For Blogging for Relief Day:

If you had one hour to leave your house? What would you take? What would you need? What cannot be replaced?

This is what cannot be replaced out of our house:

There are lots of very tragic stories coming out of New Orleans right now involving a loss of life so vast that it defies comprehension. There are tons of families torn apart by the storm and the levees, and in the chaos of evacuation, many many people had to leave behind their smallest loved ones. There's a heartbreaking story over at Humane Society Disaster Relief of the Rigbys, who left their two dogs, Marc and Shawn, upstairs in a bathroom. The Rigbys expected to be back in two days. There's the online friend of mine who had to choose which 2 of her more than 20 animals to bring in the car with her, and hope for the best for those she left behind.

And there are people trying to help.

Please, if you are at all able, consider donating to either the Humane Society Disaster Relief fund or Noah's Wish, both of whom currently have teams on the ground in Louisiana, trying to save lives and reunite families. Every little bit helps.

Noah's Wish also has sample evacuation plans and blueprints for emergency supply kits, by species.

Lots of folks are asking you to email in with a tally of what you did, but please don't email me. What you are able to and do give at this time is between you and your gods. Although if Artemis works with you, get ready to love on the beans and rice for a few weeks.