Beyond the cameras capturing the unfolding drama in New Orleans, Louisiana is discovering the true scope of this human tragedy.

There is an untold story unfolding in this human crisis. First of all, let me state that the local churches and communities in Louisiana are stepping up to the plate in an unprecedented effort to take in the New Orleans refugees. However, it is quickly becoming evident that the scope of this effort is overwhelming. The cities, towns, and hamlets surrounding New Orleans have already doubled or tripled in population. Refugee shelters around the state, from Monroe to Lafayette, from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, are at capacity. We are not talking about hundreds or thousands or even tens of thousands of people. The entire city of New Orleans, a major U. S. city of over a million, three hundred thousand people, is being evacuated.

Neighboring states are already finding the overflow from our state borders filling their shelters, including the Houston Astrodome, which is presently turning away buses of refugees since they are at capacity as well. These refugees have no resources, no jobs, nothing to do, and no place to go. They wander around malls, gather in store parking lots, visit churches looking for help, and are trying to find some stability for the moment. They are desperately in need of the basics of life.

Although brotherly love is driving the people of Louisiana to reach out to the less fortunate from the devastated areas, many are beginning to question if we will be able to do enough for long enough to deal with their needs for months and months. Our nursing homes, our schools, our hospitals, and our churches are doing what they can, but already the logistics of dealing with the influx of humanity presently before us is taxing our resources. Many of our hospitals have already been placed in lockdown, our police departments are operating in emergency mode, and our social infrastructure is stretching to its limit.

Despite all of this, we are discovering that some things are just more important than momentary comfort and peace. Our brothers and sisters from New Orleans need us. And for as long as they need us, we will be there for them. Our civil organizations will provide what is needed. Our churches will give until there is nothing left to give. God will help us. If it takes a miracle then we will make miracles happen. Louisiana will survive this tragedy, or we will all go down together. In the past, there have been rifts between the big city of New Orleans and the smaller towns around the state concerning tax and appropriation issues. Today, there is one purpose: Rebuilding the lives of our fellow citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.