(photo: Paula Burch)

In times of trouble, it takes resiliency and determination to pick up the pieces of a shattered existence and rebuild it better than it was before. If you have budget problems, a cash advance or cash loan can help you avoid danger and begin to rebuild your credit in the process. When it comes to something more serious – like a natural disaster on the scale of Hurricane Katrina – rebuilding is tough.

But just as Dr. Regina Benjamin did for her health care clinics in Alabama and New Orleans, now she’ll be at the forefront of the effort to help rebuild Americans’ faith in their healthcare system. She’ll be in that unique position because according to Reuters, President Obama has called her name to be the next Surgeon General of the United States of America.

Calling Dr. Regina Benjamin, M.D.

A family doctor from Alabama, Regina Benjamin helped rebuild a rural clinic there that had been destroyed by hurricanes. In New Orleans, Benjamin’s sterling work won the favor of the MacArthur Foundation. They gave her a genius grant for her efforts with the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic. That place was ripped to shreds by nature two times (Hurricanes Georges and Katrina), but Benjamin found ways to pick up the pieces.

A diverse slate of problems tackled

“Despite scarce resources, Benjamin has painstakingly rebuilt her clinic after each disaster and set up networks to maintain contact with patients scattered across multiple evacuation sites,” reads the foundation’s biography of Benjamin. “She has established a family practice that allows her to treat all incoming patients, many of whom are uninsured, and frequently travels by pickup truck to care for the most isolated and immobile in her region.”

“Benjamin is skilled, as well, in translating research on preventive health measures into accessible, community-based interventions to decrease the disease burdens of her diverse patient base, which includes immigrants from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, who comprise a third of Bayou La Batre’s population,” the MacArthur Foundation said.

Rebuilding for change

Cost cutting and addressing the needs of a diverse population are goals the Obama administration has with its comprehensive healthcare reform package. Those two qualities are things that Obama sees in Benjamin. To be able to rebuild after a hurricane when resources are scare is quite a challenge. Obama would love to see that same resourcefulness applied to the healthcare issues that will ignite the political landscape for some time.

A more active surgeon general?

(Photo: Jim Young/Reuters)

Traditionally, the surgeon general takes a broad stance on health policy. Their public interaction generally involves health advice on how people should take care of themselves, and when they should seek medical assistance.  But this time around, the head of the Public Health Services Commissioned Corps could be taking a more active role in pushing for the changes President Obama wants.

The critics are going to talk

Sure, the critics of Obama’s health plan are out in full force. They’re afraid that when the government takes over the system, they aren’t going to have any choice in the matter of what doctors and hospitals they can use. However, the president has continually assured that if people are satisfied with their current health care plan, they will be able to keep it. This is for the underinsured and uninsured, primarily. And none of this suggests in any way that Regina Benjamin is not qualified for the position. If she dug her way out of Katrina with a cash advance here or a cash loan there, I think she’s more than qualified to take the lead for Americans.

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Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt is on the move, trying to raise awareness of the lasting repercussions of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and you should be aware that payday loans can be an aid when a natural disaster hits. Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana over three years ago, but life in New Orleans still has not returned to normalcy. Lower Ninth Ward, the New Orleans neighborhood hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina remains in shambles; much of the Lower Ninth Ward is still uninhabited and unlivable. Brad Pitt and many others are fighting to rebuild New Orleans into the city it once was, with or without payday loans.

Pitt Appears on Ellen DeGeneres Show and Larry King Live

With an ever-increasing bombardment of advertising and marketing stimuli, Americans are difficult to connect with, especially when it comes to community outreach and charity. America’s indifference is why having a celebrity spokesperson, and one that truly backs up the cause, is so essential to getting Americans to take action. A spokesperson like Brad Pitt can grab a lot of attention. Brad Pitt appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show today via satellite from the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. Brad Pitt will also be featured on Larry King Live tonight. So what’s all the fuss about? Why all the TV appearances? Brad Pitt is championing an effort to build affordable homes in New Orleans. Brad Pitt is telling Ellen DeGeneres, Larry King, and America the significance of the Make It Right Project.

Make It Right Project

Make it Right Project

The Make It Right Project is a plan to build 150 new homes in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward. Brad Pitt expects families will be in these new homes by the end of summer 2009. However, Brad Pitt cannot complete this project on his own, and contrary to popular belief, the houses constructed with the help of Make It Right are not free. Pitt described Make It Right as an adopt-a-house campaign. These houses cost money, and that’s why Pitt is asking for help from all Americans. Pitt has already donated $5 million of his own money, but he is also asking for donations from anyone who can afford to help, including foundations, well-off individuals, churches, and corporations. One eco-friendly house costs just $150,000 because Make It Right is committed to building homes that are affordable, sustainable, and true to the culture of New Orleans. As of today, 86 of the 150 homes have been sponsored.

A Little Help from Your Friends

Three years ago, Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans. Three years. The people of New Orleans’ desperately need our help because three years is far too long to wait for a new home. You wouldn’t wait three years for help, so why should the residents of the Lower 9th Ward? It’s simply unacceptable. A need is a need, and most needs are immediate. What would happen if you faced an emergency or natural disaster and you needed money to cover costs right away? Three years wouldn’t cut it, and neither would one day. An emergency requires fast action, so if you find ever find yourself in need of quick cash, more often than not, you can have payday loans direct deposited into your account by the end of the day.

Victims and evacuees of the California wildfires are seeking refuge from the flames, and they should know quick payday loans are a valuable resource in times of emergency. There’s never enough warning to prepare for the destruction left in the wake of a natural disaster. In most situations, you have to come up with quick solutions as to what items you will take with you when you evacuate and where you will evacuate to. Quick payday loans are the quick solution to the unexpected costs associated with natural disasters.

State of Emergency Declared

California wildfires have destroyed more than 700 homes

High winds up to 70 miles and hour are to blame for the spread of the Southern California wildfires. The fires have destroyed more than 700 homes, and they could continue burning through the middle of this week. Damage has been done from Santa Barbara to Anaheim, with Los Angeles taking the brunt of the devastation; over 500 homes were lost in Sylmar, a district of Los Angeles. California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, declared a state of emergency in the four counties affected by the fires.

Not a Californian?

It is easy to sit back and watch when another part of the country is being ravaged by a natural disaster. If you weren’t in Louisiana or the surrounding areas when Hurricane Katrina hit, it’s likely that it didn’t even feel real to you. If you’re not a Californian, you may be indifferent to the situation because in reality, the fires probably don’t affect your life directly. However, every part of the nation has the potential for natural disasters. Earthquakes and tsunamis are a threat to the West Coast, tornados and snow storms frequent the Midwest, and hurricane season often takes a toll on East Coast and southern states. With that being said, emergency preparation is essential, no matter where you live.

Anyone and Everyone

Natural disasters do not discriminate between income, race, gender, age, or religion. When disaster hits, it hits hard, and it hits everyone. The California wildfires burned trailers and mansions alike; celebrity neighbors of Oprah Winfrey even lost their homes. Anyone and everyone can be affected by Mother Nature, which means everyone needs to be prepared. The United States Department of Homeland Security has great tips on how to prepare you and your family for impending natural disasters. Some of the tips for emergency preparation are having a plan and getting an emergency kit with food and water.

Additional Preparation

Not only is it important to be prepared for an emergency with water, food, and other survival basics, it’s also necessary to have a financial plan. Emergencies are one reason to have a well-established savings account. However, in economic times like these, it’s safe to assume that your budget is already stretched to the max and your savings account is dwindling, or even non-existent. Your financial plan may need a backup plan. That’s where quick payday loans come in. When an emergency or natural disaster comes your way, quick decisions on how to cover costs are required. If you need help to get you through an emergency, quick payday loans are available at your convenience.