National Black Nurses Association, Inc.

8630 Fenton Street, Suite 330, Silver Spring, MD  20910  •  Phone: (301) 589-3200 • Fax: (301) 589-3223

September 16, 2008

Dear NBNA Members,

I write this letter with a saddened heart.  Please keep our members and their families as well as others affected by the hurricanes in your thoughts and prayers.

Many of our members have experienced personal challenges due to the recent hurricanes that have swept across their cities and states.  While things appear to be quiet, I have been informed that many of our members were under mandatory evacuation and are without power.  Members in the Houston, Galveston, Port Arthur, Beaumont and surrounding areas have not been able to return home due to the major damage of those cities.  An account from one member was that Galveston members have lost everything.  Please know that many phone lines are not working; and for some cell phones circuits are busy making it difficult for members to communicate with each other.  

Our New Orleans members are returning to their homes and making attempts to resume a normal life.  Many of them were active in ensuring that residents of the city were safe and out of harms way. 

Let’s give our full support and encouragement to our courageous members during this very difficult time.  Keep them lifted up in prayer.  As soon as we know the extent of the damage to our members and what our NBNA members can specifically do to help, more specific information will be sent to you.  If anyone has additional information please contact the NBNA National Office. 

Sincerely,

Debra A. Toney

Debra A. Toney, PhD, RN

President