Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast region, August 29 leaving a path of death and destruction. With the eyes of the world focussed squarely on the relief efforts there, we are hearing alot of stories about the inadequate response of the federal government. Rather than complain, some people have decided to take matters into there own hands, and provide some measure of relief to whoever they can. One such person is Santa Cruz resident Gary McGlaughlin, a construction contractor who got in touch with some old friends in Tennesee working with the group Plenty International.

Audio: Download the mp3 (33:48 minutes / 15.5 MB)

See related: Story from the front - the hippie bus makes it through military lines

Check New Orleans Indymedia for breaking news on the aftermath of Katrina, Houston Indymedia's Katrina page and Katrina.Indymedia.us for local features from IMCs across the US. Indybay's poverty page has a Katrina timeline detailing 5 days with little federal response leaving thousands dead.