“I’m on week two here in Baton Rouge and I think it’s about to get worse. In addition to helping with the emergency needs of thousands of families impacted by Gustav, we’re now anticipating another mass evacuation because Ike looks like it’s heading right toward us. This storm could be even worse than Gustav. The levees are just over the banks now and this area can’t take much more rain—more water could be devastating. To make it worse, there are no hotel rooms available anywhere because they’re filled with utility crews who are helping to restore power and infrastructure. We’re working 18 hour days. I’m in charge of organizing Labor’s help for the Red Cross relief effort--and we have hundreds of union workers helping. For example, the plumbers union cancelled their training school today and we now have another 20 people helping us load supplies in trucks. Another 30 Teamsters came over today to help us hand out emergency supplies in anticipation of Ike. We’re working 18 hour days…and I don’t see that ending anytime soon. I’ll keep you posted…”