Last week I watched a documentary called Kamp Katrina, directed by Ashley Sabin and David Redmon. The film is a gritty, raw, and painfully realistic look at the months following Hurricane Katrina and her devastating wrath. The story is told through the eyes of Ms. Pearl, an eccentric, yet compassionate local who opens her backyard to a dozen strangers left homeless by the storm. Together Ms. Pearl and the survivors establish a tent community that they dub “Kamp Katrina.” Focusing primarily on the residents and their self-destructive habits, we are invited into the community’s post-Katrina lifestyle. And with substance abuse, violence, unfair politics, and little visible assistance, it’s not necessarily someplace we want to be. 
 
The film isn’t pretty or easy to watch, but for someone who has never experienced the effects of a hurricane, I found it incredibly revealing. I watched these particular characters tear their lives apart – even more so than Katrina already had. But in the darkest moments, I also saw people open their hearts and homes with compassion. And I saw a Red Cross emergency response vehicle driving down the street delivering hot food and cold drinks. This was one of the few bright spots in the movie. It made me feel proud. 
 
Although Hurricane Katrina took place more than three years ago, we are still feeling its effects today. Not to mention that the 2008 Hurricane season –which officially ends on November 30th- marks the second most destructive season on record with $54 billion in reported damages. This of course comes second to the 2005 Katrina season.
 
Because of Gustav, Ike, and other 2008 disasters, the American Red Cross’s national Disaster Relief Fund has been depleted in an effort to stretch our assistance far and wide. This money is crucial to the Red Cross mission because it enables the Red Cross to mobilize volunteers who provide food, shelter and counseling to people who need it, whenever and wherever disasters occur. Today, the American Red Cross is actively seeking donations to raise $100 million for the Relief Fund. Even though hurricane season is almost over for this year, it is essential for us to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws our way.
 
I know money is tight for everyone now. Trust me- I have college loans, “grown-up” bills, and daily expenses of my own. But when I start feeling overwhelmed, I think about Ms. Pearl. We can’t all open our backyards to people who need a home, but we can reach into our hearts and give what we have available. So whether we can dig into our pockets and make a donation, or dig into our hearts and find compassion through volunteering, we can make a difference in repairing our Disaster Relief Fund.
 
For more information about the Campaign for Disaster Relief or to make a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund, check out the national American Red Cross site at http://www.redcross.org/preparedness/redalert/.
 
Or, for information on the film you can click here. <http://www.carnivalesquefilms.com/kamp_katrina.html>

 

Lindsey Weber is an intern with the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.