Lets hope Fernley benefits from lessons of New Orleans

On a much smaller scale, the scenes from Fernley were eerily reminiscent of the New Orleans flood of 2005.

We can only hope that what comes next bears no similarity to that disaster, where promises of help were quickly made but delivered on slowly, if at all. Even now, that city is only a shadow of what it once was.

Now that the governor, senator and other politicians have viewed the flooding in Fernley, what comes next?

So far, there is much about the Fernley situation that is encouraging, nothing more so than the remarkable knowledge that no one was hurt.

The response also seems to have been quick and organized. Above all, people helped themselves and each other. Then the military delivered meals, the Red Cross set up a shelter and FEMA was on scene the same day. Could it be that the agency learned its lessons well from New Orleans? We urge our representatives to make sure that's the case and that, well after the cameras and public attention have turned elsewhere, there will continue to be help for Fernley residents.

And we urge those who are able to help the victims to do so. Through the American Red Cross, visit the Web site www.nevada.redcross.org and click on 'Donations.' They have set up the Northern Nevada Chapter Local Disaster Fund - account number 3062563352. Wells Fargo has set up an account and donations can be made at any of its branches.

Lastly, we encourage all Nevadans to learn a valuable lesson from this disaster. Unfortunately, it's the same one that came from the Angora fire ... it can happen to you, so do your part to make sure you and your family are prepared.

• This editorial represents the view of the Nevada Appeal Editorial Board.