Typically, we open a shelter, the hurricane happens, people hang out there maybe a week or so and then everyone goes home. This time, there's nothing to go home to.

It's frustrating to our thousands of volunteers out there every day, away their families, helping people. We never said we were perfect -- we're trying to do our best under extraordinary circumstances.

A disaster like this Katrina brings out the best in people, but unfortunately, it also brings out the worst in people, too.

People are getting more creative and sophisticated in their fraud schemes.

Right now, shelter, meals, water and mental health counseling are things people are in need of. But we're not always hearing exactly what the needs are, because we've had spotty communication with our people on the ground.

Red Cross determined that it should accelerate the receipt of funds by victims, even if this meant creating a funding gap while pledges turn into actual cash receipts.