Home  >  News  >  Special announcements  > Announcement

Katrina Disaster Page

News of photographers’ responses to the hurricane damage along the Gulf Coast.

Review Your Preparations As the TV commercial says, “You can’t predict. You can prepare.” Duplicate or scan your valuable film and store that in a distant location or upload it to a distant secure server for back-up storage. Double-check your insurance coverage; most people have no flood insurance. If the water comes in from the roof, you are probably covered. If it comes in from the ground, you need special flood insurance for your equipment and home. In your planning, consider how the Small Business Administration can help. SBA offers low-interest loans, and is likely to know about any outright grant programs that are available.

ASMP Dues Relief Fund for Katrina Victims

The ASMP National Board has set up a voluntary fund to pay the dues for members who have been devastated by hurricane Katrina. The ASMP Hurricane Katrina Fund will be soliciting cash donations until January 31, 2006. You can make a contribution on the ASMP web site, using a credit card or PayPal transfer, at http://asmp.org/news/spec2005/katrina_asmp.php . Or, if you prefer, you can mail a check to the national office, or simply call the ASMP national office with your credit card.

NPPA helps you find gas in Houston

The National Press Photographers Association has consolidated quite a bit of useful info for people who are dealing with the aftermath of Katrina and, now, Hurricane Rita. For example, it has a link to a document on dealing with traumatic stress issues. Perhaps most topical is a map showing locations where gasoline is available. The map (based on Google Maps) lets people in the area post new info “on the fly.”

Nikon to help hurricane victims

Nikon’s Professional Services division has set up an on-site presence in New Orleans to provide free repair services to photographers and photojournalists who are working around the clock and are facing problems with camera equipment affected by difficult climate and environmental conditions.

Additionally, U.S.-based Nikon is making a donation of $50,000 to the American Red Cross to support its efforts in mobilizing resources and supplies for the victims of hurricane Katrina and disaster relief workers in the Gulf region. To stimulate further giving, Nikon has also created a Hurricane Relief Fund where employee contributions to the fund will be matched by Nikon.

NPPA creates disaster fund

The National Press Photographers Association, along with the National Press Photographers Foundation, announced the NPPF/Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund to help photojournalists who have lost their homes, lost their jobs, or may have been separated from their families because of Hurricane Katrina. The money will be distributed based on need, affiliation with NPPA, and (of course) how much money is in the relief fund. NPPA members will be given first priority.

Note from Neil Alexander

ASMP member Neil Alexander writes, “All well. My wife son and I stayed in the city. Compelled to record and bear witness to the storm and our city and having a home by the river (high ground) near the now infamous Convention center. Our son is enrolled in public school in Mass. where we are living for now. I will be commuting back to New Orleans and the Gulf area to undertake a variety of assignments. I am working on a documentary about the storm which I began before it struck. Thanks for all the support.”

FEMA site lists reputable relief agencies

One of the hard realities of any disaster is that scammers will move in to take advantage of your natural charitable impulses. Before giving money, know who you are giving to. If you do not know where to send a check, consult this list on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website. Although the list is very incomplete, these groups have withstood the test of time.

Texan opens studio

ASMP member Manny Rodriguez of Dallas, TX, writes, “I have a huge studio that I can share with another photographer in need.” Members can contact Manny at batmanny@mannyrodriguez.net or at 214-748-3686.

PA shooter convoys supplies

ASMP member Jamie Eric Eisman of Blue Bell, PA, reports, “I’m leading a convoy to the gulf area to deliver water and medical supplies and clothing, as well as assorted pet products. We are 3 guys and a medic in a Land Rover 110 and a pickup truck. We’ve dubbed ourselves, THIRST AID. We’ll be working with elements within FEMA and are registered with DHS-NERR as a resource provider. We’ll provide medevac and communications as needed, wherever needed.

“We’re looking for donations of able-bodied souls (or goods) willing to endure some hardship to bring some direct aid to a few stricken individuals and families. Working as I have in the past, putting the aid directly into the hands of the needy, works incredibly well. If you know anyone with an EMT or RN or MD or DDS or VMD after their name, please forward this email to them. We would prefer to not accept cash donations … for obvious reasons. We’re too small!”

You can contact Jamie at JE2Photo@aol.com or cell 215-620-6095.

PPA establishes $200,000 relief fund

Professional Photographers of America (PPA) has set up PPA Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization. The original intent was to disburse the money collected to disaster-relief agencies. But in response to requests from members, the PPA board voted instead to provide direct aid to PPA member photographers. The fund will distribute up to $1,000 to each PPA member studio directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the PPA Board of Directors went further and guaranteed up to $200,000 for the PPA Disaster Relief Fund, as the Association continues its fundraising efforts.

In addition to directly assisting its members, PPA is contributing $5,000 each to its two state Affiliates in the area, Professional Photographers of Louisiana and Professional Photographers of Mississippi-Alabama. These Affiliates will use the contributions to directly assist their members.

To request a studio grant, PPA members in the disaster areas should call PPA at (800) 786-6277 and ask to speak with a Disaster Relief assistant. They will be asked to provide information and details including name, studio name and address, temporary location information, brief description of damage/loss, where the grant money can be sent or wired, and how they can currently be reached.

Contributions can be made by sending a check (payable to PPA Charities) to Disaster Relief, c/o Professional Photographers of America, 229 Peachtree Street, Suite 2200, Atlanta, GA, 30303. Please note “Disaster Relief” on the check.

Americans for the Arts launches fund

Americans for the Arts announced the establishment of the Americans for the Arts Emergency Relief Fund, a permanent fund developed to provide timely financial assistance to victims of a major disaster for the purpose of helping them rebuild the arts in their community. One hundred percent of relief funds will be distributed directly to local arts agencies for the purpose of assisting with their own recovery and their provision of needed services and funding to nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists, as well as to other cultural relief efforts.

Americans for the Arts initiated fund with a $100,000 contribution from its reserves to immediately help those assisting with the recovery of their local arts agency or providing needed services and funding to local nonprofit arts groups and individual artists affected in the Gulf Coast states.

To make a contribution to the Emergency Relief Fund or to learn more about how to apply for financial assistance, visit www.AmericansFortheArts.org/EmergencyRelief, or call toll-free 866-471-2787 and ask for the Americans for the Arts Emergency Relief Fund.

Blog helps locate refugee photographers

New Orleans photographer (and ASMP member) Jackson Hill set up a blog, New Orleans Refugee Photographers, where fellow photographers can post their current contact info and relate their plans for coping with the hurricane’s aftermath.

P.H.O.TO. Foundation will help professional photographers impacted by Hurricane Katrina

Members of the professional photography trade have established a relief effort to help industry colleagues affected by Hurricane Katrina. The P.H.O.T.O. Foundation (Photographic Industry Helping Others To Overcome) aims to rally industry support in the form of financial contributions, loaned equipment, extended billing and payment arrangements, and in-kind services to help photographers rebuild their businesses.

Creation of the foundation was inspired by the story of Neil Hurd, owner of Neil Hurd Photography in Metairie, La. On Aug. 31, Hurd called his friends at Zookbinders Inc. in Deerfield, Illinois, to let them know he was safe. But he had lost everything in the storm — all of his photography equipment, files and portraits. Hurd estimates it will take more than a year to rebuild his 27-year-old business.

As reports of Katrina’s extensive damage emerged, similar stories about other photographers were heard over and over again.  In response, Zookbinders Inc. joined forces with Rangefinder Publishing Inc. and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) to raise awareness throughout the industry.

“The big agencies are there to help in the immediate short term and they need all the help we can give them. This is about going a step farther with photographers helping photographers. The photographic industry is about family — this is our way of showing our colleagues we stand with them,” said Skip Cohen, president of Rangefinder Publishing.

As of Sept. 5, more than 40 organizations had already agreed to help, including: Albums Inc., Amphoto Books/Watson-Guptill Publications, Asuka Book, Auto FX Software, BIG Folio, Blossom Publishing, Blue Skies Marketing, Buckeye Color Lab, Digital Wedding Forum (DWF), DxO Labs, Eastman Kodak Co., Epson, garyfongestore.com, Gross National Product (GNP), H&H Color Lab, Hahnemuhle USA, Hallmark Institute of Photography, Hasselblad, Kubota Image Tools, LabPrints, Leaf America, LexJet, Marathon Press, Media Street, Miller’s Professional Imaging, nik multimedia, Nikon, Professional Digital Imaging Association (PDIA), Phanfare, Photovision, Photo Marketing Association International (PMA), Rangefinder Publishing, S.I.R. Marketing Communications, The Chilcote Co., The MAC Group, Virtual Press Office (VPO), WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International), and Zookbinders.

The P.H.O.T.O. Foundation is registered as a not-for-profit corporation in the State of Illinois. To make a donation by mail, please send checks to: P.H.O.T.O. Foundation, PO Box 611, Deerfield, IL 60015. The processing of online and credit card donations is not yet available. To contribute equipment, services or other assistance, please contact: Karyn Newman at PHOTOReliefFund@zookbinders.com or Skip Cohen at PHOTOReliefFund@wppionline.com.

Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Gallery launched

An international group of fine-art photographers has banded together to raise funds for Gulf Coast disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Their goal is to offer a visual and tangible incentive for donating to the relief effort. The gallery is an Internet based presentation located at www.explodingeye.com/disaster.html.

Original images by these photographers are available for viewing on-line or sharing via email. All images are offered as print only in 8x10 or 8x12 sizes. Each is available for a purchase/contribution price of $25. Each of the individual artists is absorbing the production and shipping costs to fulfill these orders. 100 percent of the contributed funds will be donated to the American Red Cross.

The Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Gallery has been founded by members of the ArtShow_Photo list group hosted at Yahoo.com. The group welcomes contributions of original images by photographers around the world to this unique gallery. By sharing the beauty of our images, we hope to lift spirits during a time of desperation and provide needed funding to assist in rebuilding lives.

For more info, contact gallery manager Peter Cohen at 732-929-8593 or Peteco@explodingeye.com.