The entire city of New Orleans is under evacuation orders. I just spoke to my friend Daniel in the Bywater (9th ward). He reports that unmarked police vehicles (cadillacs) are driving through the neighborhood with SWAT team police armed with 'big black machine guns' telling people through bullhorns they are under orders to evacuate and must leave the city now.

Please call and or confront your Members of Congress and ask them to pressure the Administration and FEMA to save the people at the Superdome. You can call toll-free 1-800-643-9557 and ask to speak to your representative.

There was no way to stop Hurricane Katrina, but the chaos, suffering and death that resulted from this storm WAS preventable. Why didn’t the government organize massive and systematic evacuation? Why weren’t the levees maintained? Why were so many people left to fend for themselves?

Reports are pouring about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that hit the Gulf Coast this week; residents of the decimated and submerged City of New Orleans have been affected the most. An estimated 25,000 people have filled the New Orlean's Superdome where they are packed together in exhausting heat without working toilets or clean running water. Because a rescue worker was reportedly shot, evacuations were stopped on Wednesday. Despite the fact that people are dying in the streets, rescue workers were diverted from their work of humanitarian assistance to protecting building from looting, according to reports.

More: Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans || 1,200 People Stranded in Hospital || Hurricane Katrina Causes Unfathomable Damage in Southeastern US

[BBC Reports on the Disaster in New Orleans || New Orleans Makes Desperate 'SOS' For Relief || Links to video of New Orelans residents || Treatment of Victims Corresponds to Gov't Feelings About Poor, People of Color || Toxic New Orleans: 'The Worst Ever' || Why Aren't The Nation Guard There? || Liberal Blogger's Hurricane Relief || Network for Good]

August 2nd, 2005: Members of the North Texas Anti-Racist Action Chapter had a sleepover. But, this was not an endeavor of pillow fights and makeovers. The NTARA spent the night assembling sack lunches that would soon be distributed to Day Laborers.