behind by the storm. The water will not quench their thirsts.

Contributions of hay, water troughs, feedstocks, such as range cubes, or cash are needed to help keep livestock alive, agriculture officials said.

Cowboy Loren Doucet of the Edwards Ranch in Southeast Texas rode a chestnut quarter horse named Sister on Monday to herd cattle from a highway into a raised pasture.

"They were stuck in a field that was full of water, salt water," he said. "We're just getting them in where they can drink fresh water."

It is not yet known how many animals were killed by the storm.

"We can't put out numbers until we know for sure," Texas Animal Health Commission spokeswoman Carla Everett said.

The estimate on wandering livestock is preliminary and could rise, officials said. Agriculture officials were surveying the area by helicopter late Monday and could give a more accurate assessment of losses Tuesday, Everett said.

The state and region's largest cattle producing organization, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, is also joining in efforts to help livestock producers and their animals as part of Operation No Fences: Hurricane Ike Horse and Cattle Relief.

A group of special rangers from the association is assisting.

"The storm surge destroyed pastures and water supplies," said Dave Scott, the association's first vice president. "With no grazing land and no fresh water, it's like those ranchers went into drought overnight."

In Galveston, about 20 Longhorns roamed empty neighborhoods with one herd sunning themselves in front of an empty, storm-battered hotel named Escapes!.

Elsewhere, two calves wandered amid the ghost town that Galveston has become, spooked when a reporter approached.

"They'll have a hard time making it," Kathleen Phillips, spokeswoman from Texas AgriLive Extension Service, said of the several that have been born since the storm hit.

The west end of Galveston Island, while dotted with vacation bungalows and expensive homes, also has undeveloped grazing lands where herds escaped after ranchers fled. Water from Ike's surge stormed over the shore and across a main beachfront road, and the longhorns apparently had to swim or wade through floodwaters to find high ground.
---
Those wishing to make contributions can call the Texas Department of Agriculture's hay hotline at 1-877-429-1998 or another hotline set up by the state's 4H association at 1-979-845-1213. To donate materials for fencing, panels, water troughs and other non-feed and non-cash donations contact Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association at 800-242-7820, ext. 147, to speak to Tim Niedecken.
---
Associated Press writers John Gambrell in Galveston and Allen Breed in Southeast Texas contributed to this report.
By BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press Writer
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Link to this story

Ike a Disaster for Many in Multiple States, Especially TX & LA

2008-09-15T19:24:00.003-05:00

Ike made landfall (defined as when the center of the circulation crosses land) at 2 a.m. CDT on Saturday as a category 2 storm with 110 mph winds, 1 mph from being a category 2 storm. Though there are those who are saying that Ike did not live up to the hype, those who have seen the Bolivar Peninsula, and people from Galveston to New Orleans, would tell you Ike was all that and then some. Not only that, but had Ike’s official landfall been just a few miles further down the Texas coast (as little as 20-50 miles, which could've happened with just one wobble of the storm), the story could have been even more tragic. The thousands upon thousands who did not obey the mandatory evacuation order for Galveston Island could have all perished. Not even the most well-educated, forecaster can predict the exact intensity or exact landfall of a hurricane with the tools currently available. There was no "hype" with this storm. Ike was a large, ugly, mean storm and if the damage estimates are correct, Ike will be the 3rd costliest storm in U.S. history.

Many people who ignored mandatory evacuation orders called 911 Friday night, only to be told (rightfully so) that they would have to wait until rescuers could safely venture out again after the storm's passage. We can only hope that more people evacuated than was originally estimated, and that those who stayed & survived will spread the word to friends and family about the importance of obeying evacuation orders. It’s believed that as many as 400 people are missing from the Bolivar Peninsula.

Many parts of the area saw significant flooding, wind damage, & power outages. Bayous & creeks overflowed their banks. In downtown Houston, glass was blown out of the windows of high-rise buildings. Many parts of IH-10 were completely submerged. Neighborhood streets were impassible due to downed power lines, uprooted trees, and water flowing like raging rivers. On I-45 South, large boats and debris completely blocked the highway.

While the Bolivar Peninsula was likely the hardest-hit, there were other areas hit that have not received much coverage. I do not mean to discount any of the problems experienced by these other communities and hope to address them later. Being a Texan, my concentration has been Texas & some of the info on the smaller communities is quite limited at this time. I hope to dig into that this evening. Until then, try the links for Beaumont, Port Arthur, & Orange. Flooding in Louisiana is significant as well. The surge there has breached several non-federal levees and flooded an estimated 13,000 homes. An area that took a direct hit from Gustav saw more flooding from Ike’s storm surge than it did from Ike.

The storm continued to cause problems, and that’s an understatement, after it exited the state of TX. For more information, see Dr. Masters’ blog (nope, can’t get a post from me w/out a link to his blog).

THE ANIMALS

One report out of Houston said that the SPCA had rescued 300 animals as of Saturday afternoon, so I can only imagine that number has risen exponentially since that time. As of Friday, San Antonio was playing host to over 500 visiting pets of evacuees. The first shelter was overflowing and a second had to be opened. While I’m sure some of the evacuees have headed home, there are also more that have come in because of the numbers of homes that are completely gone or uninhabitable on Galveston Island, the Bolivar Peninsula, and in so many other communities along the Coast. Many evacuees and their pets were transported to San Antonio by bus yesterday and more have come in today.

DISTURBING IMAGES

The image above, courtesy of Google Maps, shows the Bolivar Peninsula & some notes I've made. Clicking on the map will take you to the satellite image in Google Maps, where you can zoom-in to navigate the “before” image of the peninsula. You can then go here and view new satellite pictures from NOAA. The degree of devastation is just unimaginable.

YOU CAN HELP

Donate to the Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County to help defray the costs of caring for these pets. Visit their website here.
A regular fixture of Dr. Masters’ blog, Pat, has started a grass-roots effort to get some relief directly to the people who need it most. Pat is a New Orleans resident & a hurricane Katrina survivor. Pat is coordinating with another one of the good-guys of the blog, Paul, and his 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Paul is a hurricane Hugo survivor himself. These 2 men have an understanding of what it means to help your neighbors and how someone who has "been there, done that" can bring a whole new level of compassion to a relief effort. They are truly honest men putting a lot of effort into making this a success. Pat hopes to have the truck rented, filled, and on the way to the Houston/Galveston area with the first load of donations by the end of the week. You can read more here & you can make donations through PayPal. Click on Pat's name above & read the comments in his blog to see some of the items he has already received for this first trip, and for more testimonials about Pat & Paul.
Donate to another charity of your choice.

IN SE TX or the SAN ANTONIO AREA?
- Donate blood! Blood shortages are expected. You just need to be over the age of 18, weigh at least 110 lbs, and be generally healthy.
- Volunteer to help with the evacuees or the evacuees’ pets! Visit the VOAD Center - originally located at the Freeman Coliseum, the Volunteer Operation Center has moved to Brooks City Base, 8039 Challenger Dr. The phone # is 210-224-5365

Regarding Volunteering/Donations for Animals in LA Post-Gustav/Ike

2008-09-13T12:31:00.007-05:00

The following information came to me, Ann, directly. This is not second-hand information. This needs to be posted to all the rescue-related Yahoo! groups that have had the multiple messages posted about assistance in LA.

It has been suggested that when someone makes a request such as this one, someone should e-mail or call the rescue requesting assistance and let them know that they can contact LSART or LASPCA, or even PetsMart Charaties, and let them know what they need.

The first part I'm pasting below is what was posted to another blog I have. I had been cross-posting the many requests for assistance that were posted to the many animal rescue boards to which I belong & to my other blog, before I started this one. The second is a direct reply from the same poster to me, after I sent her an e-mail in response to her post to my blog. I was asking for some clarification. I was wondering if this was applied to evacuations only, to evacuations and rescue from areas greatly affected, or to pretty much all before and after, including those requesting donations of things such as the dog food and other items requested in the post mentioned above. She has been absolutely wonderful and very helpful.

Here we go:

1st:

Just wanted to let you know that all of the evacuations from Louisiana and offers to help, need to be coordinated through Dr. Renee Poirrier with LSART and the lead agency for all evacuations and rescue dispatching is LASPCA in New Orleans. If you want to help in Louisiana in the future you will need to contact and register with them first and not just "show up" to help. They have gotten very strict since Katrina and will not tolerate folks working outside the system. They did arrest a few folks during Gustav for just this reason. I know it sounds harsh, but in order to make such a huge evacuation work effectively you need to work under the Incident Command System. This ensures that animals are moved to safety in a safe manner and that resources are not wasted. I worked Gustav and our group evacuated close to 700 animals in two day previous to Gustav and the only problem we encountered were people showing up in Ryder trucks or other vehicles that were not appropriate for transport unannounced or bringing supplies that were either not needed or to the wrong place.

I strongly recommend that if you want to help in disasters in the future that you take any or all of the classes offered by several of the organizations that have experience in disaster response. Some of these groups are:

United Animal Nations-EARS
Best Friends
The Humane Society of the United States-NDART
Noah's Wish
ASPCA

Most of the gulf coast states will not allow unaffiliated or un-credentialed volunteers into their states. It is becoming very serious to them and they ARE and WILL either arrest you or kick you out of the state. Just after Gustav hit, some people were out "rescuing" animals from peoples yards and these animals did not need "rescuing" their owners were home and they were basically stolen from people. They had as many as 5 or six people that ran into the city to get the same dog or cat because someone cross posted an email and no one knew what was going on and there was not main contact to verify that the animal really needed help or where he had been taken to. Imagine if it were your animal and you came home to find him gone and had no idea who had him or where he was.

I know all of you have huge hearts and want to help and this really is the best way to do it. So please get trained and get involved with one or all of these groups (volunteering for several is a great idea!) You will help more animals in their time of need and put resources to their best use!

2nd:

Everyone that wants to help before and after a disaster should go through the main agency, in this case LSART or LASPCA. They have a person that is in charge of things like donations, offers to foster, transport needs, medical needs, etc. Basically one clearing house for all animal issues. What tends to happen if everyone goes off on their own is, let's say someone posts on some blog or sends out an email that they need cat food sent to help Jefferson Parrish. The next thing you know, there are 1000 bags of cat food being delivered, but the cats have all been relocated to another shelter. In Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina, someone sent an email that said the animals were suffering from dehydration and we needed fluids.......we ended up with trucks full of fluids and it took 3 or 4 people that could have been helping work in the shelter to just unload and put it all in a warehouse! If they had checked with the State vets office (they were lead for animals issues in Mississippi) they could have saved tons of money, effort and fuel because they would have been told that we really only had a few that needed fluids and that had been taken care of a week ago! Like I said, people have big hearts, but if they just go off on their own, they waste so much time, money and resources just to sort and manage the donations. We literally had to hire fork lift drivers to move mountains of supplies that we could not use and most of it went to waste. People showed up to transport animals in vehicles that were not appropriate all the time. We had one group that showed up to take some dogs and the had a flatbed trailer that they had sectioned of with chicken wire into little cubicles and were planning to drive animals across 6 states like that!! Then they got mad because I said they could not take any animals until they found a safe form of transport for them! I felt bad they really thought they were doing a good thing and their hearts were in the right place, but...........we could not allow the animals to be loaded into an unsafe vehicle with not protection from weather and in unsafe holding cages. So, I would encourage everyone to go through LSART or at the very least contact LSPCA who is the lead companion animal agency for Louisiana.

Bottom Line:

You must go through LSART or LASPCA to help in Louisiana unless you are with one of the following groups who, it appears, may contact you to join them, having coordinated through LSART or LASPCA themselves:
United Animal Nations-EARS
Best Friends
The Humane Society of the United States-NDART
Noah's Wish
ASPCA

That means that the other organizations are kind of going "rouge". You can notify them that they should contact LSART or LASPCA for assistance.

For more information, visit the website for LSART, www.lsart.org

Ike Bigger than Katrina - Yep, Really

2008-09-11T17:09:00.004-05:00

Ike's radius of tropical storm force winds is 275 miles & 115 miles for hurricane force winds. Katrinas were 230 miles for tropical storm force & 105 for hurricane force.

Ike is currently a category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph. The storm is not currently forecast to intensify rapidly, but he is forecast to intensify. He is still projected to make landfall late Friday night/early Saturday morning as a major hurricane, which is category 3 or higher. The current official NHC forecast calls for a landfall near Galveston, with winds of 105 knots (approx. 121 mph), making it a category 3 hurricane.

Again, the major concern with the storm is the surge. The title of Dr. Masters' blog this afternoon is, " Ike's storm surge an extreme danger to Texas". One notable quote from that entry, "Ike will probably inundate a 250-mile stretch of Texas coast from Port O'Connor to the Louisiana border with a 10-15 foot storm surge. This will occur even if Ike is a Category 1 storm at landfall. If Ike is a Category 3+ hurricane at landfall, surges of 20+ feet are possible." Be sure to see Dr. Masters' blog for his usual great explanation of current conditions, and to get his forecast for Ike.

More links have been added to the left side of the blog and more information has been added down below. I'll be added even more later tonight or tomorrow.

On to the images, even though it's almost time for some more to come out from NHC & WU :) I'll add those this evening.

clicking these images will open the larger version in a new window

1 pm & 4 pm CDT NHC Forecast Tracks

8 am & 2 pm EDT Computer Models from WU
(standard & zoom views)

Hurricane Ike Likely to Be Devastating

2008-09-10T21:21:00.008-05:00

Hurricane Ike has recovered all too well from his passage cross Cuba. Ike is a large and powerful storm that is only getting more powerful. In fact, the storm is rapidly intensifying and very well could be a category 4 storm by morning. The outlook for the TX Gulf Coast is looking quite grim. Ike will likely make landfall as major hurricane, which is a category 3 or stronger, and he is already almost as large as Katrina was, his wind field building up a large storm surge.

There is still quite a bit of uncertainty concerning landfall. It had appeared that models were coming into better agreement, but there has again been some divergence. The NHC has moved that darn center line, yep, the same one to which we're not supposed to pay attention but have such a hard time ignoring, quite a bit north as of the 10 p.m. CDT advisory; but, as I read on a blog this week, "If you're in the zone, you're hurricane prone". Not to make light of it, because it has quickly become an all too serious situation, but that about sums it up. I say "about" because even the cone is only right 2/3 of the time. So, if you're in the cone and you're thinking that there is no way you're going to get hit, just remember that 1/3 of the time someone outside the cone gets hit! Pay attention to your local authorities, always err on the side of caution, and be prepared!

There are a lot of new links in the blog today. If you think of any links that should be added, just leave a comment and I'll see about getting it added.

Hopefully, I'll be able to update much earlier tomorrow.

Here's an article on San Antonio's preparations for the pets of evacuees:
Watch out Hurricane Ike, San Antonio Animal Groups Are Ready

You know I can't do an entry w/out mention of Dr. Masters' blog. For those living along the TX & LA Gulf Coast, I recommend it even more today than ever . Here is something that really stands out, "Ike is likely to be a extremely dangerous major hurricane at landfall, and will likely do $10-$30 billion in damage. The chances of hundreds of people being killed in this storm is high if people do not heed evacuation orders."

Now, on to the images:

NHC Forecast Track
7 am CDT & 10 pm CDT

NHC Forecast Track
7 am CDT & 10 pm CDT
cropped/close-up to show change in cone

Computer Models from WU Page
Initialized 8 a.m. vs Initialized 2 p.m.

Tuesday Night Update on (Y)Ike(s)

2008-09-09T17:39:00.013-05:00

Later tonight, I hope to be posting links to a lot of good info regarding animals in evacuations, t.v. stations & city websites for areas that could be impacted by Ike, and more. So, for right now, I'm just going to post some quotes from Dr. Masters' blog, encourage you to visit that blog for his full view, and post some images. They are the latest available as of this posting (there was no change to the cone at the 8 pm EDT update).

I say all the time that we shouldn't pay attention to the center line, but it's hard not to do it. It's human nature! Because we all do it, I figure it's at least a good way to illustrate the way things change from update to update. So, I'm once again urging you to notice that uncertainty, how things change from update to update.

It's getting closer and closer to what is almost certain to be a TX landfall. In the next couple hours, I hope to start adding the links that will help everyone get the information they need. Please check back often!

One note of comfort -- Dr. M. does think that the models we'll see tomorrow morning really should give us a much better idea of where Ike will make landfall.

Most notable quotes from Dr. Masters' Blog:

"All indications are that Ike will intensify into a very dangerous major hurricane that will hit the Texas coast Friday night or Saturday."

"...Still, there is a significant chance that an evacuation of large stretches of the Texas coast--including portions of Houston--will have to be ordered on Wednesday or Thursday."

"I forecast a 50% chance Ike will be a major hurricane at landfall:
Category 1 or weaker: 20%
Category 2: 30%
Category 3: 30%
Category 4 or 5: 20%"

And now, for the images. Clicking on an image will open a larger version in a new window. You can find updated images from the NHC here, and from WU here.

NHC 5-Day Track Forecast Cone

2 p.m. EDT & 5 p.m. EDT

My Cropped Images of Those Same NHC Images

To Illustrate the Change in 3 Hours

Computer Models Image from WU

Runs from 2 p.m. EDT

runs are at 2 a.m./p.m. & 8 a.m./p.m.

they are not always up "on the dot"

notice the "initialized" time not the time stamp in the upper left corner of the image

This image links to the WU page where this image/updates are found

Ike Visiting Texas?

2008-09-09T10:18:00.007-05:00

If evacuations to the San Antonio area begin, from anywhere along the TX Coast, I will post what information I can gather from reliable, verifiable sources. If you have information you would like me to post, especially regarding animals, please leave a comment and I will get it posted. I'll update more frequently as Ike approaches TX.

Right now, it looks like Ike could make landfall on Friday, anywhere from about Galveston to just south of the TX/MEX border. Before anyone starts blaming the NHC for poor forecasting, let me tell you that it is strictly a Mother Nature issue. A lot depends on the timing, and possibly strength, of a couple of different troughs.

Unfortunately, it does appear that Ike will be able to re-strengthen and possibly make landfall as a category 2 or 3 storm.

Here are the latest images. Click on them for a larger view in a new window. I've posted the 8 am and 11 am NHC Forecast tracks, including zoomed versions of a portion of each, so you can compare them and see how the long-range forecast can change quite a bit in just a short time. Forecasts are very hard to make beyond 36 hours and that should always be taken into consideration.

Clicking this image will take you to the latest 5-day forecast track on the WU site

Ike's Been All Over the Place Today...

2008-09-09T01:07:00.006-05:00

and so have I. Hopefully I can get out a better update tomorrow.

Please be sure to see the pleas for help with animal evacuees/rescues in LA in my earlier entries today, and post them far and wide!

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

For this blog entry, when you click on the images you will be taken to the bigger version instead of to the WU or NHC page. That's only because I want you to be able to compare them instead of seeing the latest update. I want you see the uncertainty involved in predicting/forecasting hurricantes.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Here are just a few things to consider regarding Ike:

Take a look at the two images below. The first one is portion of the 11 a.m. NHC forecast track & the second is the 11 p.m. forecast track. See how much that center line and the edges of the cone of uncertainty have changed in just 12 hours? That is why everyone along the Gulf Coast, but especially those in TX & LA, need to keep an eye on IKE.

11:00 AM 9/8

11:00 PM 9/8

To see the latest NHC forecast track, click here.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

I am posting the track from WU only to show the forecast intensity. I want to add that Dr. Masters notes in his blog that Ike could just as easily be a Cat 1 or Cat 3 at landfall.

Courtesy Weather Underground 11 PM EDT

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Here are the model runs from the WU page. Click to see the larger versions in a new window. See how much those changed from the 8 a.m. runs to the 8 p.m. runs? Please note the "initialized" times, not the time on the top left side of the picture.

To see the latest models on the WU page, just go here.

Of course, since I'm just now finishing this up at almost 1 am CDT and the next update is due about now... Oh well, likely the 2 am EDT models won't be out right at 2 so I'm posting before I accidentally fall asleep with my Hershey's bar and laptop in my bed.

Animal Rescue Volunteers Desperately Needed in LA

2008-09-08T23:00:00.002-05:00

MULTIPLE ANIMAL RESCUE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES in LA POST-GUSTAV

CONTACT: amberalsobrooks@hotmail.com

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, Bayou Rescue volunteers Jennifer Strom and Amber Alsobrooks just returned from Folsom, Louisiana, where we assisted Pasado's Safe Haven in caring for over 200 animals evacuated from ARNO and St. Bernard Parish Shelter. Pasado's had planned on returning all animals this weekend, but the ARNO shelter is severely damaged and the St. Bernard parish officials do not want animals moved back there before Ike (understood). Right now they are down to TWO people caring for over 200 animals.

Since we returned a couple days ago, we have received many other emails and phone calls asking for help in that area. Although many New Orleans residents were able to send their animals to safe shelter, many animals in other parts of Louisiana were still left stranded. These animals have had to endure subsequent flooding, entrapment, lack of food, and other dangers. These animals need to be rescued ASAP.

Adding insult to injury, several models show Ike heading for the gulf states again, with LA in the middle of projected 5-day forecasts. The animals need you, the people on the ground helping those animals need you.

If you are able to travel to Louisiana this week (prior to Ike), and potentially the following week (post Ike), please email amberalsobrooks@hotmail.com
We can recommend where to go based on your time and skills, and we can help you get there.

Volunteer opportunities for LA response include:

Assisting mobile vet unit (leaving Fayetteville on Tuesday)
Repairing animal shelters
Sheltering animals (feeding/walking/cleaning cages)
Direct animal rescue (requires FEMA certification and other specialized training/certification)
Delivering supplies
Fostering animals (does not require travel, must be currently affiliated with a 501c3 foster org)
Coordinating / providing transport for animals to pre-screened foster care

Organizations that have current requests for volunteers include:

Pasado's Safe Haven - http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/GUSTAV/Gustav_Home.htm
ARNO (Animal Rescue New Orleans) - http://animalrescueneworleans.org/
Kat5 - www.kat5.org
Companion Animal Network
Muttshack / Kinship Circle

If you can't travel, please know that we are always looking for more volunteers to help locally to support our partnership with the local chapters of the American Red Cross. Local opportunities include public education/awareness, fundraising/grant writing, providing pet foster homes for families who are displaced, providing transportation for animals, assisting animal services with local emergency sheltering, and MORE!

FINALLY, please let this be a reminder to review your plan and check your emergency kits - one for your family and one for your pets. For tips on what to put in your kit, please check out the main Bayou Rescue website: http://www.bayourescue.org/emergencyinfo.html

We will continue to provide updates on our blog: www.bayourescue.typepad.com.

Best Regards,

Amber Alsobrooks
Bayou Rescue
www.bayourescue.org
www.bayourescue.typepad.com
Ready. Respond. Reunite.

Houma Needs Dog Food, Other Help ASAP

2008-09-08T22:43:00.003-05:00

If you can help with donations of dog food or other supplies, please contact Leslie Matherne at 985-852-4554 or Tracy's is 985-226-4693. If you can't get through via telephone (many cell towers are still down), email Leslie at: lesliematherne@hotmail.com

Please cross post this widely!!!!

THESE LADIES NEED HELP NOW!!! Houma was the hardest hit area...it's where Gustav came onshore (Terrebonne Parish).

Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 2:46 PM
Subject: Houma Animal Rescue in need of help

First, let say hello to those of you I haven't spoken with since Katrina. Thanks for all that you did for Louisiana and the Gulf Coast back then.
.
Tracy Lapeyrouse and I, who have been working animal rescue for many years together in Houma, LA have finally formed our own 501c3 non-profit group called My Heart's Desire. And now we find ourselves in need again thanks to Gustave.

Please note that I am NOT asking for your direct help because I know all of you are either hurting from the hurricane too or you have your own needs to take care of your own animals. But, I thought you may know of a group looking to help; or, if you live in the Houma area, you might know individuals/families that might want to make a tax deductible donation.

We have about 2 1/2 days of food left. Our water is under a boil order. And we don't have sewerage capabilities.

We have about 45 animals in our care, 90% dogs. The inside temperatures reached 90 degrees and we had to buy to generators because the animals were starting to heat stroke. It costs us about $100 daily to run them.

Neither Petsmart nor Petco are open to purchase if we even had enough money to do that.

Many of you may remember us from our days working with the Terrebonne Animal Shelter in Houma. Please note that I'm now writing on behalf of My Heart's Desire, our newly formed group. Sometimes these things can get confusing in emails/phone calls.

If you know of anyone who can help us with donations of Pedigree Dry Small Crunchy Bites, Pedigree Canned food, Pedigree Canned Weight Management (I know you may have other food available but we are trying our best to keep them on the same diet to minimize intestinal distress especially since we don't have sewerage available, towels, small blankets, flea control, heartworm prevention, large crates, gas cards please let us
know.

My number is 985-852-4554 and Tracy's is 985-226-4693. If the calls don't go through, you can try texting. But, sometimes email is our only link to communication.

Thank you for all that you do for all of the animals out there that would never make it to another day without you. You are the true heroes of our communities.

Leslie Matherne
co-director
My Heart's Desire -
ministering God's grace and mercy within our community by joining pets and people
985-852-4554 or Tracy Lapeyrouse 985-226-4693 tvlapeyrouse@hotmail.com

LA Volunteers Needed from 9/7 to ??

2008-09-08T22:37:00.003-05:00

Volunteers Needed, Northshore and Southshore, Sunday, Sept. 7 through ?

ARNO needs your help. We need volunteers in Folsom (Elite Thoroughbred Farm) to help take care of the cats and also volunteers at Plauche St. to help with the dogs. Anyone in the Hammond/Folsom/Ponchatoula area that maybe were Tangiapahoa volunteers? anyone who loves cats and can help us feed, clean kennels, pet and take care of the babies until they come home. We need people to come every day during the week. There is electricity and water there. Anyone who wants to is welcome to bunk there via sleeping bag with a comfortable plump of hay under them.

On the southshore we need dog help at our shelter at 271 Plauche St., in Jefferson/Harahan area. We have 27 dogs there and after Tuesday will have 19. Walking, kennel cleaning, socializing, all is needed every day this week and today. We have out of town volunteers but they are mostly leaving to go back to work in the land where hurricanes don't exist. We have no power on Plauche St., and Entergy says a specialized out of town crew has to come to fix the giant industrial transformers in our area. So we won't have power for quite some time, particularly if Ike starts turning this way. We have a small generator that is running fans and a few lights.

Our cats will stay in Folsom until Ike is long gone. Our dogs will be going to Folsom on Wednesday to get out of harm's way. Please we need help. We lost our back kennels and tent, and our front tent and TNR area and outside iso area. We now have all the kennels set up in the warehouse. We were lent a small generator that keeps the fans running and some lights. Anyone who wants to come help make things better for the animals is welcome.

Please, if you can even spare an hour we need your help starting today. If you can help email arnovolunteer@yahoo.com. We have out of town 'operators' standing by to take your message. We need to schedule volunteers so we know we are covered every day. We only have a few local volunteers, as lots are MIA since Gustav.

Dogs/Cats Needing Rescue or Lost/Found
ARNO has a Stealth Volunteer keeping a database on all animals needing rescue, particularly in Jefferson and Orleans parish. She will pass the information to the appropriate rescue group or municipal authority. Please send all requests or sightings to pennyroyalnorwich@yahoo.com. This does include lost pets, too.

Charlotte
ARNO

Ike -- Cat 4 Headed for Gulf of Mexico, Eventually

2008-09-07T12:37:00.004-05:00

If Ike stays on his current path, he could temporarily weaken to a Category 2 or 1 hurricane. We can thank Cuba for that. Dr. Master’s, however, gives Ike a 30% chance of “wobbling”, tracking over more water than land (Cuba), and arriving in Key West as a Cat 4 hurricane. That is exactly why residents of Key West really need to get the hell out of Dodge. A mandatory evacuation is, well, mandatory. No, they don’t go and force you out of your home like they do in Cuba, but maybe they should!

The models have changed a good bit from run to run since my last blog entry. I kept thinking, “I need to do an entry” (even if it is just for me, hubby, and Ronny – even the other 4 dogs don’t read the blog), but then I’d get busy and I’d think, “Oh, it’s almost time for the next update from the NHC or an update from Dr. Masters, I’ll just wait.” So, since they changed from run to run, not much was missed other than illustrating how uncertain things can be, how things change so often, and the storms this season have been especially hard to forecast.

The waters in the Gulf of Mexico will provide just the fuel needed to help Ike intensify if he does traverse Cuba and emerge as a weakened storm. He hasn’t yet decided where he’ll vacation after visiting Cuba or the Keys.

Gulf Coast landfall once Ike does decide where he’s going is probably 6-7 days away. The 8 a.m. EDT models from the WU site range from a hit on the border of MS/AL to a hit well south of the TX/MEX border. The enter Gulf Coast needs to watch Ike. There’s no need to panic, just know Ike is out there, be informed, and be prepared. The picture I'm posting below shows the 8 a.m. models; however, by it's almost time for the 2 p.m. models. Yeah, yeah - I got busy again. If you click on the picture, a new window will open and you'll seethe most up-to-date run.

Ike Looks Like a Bully, Hanna Ready to Land

2008-09-05T11:07:00.000-05:00

As of the 11 a.m. EDT updated from the NHC, Ike is looking like more of a threat to the Florida keys. Then again, the 5 a.m. EDT update had the center line (on which we are not supposed to concentrate) hitting south Florida. I know better, but it is so hard not to look at that line! I only bring it up because it illustrates how these things fluctuate between updates, sometimes right up until landfall, and how important it is to be prepared. The first picture below shows the forecast cone as of the 11 a.m. update, with some mark-up of my own. I didn't make them up :) I used data from the WU site to indicate projected intensity. The image is linked to the NHC and if you click on it you'll get the most recent forecast track from the NHC. The second image shows the 5 a.m. forecast track for Ike.

There is still great uncertainty concerning Ike's future. Quoting Dr. Masters,
"20% chance Ike will hit the east coast of Florida.
30% chance Ike will hit the Florida Keys.
30% chance Ike will hit Cuba. If this happens, there is 30% chance it would miss Florida and head into the Gulf of Mexico.
10% chance that Ike will miss Florida, but hit further north along the U.S. coast.
10% chance Ike will curve north out to sea and not hit the U.S.
Overall, I'd give the Gulf Coast a 70% chance of getting hit (including the west coast of Florida)."

I encourage everyone to read Dr. Masters' blog. I mean only Dr. Masters' entry, not necessarily the comments by others --at least not until I have time to give you a list of the people who know what they're talking about ;).

Notice the change in just 6 hours?

11:00 a.m EDT:

5:00 a.m. EDT:HANNA

TS Hanna will likely make landfall in South Carolina tonight as a strong tropical storm, just below hurricane status. There's a slight chance she'll attain hurricane status, but it's not likely. There's not a huge difference between a strong TS and a low-end Cat. 1 hurricane.

She is a big woman, uhm, storm, & moving quickly. Because of this, all of the mid-Atlantic and New England states can expect to see tropical storm-force winds. That's sustained winds, not just gusts.

Ike from TS to CAT 4 HURRICANE in Just a Few Hours

2008-09-03T23:29:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post before bed...

It's been a very long, busy day and I think I may have 2 readers so far (me and my trusty dog, Ronny) so I haven't updated. I just had to take a minute to note that Ike has been a very busy boy himself. Actually, he flew through puberty and is a full-blown man. I think he may have gotten hold of some steroids.

As of the 11 p.m. EDT update from the National Hurricane Center, Ike had sustained winds of 135 mph and was moving WNW at 17 mph. When Dr. Masters gave his update at a little after 3 p.m. CDT, he said, "Ike will probably remain a Category 1 hurricane through Friday, then enter a period of rapid intensification to major hurricane status Saturday or Sunday" so I was quite shocked when I saw that Ike had become a Cat 3 by the 8 p.m. NHC update and then a Cat 4 by the 11 p.m. I bet Dr. Masters was, too. He is, by far, one of the absolute best so this had to be a shocker for many.

The latest forecast track from the NHC is below; however, I believe that the models that are part of what they use to make their forecast were initiated with winds of 65 knots, or 74 mph, and this does make a difference in forecasting.

The entire state of Florida and people alone the east coast of the U.S. should be aware that Ike is out there, although there are still several days before he reaches the U.S. and his track is still uncertain.

I'll post in the a.m. about Hanna and more info on Ike.

click image to open larger view in new window, on NHC site

Hanna -- Indecisive Woman, Ike -- Body Builder

2008-09-03T09:35:00.000-05:00

HANNA

Hanna is currently forecast to make landfall sometime Friday night or Saturday morning near the SC/NC border as a strong tropical storm or weak category 1 hurricane. She is then expected to quickly travel NE along the US Coast, which will mean tropical storm conditions for the mid-Atlantic/New England states.

IKE

Ike is looking really good. Well, it’s good for him, bad for anyone in his path. The storm is getting well-organized, is close to being a hurricane, and could very well be a category 3 or higher by Monday. His long-term intensity forecast and track or still highly uncertain and again can be blamed partly on a woman, Hanna! How fast she moves and how strong she is can influence Ike’s path. North Carolina? South Florida? Cuba or a move through the Florida Straits, either of which would then mean an emergence into the Gulf of Mexico? I’m afraid it’s more wait-and-see with Ike.

Josephine is so far out that we’re just going to skip her until she gets closer and more info is available.

For more details, and for a good summary of Gustav’s impact on the Caribbean, visit Dr. Masters’ blog.

***** Images courtesy of the National Hurricane Center. Click images to see larger version on the NHC site. Please remember, hurricanes to not follow a line down the center of a cone. Also, the cone is called the "cone of error" or "cone of uncertainty" for a reason. :) *****

A Quick Note About Some of the Goals for This Blog

2008-09-02T17:28:00.001-05:00

This blog is pretty bare right now, but I'm working on getting helpful links added as quickly as I can. To see the kinds of things I hope to have here should a storm hit, you can see the blog I quickly threw together for Gustav. There were some issues with the blog program itself so all updates were being done in the comments section. You can view it here.

My immediate goal with this blog is to address issues related to threats posed by tropical storms/hurricanes approaching the U.S. and how they affect those with pets and livestock and those of us in the rescue community. I want this to be a place where we can post information on evacuating with pets, rescue community needs, resource & volunteer availability, etc., but only in relation to these storms and any others to come.

I'll give brief updates as I can about the status of tropical storms/hurricanes but when I can not you can refer to the links that I hope to get posted within an hour or two.

Again, please see the "quicky" blog I threw together for Gustav to see a sort of rough draft (though w/out the weather, which I left out there since I was on a weather site already lol). There was one post to a group to which I belong that I wish was there. It was one in which I dispelled a nasty rumor that was going around, one that was hyping the storm and made me suspect of the original poster of the message. That would be another goal here, to "keep it real", to the best of my ability, when it comes to weather info and to remind people constantly to be aware of people who try to make money from other people's misery!!!

Comments and suggestions are welcome!

Ann

More Storms Likely Headed to the U.S., Please Be Prepared/Informed

2008-09-02T16:50:00.001-05:00

Gustav wasn't as bad as he could have been, but many people have suffered a lot of damage. Lots of LA evacuees are still not being allowed to return home. Evacuees in TX and LA will have varying degrees of stress to deal with this week, please keep them in your thoughts.

HANNA
The tropics are just unbelievable right now! We have Tropical Storm Hanna, Tropical Storm Ike, and Tropical Storm Josephine. Tropical Storm Hanna can't decide where she wants to go. She also holds her own when conditions suggest she should be torn apart. It is said that "the location of final landfall has a much higher uncertainty than usual", but South Carolina is the "best bet" according to my favorite hurricane forecaster, Dr. Jeff Masters of www.wunderground.com. Landfall is expected to be sometime on Friday and Hannah, as of this writing, is expected to be a Category 1 hurricane at landfall.

IKE
Next up, we have Ike. Ike "has the potential to become a large and dangerous Cape Verdes-type hurricane by Sunday", according to Dr. Masters. The long-term path and intensity of Ike are greatly uncertain, partly thanks to Hanna. Some models think Ike will enter the eastern Bahamas and then follow Hannas path, continuing up to New England. At least one thinks he'll hit South Florida, and still others think a he'll head across Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico. Again, much of that depends on Hanna.

JOSEPHINE
...and then there's Josephine. She's still pretty far out, and let's hope she stays there! Maybe she'll just curve out to sea and she'll never see land. We can hope! Believe it or not, there's also a tropical wave over Africa that at least one model forecasts will develop into a storm next week.

The bottom line is, everyone needs to pay attention and stay informed.

If you're a transport coordinator, please take these sort of things into consideration when you're planning transports. Maybe look at projected landfall locations and dates to see if you should really put a lot of time and effort into a transport that shouldn't be run for safety's sake. Personally, I wouldn't count on a run through FL, GA, SC, or NC this coming weekend. TN, KY, and other states could see some good inland flooding, too. I'm not a forecaster, and even the forecasters aren't saying that and don't know where anything is going right now, it's just something to consider and something that is common with land-falling hurricanes.