Gustav: How you can help
Got information for us to include on this page? Email us at freepress@ntelos.net.
Local dropoff centers for donations:
- Augusta Free Press, 539 W. Main St., Waynesboro, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Waynesboro Democratic Committee Headquarters, 801-C W. Broad St., Willow Oak Plaza, 5-7 p.m.
Local efforts
- AFP, New Dominion, local Democratic Committee team up to help Gulf Coast
- Virginia responds to Hurricane Gustav
- Kaine activates Emergency Management Assistance Compact
National relief organizations
Helpful links
- National Weather Service
- FEMA
Looking back: AFP publisher visits Gulf Coast after Katrina
By Crystal Graham
freepress@ntelos.net
Three years ago, I visited Long Beach, Miss., to learn more about what Valley volunteers were doing to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A local group, The Valley Responds, was regularly sending volunteers to rebuild the region.
I will never forget what I saw, both in terms of the devastation and the will and resolve of the people that I met there to rebuild. I am just hoping and praying that they don’t have to endure this a second time.
Part one: Impressions of Long Beach (10.31.05)
Part two: A Halloween to remember (11.01.05)
Part three: Rebuilding their homes, lives (11.02.05)
Part four: Life is an adventure (11.03.05)
Part five: The healing power of God (11.04.05)
Part six: Valley responds … or not (11.07.05)
With Gustav headed in the direction of the Gulf Coast again, my thoughts went back to the families that I met on my trip.
By now, their lives are likely back to a regular pace – with ballfields and schools and churches rebuilt. I’m sure, for most, the normalcy made them put Katrina out of their minds – that is, until news of Gustav hit the airwaves a few days ago. With Gustav, experts warn this could be the storm of the century.
My thoughts are with the people I met in Long Beach and Pass Christian – like Stella Wolf, who as a healthcare worker rode out the storm with her husband, and Elizabeth Fortenberry, who was operating a school out of a makeshift facility, and the Kimble family, whose home was intact but not liveable after the storm. And I will never forget Marsha and Corri Allen who tried their best to find a silver lining knowing everything they had – except each other – was gone.
It is hard to imagine that these same families have likely fled again … and don’t know what they will come home to.
As a journalist, we are told to be impartial in news stories. And yet, as a person, I came home to the Valley deeply impacted by my trip to Long Beach. The stories were real and the devastation was unimaginable.
As the publisher of Augusta Free Press, we make it our mission to invoke action whenever possible in making our community and the world a better place to live. Please join us in our mission to do what we can to help our friends on the Gulf Coast.
Gustav: AFP, New Dominion, local Democratic Committee team up to help Gulf Coast
Staff Report
The Augusta Free Press, The New Dominion and the Waynesboro Democratic Committee are teaming up in an effort to collect items and funds to distribute to the Gulf Coast region in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.
The Augusta Free Press Publishing office at 539 W. Main St. and the Waynesboro Democratic Committee office at 801 W. Broad St. in Willow Oak Plaza will serve as local collection centers. Local residents who want to drop off items or funds can do so at the AFP office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at the Democratic Committee office from 5-7 p.m.
“Augusta Free Press Publishing will work with local agencies to make sure that items and monies get to people in the Gulf Coast region,” AFP publisher Crystal Graham said in a statement.
“We want to mobilize the local community to assist in every way possible so that help can get there as quickly as possible,” AFP editor and Waynesboro Democratic Committee chair Chris Graham said.
Gustav, a Category 3 hurricane, is on a path to hit the Gulf Coast west of New Orleans on Monday. It was three years ago this week that New Orleans was dealt a massive blow by Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 storm that caused billions of dollars in damage and killing more than 1,100 people in New Orleans and 1,800 people all told.
“The relief agencies are saying that the primary need right now is for monetary donations,” Crystal Graham said. The AFP will be in contact with local agencies to get an idea of the need for daily-living items as it becomes clear what those needs might be in the next couple of days.
Crystal Graham visited the Gulf Coast region after Katrina in conjunction with a Valley-based relief effort and saw firsthand the devastation that the killer storm left behind.
“I will never forget what I saw, both in terms of the devastation and the will and resolve of the people that I met there to rebuild,” Graham said. “I am just hoping and praying that they don’t have to endure this a second time.”
College Basketball: UVa. falls in Canadian finale, 88-83
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
UVa. basketball’s trip to Canada ended on a bit of a downer with an 88-83 loss to McGill University on Sunday.
The Cavs had won the first two games of its weekend set against St. Lawrence College (107-60 on Friday) and Concordia (85-70 on Saturday).
McGill, which played defending national champion Kansas tough before losing 72-67 on Saturday, had to rally to knock off Virginia on Sunday, outscoring the ‘Hoos 13-3 in the final 3:02 after trailing 80-75.
Calvin Baker and Jeff Jones each scored 18 points to lead UVa., which trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half before rallying to take a 48-45 lead into the break. Sammy Zeglinski scored 11 points, and Jerome Meyinsse added 10 points.
“Any time you compete, the object is to win,” UVa. coach Dave Leitao said. “McGill played well, and I congratulate them on the victory. Over this weekend we’d obviously rather win than lose, but in the case of this trip, I probably coached a little differently. I was coaching to get better as a team and to find some things out. As a result of this game, we can identify areas we need to work on, and when we get started in October work on those areas to be sure by the time we get to the season we’ve shored those things up.”
College Football: USC dominates Virginia, 52-7
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Third-ranked Southern Cal scored on its first four possessions and was never really challenged in a 52-7 win at Virginia this evening in Charlottesville.
Quarterback Mark Sanchez had a career day, completing 26 of his 35 pass attempts for 338 yards and three touchdowns three weeks after injuring his left kneecap in practice. The Trojans outgained Virginia by a 558 yards-to-187 yards margin on the day.
Sophomore Peter Lalich completed 18 of his 35 pass attempts for 155 yards in his first career start. Lalich, who won a three-man quarterback battle to get the starting nod, also threw an interception and lost two fumbles in the second half.
Live Blog: College Football Saturday
Moderated by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The Augusta Free Press will be live at Scott Stadium for today’s game between third-ranked Southern Cal and the University of Virginia.
Join us today as we count down to kickoff – to talk about the game between the Trojans and the Cavs, the game kicking off at noon between 17th-ranked Virginia Tech and East Carolina and the day’s other action.
Join the discussion below.
