When New Orleans officials issued a mandatory evacuation order, some speculated at the time that about eighty percent of the residents of The Big Easy had already fled ahead of Hurricane Katrina's arrival.  Now as rescue and recovery operations continue, the scale of the displaced evacuee situation is starting to be calculated.  It is estimated that up to one million people are scattered across the country because of Hurricane Katrina.

It's very good news that more Department of Defense (DoD) assets and personnel have arrived on scene.  In New Orleans, many tens of thousands of people have already been rescued and relocated to Red Cross shelters in nineteen states, but twenty thousand more people could still be hunkered down in individual homes and apartments.  Baton Rouge has instantly replaced New Orleans as the most populous city in Louisiana because of Katrina.  Officials in Texas alone report that they have received over 200,000 evacuees.

With about one million evacuess scattered to the wind in the chaotic environment caused by Katrina, finding loved ones is a problem that is now being addressed on a large scale.  While the news outlets poignantly report some feel-good, human interest stories of a few individual families being reunited to raise the mood of their viewers, other private and public organizations are creating real methods for people to reconnect with each other in the aftermath of Katrina.

If you evacuated before Katrina hit and you are somewhere safe, check these sites and register with the Red Cross so people looking for you will know you are okay.  If you are looking for neighbors, friends, and loved ones that may have been evacuated to a shelter, check the list often as the Red Cross is continually updating it.

Red Cross Family Links Registry  or call 1-877-568-3317

Here are some other helpful sites from various organizations in the area where you can read messages, leave messages, and simply get more information about specific areas affected by Hurricane Katrina:

NOLA.COM - Help, evacuee forums, photos and news for New Orleans.
WWL TV - Help, forums, photos, live stream and news for New Orleans.
CNN Safe List - Alphabetical listing with evacuee status.
NOKR.ORG - The National Next Of Kin Registry
WLBT.COM - News, forums, housing and helpful info for Mississippi.
Clarion Ledger - Great section for help and info for Gulf Coast residents.
Sun Herald - News, evacuee forums, helpful info for South Mississippi.

If you find some helpful info on other sites not listed here for the Where's Waldo evacuee situation, please leave a comment with the web address (URL) in the comment form.

Some of the web sites listed above have links concerning long term housing.  Here is an inital list of websites dealing with housing:

Craig's List - Katrina section
Hurricane Housing
Katrina Housing
Home Flood Forums
Open Your Home

If you have housing available or are looking for housing, check those websites.  If you find additional web sites with housing information, please leave a comment with the web address (URL).



I also wanted to mention something of urgent need for the evacuation centers.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has put a call out for medical professionals of all disciplines and relief workers to register and volunteer.  [Secure Volunteer Registration Form]

Also, Noah's Wish has updates and important information concerning pets left behind.








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