Karkosky Lends a Hand in Katrina Relief Work

Last Thanksgiving Joanna Karkosky, PTA in Spanaway, decided that the best use of her time would be spent, not in Washington with her family, but with an ambitious group of relief workers in New Orleans. Through members of her church, Joanna was introduced to a volunteer group called Hill Top Rescue.  HTR is  a relief organization based out of El Segundo, CA primarily focused on providing aid to those suffering after natural disasters.

A group of 30 people from the Seattle/Tacoma area spent November 18-24th in New Orleans and worked  on houses and schools in St. Bernard Parish, an area severely hit by Hurricane Katrina.  “We mucked out houses from beams to the floor boards.”, stated Karkosy. The group also help bleach areas (to kill molds) and board up structures to keep out vandals.  She was amazed that even after almost a year and a half since Katrina hit, things inside some of the homes were still wet and had been underwater two weeks before their arrival.  “It was unlike anything I could have expected!”

Hill Top Rescue has been helping natural disaster victims from around the world including extensive work in Honduras after the devastating Hurricane Stan hit the area in October 2005. There were more deaths related to Stan than Katrina but has received considerably less aid. Closer to home, Hill Top Rescue has begun researching how it can help victims of the Nov 2006 Western Washington floods.

If you are interested in this organization or doing this sort of volunteer work please contact Joanna at our Spanaway clinic (25.846.8918) or Hill Top Rescue directly.  When asked what people from OSSR could do, Joanna responded, “Get involved!”