Hi Eileen! You are soooo very correct! And Johnny too! I witnessed this very thing in the '89 earthquake in California...I lost my house and I was enundated with, scoundrals shall we say, wanting to re-build. If I would have hired some of them it would have cost me thousands what the house was worth. I never saw anything like it! They were literally coming out of the woodwork! A biggie was hot water tanks... after 24 hours you couldn't buy a hot water tank within 100 miles...one guy had a source...he was going around town selling and installing these things for $1000 each and people were paying it! This will continue and they will use any means of communitcation...mail, phone...and it goes on for a long time... Thanks for doing such an awesome job of being on top of things! Julia Youngblood "The Ink Lady"

Hi Eileen, Great post. I also want to thank you for including a link to the La ASPCA. While Human survival takes precedence over all else, please keep in mind, pets and companion animals too. For a large number of folks who have lost their homes and have pets, many have had to give them up with no where to take them as most (human)shelters do not allow animals. Then count in the mass amount of animals that have become seperated or lost from their families along with dozens of others who were also injured, all have to be cared for. Most animal shelters receieve a minimum of funding and at times like these their budgets are stretched beyond breaking. So try and remember them too. Also keep in mind, they can't speak up and tell you just How much they too are suffering from this terrible disater. So Please remind others not to forget them as they give so much to us and ask for so little in return. Have a great Day

Yes Dennis, I agree, But unfortunatly it will happen. No Can't imagine the devistation these people are facing. I have to sometimes remember that it is right here in the USA. I also just relized that if the water keeps seeping in to New Orleans, that could change the face of our geological map forever. Dennis, I want to thank You for helping the people here in the USA, It is well appreciated. We will remember this,and we will return the favor someday, if needed. Thank You Canada!

Julia, Wow, You were in that earthquake, Sorry to hear that. I guess everything worked out for you by now. Yes $1000 is a lot for a Hot water tank. These scammers have no sense of compassion at all! What I can not believe, that in the midst of all this, people are ludding and shooting in New Orleans. These poor people have enough to worry about at this point, with out all that! BUt i can see some stealing to feed there families, But not to aquire things like televisions and such, That just doesn't make any sense at all. Thank You for stopping by Julia. :)

Hi Eileen. Your post is right on the mark. I have been scanning all our email addresses for the first scam mail. As we are listed as a corporation, we do get a lot of these type of begging scam emails daily. (Which is why we post them in the scam forums) I expect it will be only a matter of days before the scum of the earth try to con genuine people out of their donations to help the poor people who have been so devastated in this disaster. Johnny, your spot on with your info to, as is Julia. When I was living in the UK & mother nature threw a tantrum, the CON-tractors crept out of the woodwork to cheat people who's homes where damaged. They even used to boast about it in the local pub's in the evenings, needless to say, some of them had 'rough justice' dealt swiftly to them by the patrons of said drinking establishments. There will be a lot of that happening down south, when ever the citizens are allowed back to their homes, which according to the news this morning could be a long time yet. The Red Cross or FEMA is your best bet with any donations or offers of assistance, & like Dr Bob points out, don't forget the pet's. They cannot help themselves.