My prayers have been with the people of the Gulf coast (and financial assistance soon to follow), yet I am overwhelmed by the images I see coming out of New Orleans and other areas devastated by the hurricane. Initially, I took reports that New Orleans was spared a direct hit optimistically, yet as I watched new reports of the flooding which has struck that city, I realized that there wasn't that much difference between how bad it could have been vs. what actually happened.
Here are some links to relief agencies providing assistance to hurricane-ravaged areas:
Samaritan's Purse contribute
Salvation Army contribute
American Red Cross contribute
United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) contribute