As the US authorities struggle to organise the huge rescue and recovery operation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, numerous online resources have sprung up, writes Rosalind Ryan.
Those trying to trace missing friends and family members have a number of online resources that can help. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), which coordinates the national response to natural disasters, has a national next of kin registry. If you believe your relatives have gone missing in the disaster, you can register their details in case they are found.
To check if your loved ones may already have been rescued, CNN has a safe list which is regularly updated. Yahoo's Katrina message board also has links to found lists from the majority of towns affected by the disaster.
Gulf Coast News has links to various rescue organisations in the region with survivor information, while the website findkatrina is devoted to finding those missing in the wake of the hurricane.
If you know your friends or relatives were in New Orleans, you can post details about them on the New Orleans Times-Picayune site or search for information about them on the "lost and found" section of craigslist New Orleans.
The American Red Cross has launched the Hurricane 2005 relief operation. Click here to make a donation. Online communities are also helping to raise funds and awareness of the disaster with a "blog for relief" weekend. Bloggers pick their favourite charity and encourage readers to sign up too. Glenn Reynolds at blog Instapundit has compiled a huge list of charities suggested by other bloggers. Fema also has a list of organisations you can donate to.
Those living near affected areas who want to help can offer temporary housing for evacuees. Register your home with craigslist or on hurricanehousing.
Even if you don't have a home to offer, you can give still blood to aid the relief operation. The America's Blood Centre has details of where to go and donate.
