If you worked in a profession that was needed in the areas hit hardest by Katrina, would you go and help? I think I would. If I worked in the construction (or demolition) industry, or in the medical or other emergency response industry, I think I would go. I feel heartbroken whenever I see the people that need help knowing that I really can't contribute much other than passing out supplies and there seems to be an abundance of those people already.

So, would you go?

luckily they dont need fat, smartasses, sarcastic IT guys

Actually they do. I saw it this morning. Should I get you a bus ticket?

I'd go, but probably not long-term. I would probably donate a week.

I was listening to a story on NPR about data-recovery already being called on to save harddrives and stuff. Of course, that's pretty easy to do from anywhere.

no thanks, i took the bus from pittsburgh to santa monica before, hell on wheels

It isn't that easy.

I'm a nurse and if any nurse in my organization wants to go, there is a strict set of policies and procedures you must follow. first, you must be officially trained in management of disasters such as this (I forget the correct term, but there are some nurses who have previously taken the certification), then you must go to your boss and make sure that your current unit has the staffing available if you leave (which mine doesn't. I'm working overtime as it is trying to catch all these babies) third, if you don't have the previous experience/certification, you have to get on this list through the red cross, or FEMA or something and wait and see if they can use your services, and then go through the same process with unit staffing, and you must have enough PTO in your time bank to cover the absence.

Basically, the best thing we are allowed to do if we aren't one of the specified people who is trained in disaster management and works on a slow unit, is give money or donate our PTO to people who ARE going over there.

Even if I was someone who had the stars alligned correctly, I wouldnt' be able to go for more than a week, as I dont' have that much PTO and I have too many family responsibilities to be gone.

And another question.

Would you open your house to those in need?

visit HurricaneHousing.org

you can put a roof over someone else's head.

Depends on the condition of the harddrive and the network infrastructure.

If i was in a profession that they needed and I was closer to the disaster area I would definitely give some of my time. However, it's difficult to imagine that in these somewhat hard economic times I would be able to pay for a plane ticket or gas to go down there for a couple weeks and participate. I realize that it might make me a selfish person for not wanting to spend hundreds of dollars only to get nothing in return. Of course, I would love to help out my fellow Americans in anyway that I could but there are certain limitations.

We undestand. Driving from Polaris takes a shit load of gas. Plus the problem will be solved before you even get 1% of the way there.

As a social worker, yes. This would be a brilliant learning experience so early on in my career, trying to bring the community together after all that's happened.

Gonna have to wait for the water to go away first.

several of my parents' friends (aka the empty nester crew) are participating in this in my area. i give them my kudos.

Our company might be applying for civil engineering work in Miss.

I keep waiting for my employer to get a major call-up so I can see if I can make it down there. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll be let out of my current responsibilities unless there was a drastic shortage of help in my field.

It would have been awesome for it to be part of my job to go help.

The only thing my job calls upon me to do is to explain these fucking immunization recommendations for Katrina victims to shelter nurses.

my dad, who just got home from afghanistan last month, was sent there last week with only 24 hours notice.

i would go down and help if my job sent me.

yes, if i could, but my health does not permit me to go. my specialty is human services: children, disabled people, the elderly.

my mother is going...she is a social worker (death counseling and the elderly are her areas). she's had her first training and expects to sent out in october sometime.

i'm so proud of my mum.

I volunteered to foster an animal displaced by Katrina.

I'll keep you posted

where did you do that?

count me in on that.