Watching TLC's coverage of Katrina, courtesy of a Red Cross volunteer's video record of her experience brought back memories of our trip home from Florida last February.  She had volunteered with the Red Cross.  After days of inaction, she and new acquaintances ventured out on their own.  All they wanted to do was to be of use to so many people obviously in need. 

When we went through the area, the thing I remember the most was the legions of church groups who simply went in, and made a difference.

One of my soapbox rants at this venue has been the oxymoron; "bureaucratic efficiency".  It matters not whether it is governmental, or large organizations such as the Red Cross.  The axiom is the same!  The "behind the scenes" people in both the Red Cross and the government made this what the Marines would call a "cluster f*ck".