Hurricane Wilma
October 24, 2005

Harry Kelton called in to say that the storm (Wilma) has passed Pelican Harbor in Miami. He's pleased to say that they sustained no damage and everyone is fine. Of the three pelican nests on the outside of the
facility, only the one located in a low scrubby tree was lost. The three hatchling birds in another nest can be seen under their mother.

Hurricane Rita Reports
November 5, 2005

Name: Suzy Heck
Organization: HECKHAVEN
Report: Dear All - we are finally back on line - got electricity & phone yesterday (boy it is so good to have a "hot" shower after almost a month of no hot water.
So many of you I have to thank - but will save that until later when I can gather my thoughts - but to all of you a big "thank you" for your help, thoughts and prayers. Without Caroline - who really got the ball rolling, Leslie, Lloyd and his team, and so very many of you - we would be without hope.
We were wiped-out - trees down on house, center and all cages & pens. Flood was 26" in the house, but we only lost our two beloved, old Pot Belly pigs - no wildlife or any others.
We are living in a mobile home on the property and have had most of the downed trees removed and the house/center is gutted and de-molded.
We are getting in many wildlife that have been "displaced" by the storm and hope to relieve Leslie of all she kindly took from us, sometime this week-end.
We will rebuild (if we can just get the Ins. Company to pay up). Oh hell, we will rebuild anyway - any way we can.

September 28, 2005

Louisiana:
Suzy Heck, HeckHaven, Lake Charles: Suzy and her mother were trapped in their attic until floodwaters subsided. Their home and center have suffered extensive damage from debris and 3 1/2 feet of water. Enclosures and caging were largely destroyed, and we were very sorry to learn that many animals perished. Suzy and her mother are doing well, and have relocated to a neighbor's for the time being. Beau Gast and a team from HSUS are transferring all surviving animals to Leslie Lattimore, Wings of Hope Wildlife Sanctuary today. We have had many emails from rehabilitators who are anxious to help; the outpouring of concern from our community is truly inspirational. Once those onsite have completed evaluations, we will update you on the supplies and assistance requested via the ‘Requests for Help’ area. Many thanks to Caroline Norton (who remains Suzy's lifeline), Beau Gast and Leslie Lattimore of LAWRA, Matzo, HSUS NDART, Noel Thistlethwaite and everyone who was and is involved in this effort.

Tammy Corley, New Iberia: Update. Tammy had evacuated due to flooding, but yesterday evening we learned that her situation had changed and was beginning to appear critical. We immediately alerted NDART and LAWRA. LAWRA contacted Gina Stanton (Wildlife in Distress, Lafayette), who will focus on evacuating the animals. We will update this situation when we receive confirmation that they have all been moved to safety. Many thanks to Gina, Beau (LAWRA), and Lloyd Brown.

LAWRA members are also attempting to contact the following rehabilitators:
Margaret Chancey (Houma); Debbie Cole (New Orleans); Pamela Evans (Slidell); Dina Jensen (Meraux); Pepper Lumina (Doyline); L. Tashia Montet (Morgan City); Christie McShan (Broussard); Edie Murdoch (New
Orleans); Tim Schexnaydre (Convent); Victoria Sons (Morgan City); Crystal Thieleppe ( Morgan City); Louise Waltzer (Kenner); Alex Wiecz (Covington); Kathy Wilson (Mansfield).
Anyone who has heard from or knows the whereabouts of any of these rehabilitators is urgently requested to call LAWRA at 225-698-6259.

Texas:
Emily Jayroe, Houston: Emily wrote to say they had no more than an inch of rain and a lot of wind. She and her animals are fine; she is able to take animals (see help available list).

Diana Orr, Frisco: Diana reports only some rain and 20-30 MPH winds in Frisco; she is taking animals, and has admitted cottontails and two domestic geese (see help available list).

Elaine Peterson Long, Houston: Elaine and all the animals are fine. They had high winds and the electricity was off for 15 hours in her area, but only have a bit of debris to clear.

IWRC Katrina Reports
September 20, 2005

Alabama
There have been no reports of serious damage to wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Alabama. The Wildlife Center in Pelham (http://www.awrc.org/) is coordinating efforts to assist those who are requesting help and affected wildlife, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Louisiana
It has not been possible to make contact with all rehabilitators and centers in Louisiana. The Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (LAWRA) is asking anyone who knows the whereabouts of Louise Waltzer (Kenner), Debbie Cole (New Orleans), Margaret Chancey (Houma) and Alex Wiecz (Covington) to please contact LAWRA immediately at 225-698-6259.

Some rehabilitators in Baton Rouge and northwest Louisiana are reported to be fine, with little to no damage to facilities. HSUS NDART team member and wildlife rehabilitator Lloyd Brown rescued and transported a white pelican to Leslie Lattimore, Livermore. Leslie was without electricity and trapped by floodwaters during the worst part of the crisis, but her facility was not damaged. According to Lloyd, the pelican, plucked from the coast southeast of New Orleans, was exhausted and weak, its feathers saturated with oily, contaminated water. Now that the bird is in Leslie's capable hands, it is expected to make a full recovery.

Lloyd and other colleagues report that The Clearwater Wildlife Center (Covington) has sustained heavy damage; thankfully, there were no human injuries, and wildlife were safely evacuated and transferred to volunteers' homes.

The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine did not sustain damage. Hundreds of young squirrels were brought to the facility after the hurricane, and were placed with trained volunteers. The LSU Ag Center has set up an emergency animal shelter at the John M. Parker Coliseum. http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu

Heckhaven Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Lake Charles
Charitable status, 501(c) (3)
Suzy Heck is safe and well in southwest Louisiana. The center is fully operational, and is accepting wildlife and exotics that were impacted by Katrina. Suzy writes that they have admitted less wildlife than expected (a few raccoons, bunches of squirrels), but are receiving many exotics (ferrets, guinea pigs, etc.).

Contact:
Suzy Heck, Heckhaven Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
6927 Starboard Drive
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70605
Phone: (337) 477-6129
Email: suzy@heckhaven.com
Website: http://www.heckhaven.com

Mississippi

Wildlife Care and Rescue Center, Inc (WCRC), Biloxi
Charitable status, 501(c) (3)
WCRC director Alison Sharpe and her three grandchildren escaped injury, but their home and WCRC's rehabilitation clinic (located on the same property) sustained serious damage. The house was destroyed, and while the small clinic area was not damaged, everything else was lost. WCRC had about 30 cages, of which only three remain. Some cages were at volunteers' home sites; these volunteers also lost everything but the clothes on their backs.

Alison and three friends/volunteers are currently staying in a one-bedroom house, where they are making do with what they have. They are extremely grateful to fellow rehabbers for the support and donations that have allowed them to continue their work on a limited basis. They are presently able to handle only a number of small animals; the squirrels, opossums and birds in care are housed in kennels and small cages. While they have been able to store donated supplies at a friend's home, space is severely limited at this time. Lloyd Brown checked up on Alison and WCRC. He suggests that because storage is difficult, monetary donations are the most practical way to help.

The volunteers are still removing debris (including some 50 fallen trees) from the property; Alison hopes that FEMA will provide her and her grandchildren with a mobile home on site, so that they may begin to rebuild their lives.

If you can help, please contact:
Alison Sharpe
Wildlife Care & Rescue Center
PO Box 4424
Biloxi, MS 39535

Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society, Inc. (WRANPS), Long Beach
Charitable status, 501(c) (3)
The WRNAPS center in Harrison County was destroyed; Lloyd Brown, Julie Liberante (executive director) and volunteers spent days assessing damage and attempting to clear debris. They have acquired a prefabricated steel building that will become the new center, but are without the resources to pour the concrete slab foundation and complete the facility. Cash donations are urgently needed.

If you can help, contact:
WRANPS
PO Box 209
Long Beach, MS 39560

Note: mail only.