tonado in Metaire La.

[divemaster1963]

Ha anyone heard from the people in La. . I know JP and Shaweee live near their? Looks Like it was pretty bad.

john

[sc-bee]

And Bud is down on Empire Locks..

[iddee]

Talked to JP today. All is well. Tornado missed him, Shawee, and Bud. No problems other than getting around town. many streets still blocked.

[Kathyp]

For future reference, both Red Cross and FB had ways to let people know that they are OK.  RC program is called Safe and Well and FB is Safety Check.  JP used FB to let us know that he was OK.

I recommend setting up both so that you can let everyone know if something bad happens in your area. 

[GSF]

Thanks everybody, that's good to hear and good to know.

[iddee]

Sorry, Kathy, but some of us don't use social media and some of us have differing opinions on the red cross. Some so strong they won't even capitalize the name when typing it.

[Kathyp]

Some so strong they won't even capitalize the name when typing it.

I am aware of your issues even though I do not agree with your reasoning   

other people might find the info useful. 

[lazy shooter]

I'm with Iddee on the red cross.  I served on foreign twice, and both times if a soldier needed an emergency trip home the red cross loaned them money at loan shark rates.  When being paid in the service the red cross is always there bumming money, and the commanding officer or his X/O were always there to encourage a gift to the red cross.

They are not the friends of our service people.  I give to some charities, but not one dime to the red cross.

[Dallasbeek]

Yep, I'm with lazy.  In an Army hospital, I  asked Red Cross for some playing cards. Had to pay for them., but every payday I was cajoled to contribute to the Red Cross. 

[bwallace23350]

Glad everyone is ok

[Kathyp]

Lol.  Not asking you to donate!!  I don't volunteer for them anymore.  Just giving you a way to communicate if the SHTF. 

[lazy shooter]

Kathy, I am not in the least upset that you assisted the red cross.  You helped an organization to help other less fortunate people.  That is a beautiful thing to do.  I laud the red cross for the good things they do, but I prefer to send my charitable contribution to others.  Again, kudos for giving your time and energy to others.

lazy

[BeeMaster2]

Thanks for the update.
I don't donate to the red cross either. They used to charge our sailors over seas, high prices for drinks and donuts. Saw us as their money maker.
Jim

[Kathyp]

They used to charge our sailors over seas, high prices for drinks and donuts. Saw us as their money maker.
Jim

The charged 10 cents.  they started doing it after the Brits asked them to because their soldiers were not getting free coffee and donuts and were unhappy that the Americans did.

http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/07/13/156737801/the-cost-of-free-doughnuts-70-years-of-regret

The story is true, but few know the reason.  Not all of RC services are free to this day.  Disaster relief is free, food, shelter, etc.  Some medical services are not, and loans are...loans.  At the time RC was loaning money to service members for emergencies, the military did not have a program to help.  The military did not do pay advances or help members get home for emergencies.  RC stepped in and did that, but not for free.

Like or dislike whomever you please, but at least know the history.

Personally, I like Samaritans Purse for donations.  My issues with RC have to do with deployment policy changes that I think have damaged their ability to fulfill their mission, but I never had a problem with the mission. 

[iddee]

2 things there, Kathy.
You say they didn't charge awhile ago. HOW LONG AGO?  In the Korean war, for soldiers laying in field hospitals, with their guts shot out, they charged a nickel per cigarette. A pack of 20 at that time sold for a dime at the exchange. If they didn't have a nickel, they didn't get a cig. My uncle took two 50 calibers in the gut. He told the story.

You say the military had no assistance for travel in an emergency. WRONG. The military supplied travel. The pay advance part is correct. The red cross loaned money for spending. Eating, etc.  When my father died, the rc loaned me money to come home from Germany, only after I signed an allotment to them, leaving me with 11.00 per month net pay.

In Vietnam, donuts were 10 cent each at the rc. 50 cent a dozen at the exchange.

Jim is correct. They charge outrageous prices.

[Blacksheep]

The head of the Red Cross makes 1 million plus!The head of the Salvatyion Army makes 35,000.00 so your money goes for the staff at the Red Cross!

[Kathyp]

OK guys.  Not going to spend time trying to defend something that I was not trying to push in the first place.

Iddee, the charge for doughnuts and coffee started in ww2 at the request of the Brits because the Brits were charging their soldiers.  It's in that article.

Use them or not,  I was just sharing an option.

Oh and about salaries...I love Salvation Army.  They do great work.  In size and scope of activities, they are pretty small in comparison to RC.

[Dallasbeek]

Kathyp, like the ancient soldiers, we always kill the messenger. Sorry.

[iddee]

 still love ya' Kathy.   

[Kathyp]

And I love you guys too...even if you are a bunch of old farts.....