Two weeks ago, after a pre-Rita reconaissance of New Orleans, I put together a list of items returnees would need and started contacting Red Cross shelters and administrators asking to have these items available for people coming back to the Crescent City (see post dated September 17).

Yesterday, the Red Cross began giving out "Welcome Home" bags including plastic gloves, hand sanitizer, face masks, antibacterial soaps, garbage bags, antibacterial oinment, and other cleaning products. Thank you Red Cross!

As Dee Rambeau noted in his post of September 30, the Red Cross has responded to criticism regarding the amount of money they have raised and their priorities. I have stayed close to the Red Cross throughout this disaster, and here are some personal observations:

* Was the Red Cross slow to respond to Katrina? No. The Red Cross's main objective is not to rescue people but to provide aid to those rescued or displaced. The Red Cross does not have a law force (troops). They had to wait for someone to restore order before they could offer assistance.

* For years, the Red Cross has been telling people in New Orleans that their plan, in a category 4 or 5 hurricane is to *get out.* They will not put their volunteers and assets at risk by leaving them in harm's way. No one in New Orleans should have been surprised that Red Cross shelters were not opened closer than Baton Rouge.

* The Red Cross does an amazing job of leveraging their donations with volunteer labor. Almost all the people working in Red Cross shelters are volunteers. Frankly, I have found the volunteers far more comforting, human, friendly, and helpful than almost any of the paid relief workers I have dealt with.

* The Red Cross has an excellent ratio of administrative costs compared to funds raised. After the scandal that rocked the nonprofit a couple years ago, they have cleaned house and are running about as well as anyone could ask for.

Bottom line is that the Red Cross is doing a great job managing the resources put in its hands. Like every other aid group, the Red Cross was blocked by FEMA in the early days of the crisis. Almost all aid that got through in those days -- including search and rescue -- had to maneuver around FEMA. The Red Cross is so good at its game that I have to wonder if FEMA shouldn't be replaced by a non-governmental relief agency such as the Red Cross?

STEVE O'KEEFE
Vice President, IAOC
New Orleans Refugee