Hurricane Katrina Coverage

Here are some links in the blogosphere, and a few from the web, on Hurricane Katrina.

Lashawn Barber has some general coverage and is inviting bloggers to trackback to her if they are writing about the hurricane.  She'll be updating her post with links so this would be a good place to go for continuing updates.

Michelle Malkin is covering what I would call, for lack of a better term, outbreaks of depravity in areas affected by the hurricane.  See her "You Loot, I Shoot" for stories of looting, the most heartbreaking of which is looter's attempts to break into a children's hospital.  Also, her post "Hell Breaking Loose" describes more of scenes of mayhem and horror.

Generation Why has some helpful, practical suggestions of what can be done with looters.

Rick Moran has a post called The Compact of Civil Societies that lots of people are linking to, with good reason.  He says that, in civilized society we live by a basic agreement that I will not kill you and you will not kill me.  This compact is breaking down in New Orleans.

Jeff Jarvis wonders if New Orleans should be rebuilt.  Gerry Charlotte Phelps says it definitely should, but it should be rebuilt somewhere else. Jeff has been chided for asking the question so soon on the heels of the tragedy, and in fact while the tragedy continues to escalate.  I could agree with that, but Gerry has a few pertinent words:

While the desirability of such a move cannot be determined until the damage is assessed, still, we would have little time to start looking at such a decision.  The reason is that payments to start the rebuilding will start almost immediately, considering the need to get New Orleans back on its feet.  The rebuilding money will be almost totally committed before long.  Can we not at least look at moving this stricken, and still very vulnerable city before we start rebuilding it in a place which remains simply another such disaster waiting to happen?

She has a good point and these issues are going to have to be addressed, if not today, very soon.  I just hope this doesn't become a thing where these thousands of displaced people get caught in the middle of a game of political football regarding the issue.

Speaking of politics, does it surprise anyone that certain folks are already politicizing this tragedy?  Howard Fineman says Dems smell blood in the rising water (charming), and RFK Jr. blames Mississippi governor Haley Barbour for Katrina.  James K. Glassman responds to this politicization with appropriate ire (and facts) at Tech Central Station.

Meanwhile, leading political blogger Instapundit is doing what he ought to do at a time like this - wielding his influence to help relief efforts.  Instapundit is keeping his Flood Aid Relief post at the top of his blog.  He's also oganizing a "Flood Aid blogburst" for tomorrow:

 

The plan for tomorrow's flood-aid blogburst: I'd like each blogger participating to put up a post recommending a charity, or other action to help, and linking back to this post where I'll keep a comprehensive list of both bloggers and charities. Basically, a Carnival of Hurricane Relief. That way readers of any blog will have ready access to recommendations on all the blogs. If anyone has a better idea, let me know.

Rebecca Stark has some helpful links at her blog.

Justin Taylor is giving reports from people in affected areas, including Ligon Duncan from First Pres Jackson, and Russ Moore of Southern Seminary who is in Biloxi with his family.

And last but not least, my buddy Will Hinton at Dignan's 75 Year Plan is discussing temporary housing for victims of Hurricane Katrina.  I plan to say more about that tomorrow.