But DO NOT take clothing to the Red Cross-- not their thing.

This is also a reminder that making a personal emergency plan is important.

You can do a LOT to reassure children when this kind of news is up-- here or anywhere in the world-- by making a Family Disaster Plan, and practicing it when events frighten them. All the materials to do it can be found at the Red Cross site-- basic checklists of stuff to have on hand and most important, having two or three places where your family would know to gather, a central person to check in with and report conditions. Most of the people now stuck in Manhattan have no such plan and have no idea how to find one another.

The Red Cross in the US is the only agency designated by Act of Congress to open and administer safe, regulated shelters in time of catastrophe. It does that while FEMA does what it does. But the Red Cross receives no government funding. A donation can be made online at www.redcross.org and it nearly all goes to providIng direct services-- statistics about that are at that site as well.

But IMO the MOST IMPORTANT thing we can ALL do today and in the weeks to come is let yourself grieve, and help others to grieve, this event. If we don't... it will warp many things we love and hold dear, now and for generations to come. There will be all the time in the world to address what needs to happen, after that.

I am going outseide right now to tie a black ribbon around our front yard tree in symbol of that. (There goes that skirt.) Anyone care to join me?

~Susan