Today I sent e-mail to the cheif executive officers and heads of corporate communications for The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and the International Bottled Water Association pleading with them to drop water onto the overpasses of New Orleans' freeways NOW. I will continue these efforts until I see television coverage of water reaching these people.

STEVE O'KEEFE

FROM STEVE O'KEEFE: Today I received the following response to my inquiry of the International Bottled Water Association about their efforts to get water to the stranded people of New Orleans:

September 1, 2005

Gentleman,

The bottled water industry, IBWA members and non, have been hard at work since the first hurricane alerts and have trucks either on site or heading to the region with millions and millions of servings of bottled water. Not for heroics but [because] it is the right thing to do and a key facet of what our industry does for citizens here in the US and around the world.

It goes without saying that the industry undertakes these measures without prompting and is doing everything in our power to get this donated product to where it is needed. At this point, we, and other industries who supply relief and recovery supplies are finding that federal and state agencies cannot give specific information as to where deliveries should be taken, who to contact, etc. Nonetheless, bottler water companies have been, and continue to be aggressive in our efforts to get drinking water to communities in need. In some case, in the face of risk to their safety and security as hold-ups and robberies are widespread.

So thank you for your interest and know that we are doing everything in our power.

Stephen R. Kay
Vice President, Communications
International Bottled Water Association (IBWA)
1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 650
Alexandria, VA 22314-2864
phone: 703-683-5213
fax: 703-683-4074
e-mail: skay@bottledwater.org
web: www.bottledwater.org

Pepsi's Response:

Dear Steve,


Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at PepsiCo.

We are all aware of the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane
Katrina, however, the full extent of this disaster is still being
assessed. In the meantime, PepsiCo and its divisions (Pepsi-Cola Company,
Frito-Lay, and Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade) are working with disaster
relief organizations such as America's Second Harvest and the American Red
Cross to provide emergency food and beverages to those in need.

The PepsiCo foundation is assessing possibilities for financial support to
help in the broader relief effort.

We appreciate your interest and we want you to know that PepsiCo will
continue to monitor developments and provide relief where it is most
needed.

If you would like to assist in the relief effort, we suggest you contact
the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org or call your local chapter
directly.


Suzanne Gooley
Consumer Relations Representative
consumerrelations@cr.pepsi.com


MY RESPONSE TO PEPSI:
Your disaster relief efforts are simply not good enough. Your company needs to do whatever it can TODAY to airlift water (or Gatorade) onto the freeway overpasses of New Orleans. It is not that dangerous. It will save hundreds of lives. Until I see your brand on water on the overpasses of New Orleans, you have not done enough. You have aircraft. You have water. Do something heroic NOW, please.

COCA-COLA's RESPONSE:

Thank you for contacting The Coca-Cola Company. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

As the country is feeling the effects of Hurricane Katrina, The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners will donate $5 million to help with the relief efforts. A major portion of these contributions will go to the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army to help throughout the region. We are also offering the donation of water and other product to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We will continue to work with and assist relief agencies where possible as the full extent of the devastation in these areas becomes known.

Should you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us again.

Gisele
Industry and Consumer Affairs
The Coca-Cola Company

MY RESPONSE TO COCA-COLA:
This is simply not good enough. Your company needs to do whatever it can TODAY to airlift water onto the freeway overpasses of New Orleans. It is not that dangerous. It will save hundreds of lives. Until I see your brand on water on the overpasses of New Orleans, you have not done enough. You have aircraft. You have water. Do something heroic NOW, please.

BLACK CAUCUS AGREES:

At 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time today, Friday, Sept. 2, the head of the Congressional Black Caucus -- from Maryland -- didn't catch his name -- said EXACTLY what I have been saying here: The water bottlers have a moral responsibility to do everything they can to get water to the freeway overpasses of New Orleans NOW -- even if that means private helicopters, planes, or boats used for unsanctioned airdrops. This is truly a matter of life and death. Who will step up?

STEVE O'KEEFE
Vice President, IAOC
New Orleans Refugee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 2, 2005

BOTTLED WATER INDUSTRY PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO HURRICANE STRICKEN REGION Millions of Bottles Donated to Hurricane Katrina Victims

Statement of International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) President Joseph K. Doss:

"The bottled water industry has been hard at work since the first Hurricane Katrina alerts were issued to provide assistance to those in need. Many IBWA members have depleted existing inventories and are now bottling water around the clock to help meet the demand for clean, safe drinking water. They have trucks either on-site or heading to the region with millions and millions of bottled water servings in 16-ounce, 2.5 gallon and five gallon sizes.

"The bottled water industry is proud to assist in providing needed drinking water relief to affected areas in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. We in a unique position of manufacturing a product necessary for human survival; and we are doing everything in our power to get donated bottled water to where it is needed most.

"At this point, we and other industries who supply relief and recovery supplies are finding that federal and state agencies cannot give specific information as to where bottled water and items should be delivered, who to contact, etc. IBWA has raised this issue directly with an official at the Department of Homeland Security, who acknowledged that there are logistical problems and assured us that steps would be taken to correct this situation. Bottled water industry transports are faced with the same challenges of damaged infrastructure and limited access to affected areas as others involved in relief efforts.

"Bottled water companies have been, and continue to be, aggressive in our efforts to get bottled water to communities in need. In case after case, bottled water deliveries are being coordinated by IBWA members and staff directly with local officials and citizens in affected areas, circumventing challenges encountered by the bottled water industry when working through formal channels.

"Members of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) are reporting that more than four million (4,000,000) containers of bottled water are either en route or arrived at the devastated region. With supply efforts certain to continue into the foreseeable future, the bottled water industry without question-without hesitation-is proud to do our part to relieve the suffering of our fellow Americans."

# # #

UPDATE ON WATER:

CNN is reporting eyewitness report of trucks loaded with water on the West Bank of the Crescent City Connection bridge. They are awaiting military escort into the Convention Center and Superdome. Still, I will believe it when I see the water being handed out, but it appears that aid is just yards away now.

STEVE O'KEEFE

I am pleased to report that at 2:00 p.m. Central Time today National Guard troops escorted truckloads of bottled water into the Convention Center area of New Orleans. The National Guard is the first sign of any real police presence in five days. Order has quickly been restored.

The water being distributed appears to carry several different logos. As indicated by the International Bottled Water Association, they did indeed get the water close to where it was needed. The fact that it took days to get the water those last few miles reflects a total breakdown in emergency management leadership.

Thanks to all those who got water to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. You have saved thousands of lives and unimaginable misery.

COCA-COLA's NEWS RELEASE (Note the date)

SYSTEM PLEDGES $5 MILLION IN HURRICANE KATRINA AID

[Friday], September 2, 2005

Bottling facilities closed, hundreds of system employees displaced in Gulf States region

The Coca-Cola Company, The Coca-Cola Foundation and its bottling partners will donate $5 million to support the relief and rescue efforts in communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The money will be divided among the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Coca-Cola System Hurricane Katrina Employee Relief Fund, which will assist displaced system employees.

The Coca-Cola system has donated hundreds of thousands of cases of bottled water and other beverages to relief agencies for distribution in the affected areas.

The extent of Katrina’s impact on the Gulf States region of the U.S. is still unfolding. Several bottling facilities in the region have suffered structural damage and a loss of electricity, and others are still being assessed for damages. Facilities in New Orleans, LA, Gulfport, MS, and Hattiesburg, MS, have been closed because of the storm damage. The Company is working closely with all bottlers to help return operations to normal.

"While all Company employees are safe and accounted for, we still have not heard from many of our bottler colleagues," wrote Company Chairman and CEO Neville Isdell, in a memo to employees. "Hundreds of Coca-Cola families have been displaced by Monday’s hurricane and the subsequent flooding. Some know that they will not be able to return to their homes for months. Others still don’t even know the extent of the damage to the homes they had to evacuate. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them as they begin the task of rebuilding their lives.

"The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to our communities has never wavered, and now, when our communities in the Gulf States need us the most, I know that you will respond with the compassion, the strength and the leadership that have become the signature of our Company."

Relief Agency information:

* Red Cross: 1-800-HELP-NOW or www.redcross.org
* Salvation Army: 1-800-SAL-ARMY or www.salvationarmyusa.org
* FEMA Charity tips: www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm

PEPSICO's NEWS RELEASE (Undated, but uploaded since Friday, Sept. 2)

PepsiCo Response to Hurricane Katrina

Even before the wind and water had died down, PepsiCo and its divisions had begun community relief actions. These include:

* The PepsiCo Foundation has committed $2 million: $1 million for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which has launched the largest mobilization of resources in its history for a single natural disaster, and $1 million for the Salvation Army.
* These funds are an addition to The PepsiCo Foundation’s initial emergency $100,000 contribution to American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, made immediately following news of the disaster.
* Water is being donated in coordination with Pepsi-Cola bottlers.
* Food and beverages are being supplied to the affected area through our long-time partner America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network.
* The PepsiCo Foundation is matching all employee contributions to the humanitarian agency of their choice.
* Given the number of employees in the affected area, PepsiCo has established the PepsiCo Employee Relief Fund to help associates from the PepsiCo family of companies who have suffered severe loss. Frito-Lay has established its own fund as well. The dollars raised will be matched by the company.

MORE FROM COCA-COLA:

Subject: Coca Cola need to help New Orleans NOW
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2005 16:49:02 -0400

I'm sorry to take so long to get back to you, but our system has been focused the last couple of days on hurricane relief efforts. The Coca-Cola Company, The Coca-Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola Bottlers across the U.S. are donating $5 million to support the relief and rescue efforts in communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The money will be divided among the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Coca-Cola System Hurricane Katrina Employee Relief Fund, which will assist displaced system employees.

In addition to the $5 million donation, the Company and its bottlers have plants running continually to produce water and other beverages for donation to the relief efforts across the south. Water and product donations to date total hundreds of thousands of cases.

Feel free to call if you have additional questions.

Ray Crockett
Coca-Cola North America Public Relations

[STEVE: Reports arrived today -- September 5 -- that the gulf coast relief efforts now have all the water they need getting through. Thank you Coke! Pepsi! IBWA!]