Hey, Ellen, I love your show and tune in every opportunity I get. Watching you and your joy for life is an instant mood lifter. I am a mother of three beautiful children, 12, 11, and 9 years, and have been happily married for nearly 14 years. We live in the small town of Bridge City, Texas, 90% of which was recently destroyed by hurricane Ike. We were on what you call the "dirty" side of the storm and nearly the entire city was submerged in the storm surge. The pictures are terrible, but seeing the destruction in person is indescribable. We had over six feet of water in our home and once it receeded, left a foot of mud on everything. Even our driveway had dead fish on it! We are now homeless and face a long cleanup process. I tell you this in an effort to bring our city to light and hopefully help. Help seems to be slow in coming and the news seems to be focusing on the larger cities, forgetting about the smaller communities who endured alot also. Our future is uncertain at this point, and all we can do is take one day at a time. My children are trying hard to comprehend this great loss that has shaken their foundation. I would greatly appreciate any light that you might shed on our dire situation as a smaller community. Sorry for such a long note, but I do not usually do this. What else is a mother to do? Thank you for your time and keep up the goodness of your show!

DEAR ELLEN
First off I would like to tell you everyone in my family loves you and your uplifting personality. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE WONDERFUL LOVING AND CARING PERSON YOU ARE

My name is Kristin Navarro im 19 years old and I live in Houston Texas, home of the current hurricane IKE. On Saturday September 13th between the hours of 1 a.m. – 6 a.m. hurricane IKE changed the lives of thousands of people on the Galveston Island and numerous counties all over the Houston area. As a category 3 IKE marked his name all over southern Texas. The Galveston Island was torn apart, Hospitals, schools, museums and homes to thousands are either torn apart or floating somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. Windows from hospitals are shattered, homes are no longer standing, what was once a beautiful home to thousands and a state wide known island is now known as a “disaster zone”. More than 30 counties all over Galveston and the Houston area are either left without power, (2.7 million) lack of food or shortage of gas IKE has taken a toll on millions of people in Texas. It is very hard to get around with all the trees that haven fallen on houses and that are blocking the streets. Its also VERY difficult to get grocery’s with all the power out and groceries stores close there is no other way to get food other than traveling far to the only few stores that are open which also takes up gas that we don’t have because gas station lines are either out of gas or there is a 2 hour wait to put gas and at the time you get to the pump they say there’s no more gas! My family is one of the chosen few that are very grateful that we have power, having said that we have opened our house to our family members we now have 12 people staying at our house. Many of my family members more than 100 to be exact are without power and food and most of them are classified to be living in he RED ZONE that means that they are the last that will be helped. Ellen we are grateful that we are all alive but with the conditions over here we are truly struggling. The city of Houston as well as Galveston are truly trying there best to get everything back on track but like always it takes a lot of time and a lot of support from others. I remember when Katrina hit and Louisiana was destroyed they all came to Houston and we opened our city to them with open arms and we still are helping them, but where does that put us it seems as people aren’t making such a big deal out of this as they did about hurricane Katrina We are here and we are going to make it but it’s a big HELP when others come through and show us the hospitality that we have showed millions during Katrina. I’m not complaing im just clearing stating HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM and WE ARE HERE WE NEED AS MUCH HELP AS WE CAN GET!!!!!!!!!

Yours truly,
K.N

hello my name is samantha i love your show and have always thought you had such a possitive view on life. i am from galveston texas and have evacuated to hutsville untill ....... well if we get to go home. i have 3 amazing children 14, 11 and 6 they miss there school and i miss my home. i am not sure at this point what has happened to my appartment. alot of my friends and my childrens friends have lost everything... its very hard to think that we have lost all of our memories and momentos from our lives. my prayers are with everyone in galveston, crystal beach, port boliver, kemah and houston. please god give us the strength to get though this. please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
thank you and god bless
samantha

Ellen I love you very much. I have watched your show since day one. Well i record it now so my toddler can watch cartoons in the morning.
My father is here with me in Austin due to hurricane Ike. He lived in crystal beach Tx. Along the bolivar peninsula, that is now GONE. I always think of you when I feel upset or am happy and want to laugh. You are a wonderful person. I would love raise money to help rebuild bolivar peninsula. Its a small place that is now gone. I mentioned calling Brangelina since they helped with restoring New Orleans.(j/k) And so have you.. I just feel that just because it was a small place that not many had heard of doesnt mean it doenst deserve the recognition. Can you help me? Can we get the word out to help these people ( and people that grew up visiting there) to get their homes rebuilt...Also, I always wanted to ask you if we could set it up so that I can take Gladys to lunch. Shes great andI think it wold be wonderful. Hope you get this, I send you emails all the time. Thank you for you and all that you do.

Ellen I am a victim of Hurricane Ike we live in The Woodlands, Texas. Please help us we need ice. Can you please mention on your show any companies who have ice they can donate please help us. Thanks for all you do and the joy you bring to many.

Hey Ellen, I live in Lake Charles, LA, not too far from the Tx. coast. We were more fortunate than most, w/ only minor damage and no flooding. I would like to thank all of the wonderful people helping others in a time of need...the Gulf Coast needs it.

Ellen...How do I get help?? I was life flighted from Galveston UTMB 25 week pregnant 8hours before Ike hit...I had my Micro-preemie son within the hour of arriving in Austin.. Devin James Lanclos was born on 9-11-08 weighing 1 lb 6oz...In Austin. I have lost eveything in Galveston and am now trying to live in Austin to be near my son who will not be able to leave the hospital for months....I would also like to find my life flight volunteer crew from St.louis who saved me and my baby....I need help finding infromation..
Rebecca
alaniz.rebecca@yahoo.com