Canada feels the pain of the Katrina Disaster as though it were a family member afflicted by a horrible illness. And we're helping behind the scenes
and in front of the media. Here's some of the things Canada has been doing that you're possibly not aware of.
Two Canadian Search and Rescue choppers to stay in Boston
areaTwo Canadian Search and Rescue helicopters will stay in the Boston area until at least Friday.
The two Canadian choppers were sent to help the U.S. Coast Guard off Cape Cod because American officials sent most of their aircraft to the Gulf Coast
area to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
The above is commonplace apparently, with Canadian SAR / Coastguard craft taking up
roles normally filled by US craft who have been sent to aid in the South.
Canada's TV services to carry Katrina telethon Friday
nightCanada's four major TV broadcasters have announced they will all carry a 'live' one-hour concert to help raise funds for
Hurricane Katrina victims.
The program: "Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast" will be a special commercial-free simulcast on CBC TV, CTV, Global Television,
and CHUM's A-Channel and Citytv stations on Friday Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. ET.
20,000 Canadian cots sent for hurricane
reliefA convoy of 20 trucks left Montreal for Texas Tuesday, carrying 20,000 cots and blankets destined for the American Red Cross
hurricane relief effort.
The Red Cross expects them to be dispatched to some of its 485 emergency shelters set up to accept more than 140,000 hurricane evacuees.
Canadian universities open doors to hurricane
survivorsCanadian universities are opening their doors to American students affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The schools said they will admit undergraduates who were enrolled at Louisiana and Mississippi universities that have been closed indefinitely by
flood damage. Up to 100,000 students have been displaced according to the Association of American Universities.
"If we can accommodate these students until [New Orleans'] Tulane is up and running, then we're happy to do so," said Jennifer Robinson of McGill
University.
From Vancouver, B.C. to Chalmette, Louisiana - A Vancouver-based
search and rescue team is back at home after a very intense time in southern Louisiana.
The 46-member Urban Search and Rescue Team were
exhausted, but they had some results to show for their work: 119 people rescued.
Their efforts were appreciated.
"The president of (St. Bernard Parish) got up and hugged me when I came through the door," said Tim Armstrong, one of the team's leaders, upon
arrival back home Tuesday. They had shipped out on Aug. 31 -- two days after Hurricane Katrina struck.
"They all started weeping, because we were the first sign of relief effort that came in there."
..."I went to the earthquake in Taiwan and I went to New York City after 9/11, and this is much worse than both of those," said team member Doug
Smith, a 10-year veteran.
I've scuba'd with Tim and some of the SAR guys a number of years ago. A truely outstanding group of people who know
how to live life to it's fullest!
If you are in Canada and you want to help, here's how! <-- click the
link and get reading.
And some less than pleasing news:
Canadian ships may be delayed by OpheliaThe four
Canadian ships -- a destroyer, two frigates and a coast guard vessel -- were expected to arrive in the Gulf Coast region on the weekend, but might be
delayed by Ophelia.
The four Canadian ships on their way to the U.S. Gulf Coast may have to seek shelter in port or head farther out into the Atlantic to avoid another
tropical storm building up off the coast of Florida.
Tropical storm Ophelia, the 15th named storm of the season, was 135 kilometres east-northeast of Cape Canaveral at midday Wednesday and was moving
slowly and erratically to the northwest with winds of 80 km/h.
Steve Miller of the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Halifax said he expected the storm to gain hurricane strength by Friday.
Hopefully this doesn't turn into another big hurricane.
Canadian survivors recall escape from New Orleans
As the rescue and recovery effort continues in the U.S. Gulf Coast, Canadians are returning home with harrowing tales of survival.
They are among the thousands forced to seek refuge from the floods that ravaged New Orleans, and other cities, following Hurricane Katrina.
According to the latest report, there are nine Canadians unaccounted for in the region. There are no known Canadian fatalities.
Follow the above link to the entire article to read about experiences, complete lack of government, military, or police help, and the resilience of a
group of foreign tourists who made it out because of each other.
