Aftermath

And Irish Americans are rallying from coast to coast to aid the stricken city of New Orleans and the hurricane ravaged Gulf Coast.
Leaders of the Ancient Order of Hibernians were planning a nationwide conference call for Tuesday night to coordinate their relief efforts.
AOH National President Ned McGinley said that about a dozen leaders would be discussing setting up a special web page and a charity fund.
Irish diplomats, meanwhile, continued their efforts to account for every Irish citizen living in the hurricane ravaged area.
As of presstime, Irish officials remained concerned about four Irish citizens still unaccounted in Katrina’s aftermath.
“We are concerned about four citizens in particular since no one has had any contact with them since before the storm,” said a Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.
“Their families at home in Ireland are anxious to hear from them.”
Some of those missing are Irish people who had become residents of the New Orleans area.
Irish officials said they are hopeful that downed communications facilities are to blame for the inadequate information on the four Irish missing at this time.
“We will continue all necessary efforts to find out what has happened and will continue to work with U.S. officials to help get as much information as we can,” said the spokesperson.
The Irish government, through Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has pledged to contribute