We Confront Katrina

Hurricane Katrina has inflicted one of the worst disasters in the nation's history. The destruction and dislocation have engulfed more than 3,000 AFSCME members in Louisiana, including 800-plus who work in the hard-hit city of New Orleans. Those members face a twin challenge: aiding their fellow citizens and coping with the losses they themselves have suffered.

In response, the International has taken two steps: contributed $100,000 for Katrina relief, earmarking it as a special component of our Fallen Heroes Fund; and dispatched union staff to provide support in the disaster areas.

As a member, you can help by doing three things:

• Make a donation. Go to our special website to make a contribution online to our fund. Or write a check to the "AFSCME Fallen Heroes Fund" and send it to the fund care of 1625 L St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5687. On the memo line of the check or in a cover letter, specify that your contribution should be used for Katrina relief.
• Adopt a family. If you have space in your home, you can offer temporary housing to AFSCME evacuees. Go to our special website for more information.
• Join the fight for better relief efforts and a strong public sector. AFSCME is advocating an aggressive, public response to catastrophes of this kind. The Katrina relief itself has been a disaster in part because the Bush administration failed to heed warnings from the Army Corp of Engineers and local officials about the weak levees, and actually cut funding for plans to reduce the impact of hurricanes on New Orleans and other areas.

This tragedy was worsened by the Bush administration's system-atic dismantling of the public sector over the past five years — partly to fund the war in Iraq and give tax cuts to the rich. For the current relief program and to prepare for calamities in the future, we need a governmental response that is comprehensive, effective and adequately funded. Immediate remedies might range from special unemployment insurance for evacuees to a massive rebuilding program that also provides jobs to the people temporarily displaced. Go to our special website to learn more and get involved.