From: Liza Loop mailto:liza@loopcntr.org Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 5:02 PM To: 'brooksh@usa.redcross.org' Subject: Idea to help Hurricane Katrina refugees http://www.bayarea-redcross.org/

Dear Mr. Brooks,

I am a person of means and goodwill looking for the highest leverage I can create to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I admire the work the Red Cross is doing but I don't think rushing to the Gulf Coast personally or sending a check is the best way for me to help.

Instead I'm asking you to consider the plan for the Katrina Villages Project outlined below and on the linked web site. Most of the resources needed for the Villages are available locally among thousands of successful rural and suburban communities spread across our great country.

Today I am looking for individuals, such as yourself, who are strategically placed within organizations involved in disaster relief. Please consider becoming a champion of the Katrina Village idea and bringing it to the Red Cross. With the support, trust and perhaps even oversight of nationally recognized institutions we could create an opportunity for a fresh start for thousands of today's refugees.

Tomorrow I will be looking for about 50 skilled individuals who would be able to commit six months without pay to working on this project. I know I'm not the only one out there. I'm convinced this is *not* a pipe dream but I can't make it happen alone. Would you please contact me and/or circulate this message to anyone who could be a significant player in this project.

I'm not looking for donations of anything at the moment. We need to concentrate on infrastructure and coalition building for the first few days. Once we have developed a project budget we will begin the search for money and materials. If the Katrina Village idea doesn't catch on, I'll find some other way to help but I think this fills a currently unmet need.

Thanks for your attention. Liza Loop

Dear Friends and Acquaintances of Liza Loop,

Many of us are feeling helpless to make a difference as we begin to see the enormity of the Katrina disaster. I'd like to find a way to relieve some of the suffering of my southern neighbors. I'm not convinced that throwing some old clothes in a bag and taking them down to the local Red Cross will do the trick. I'm not confident that our current governmental agencies will be able to come up with a remedy. Sooooooo...here's my idea. It will take all of us and everyone one we can network with to make it work...

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The Red Cross does not do housing. Please contact the section of FEMA that deals with partners and collaborators http://www.swern.gov