Though I make my living in a humble corner of the media, it is difficult to impossible to predict or explain why some stories take off and some stories seem to fade away.

While most Americans are certainly aware that Hurricane Ike tore a swath through the Galveston and Houston areas last weekend, the damage and struggle doesn’t seem to be playing as prominently as the controversies surrounding Hurricane Katrina, which devastated an area with far less population. It may be that the recent Midwest floods, the presidential elections and the daily financial crashes have us distracted, but the story needs to be told, and the victims need to be helped.

I have family that has been left homeless in Galveston, so I am getting firsthand reports of the long-term damage. 

Galveston has no power or water. 

It could be months until they do. 

Toledo has many volunteers in Texas through the Red Cross; that venerable organization finds its funds depleted by the Iowa floods and Hurricane Gustav, and is borrowing money to keep its services running.

I know we have some issues here at home, but imagine having no power or water for months. Food and water is what the Ike victims need, and that is what the Red Cross can bring to them. 

To donate, visit www.redcross.org or call (800) RED-CROSS.

It may not make the front page every day, but for Ike’s victims, the disaster is very much the dominating force for the next few months, and in some cases, years.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com or at (419) 241-1700, ext. 221.