According to every news report and interview concerning the survivors that I have seen, heard or read, the most urgent universal need is for drinking water. Dehydration is imperiling the lives of infants and small children, as well as the old and ill, and is threatening the food supply of very young babies whose mothers are breastfeeding. Also, the heat is exacerbating everyone's need for water because it's being lost in perspiration.

Besides this, in New Orleans so much water is just hanging around that absolutely should not be drunk because it's contaminated. Thirst will eventually drive even people who know better (let alone the children) to drink contaminated water even though they know it might kill them.

If you know of any organization getting ready to ship a truck, or load a train car, or send volunteers to the stricken area, please, please buy a couple of cartons of bottled water and take it to the departure point. It's desperately needed. I bet they will not turn it down. If you are concerned that there will not be room, call first.