Hurricane Katrina Survivor Escapes Tsunami in Japan Seeks to Help Victims

Online, March 12, 2011 (Newswire.com) - David Billiot of Hahnville, Louisiana who was in Louisiana during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina now finds himself in the middle of a panic in Japan as relief workers and charities race against the clock to put things back in order following the magnitude 8,9 earthquake that struck Japan March 11th.

Now based in Kitakyushu, Japan, the fear and uncertainty surrounding the earthquake seems all too familiar to the Louisiana native. "I remember the days following Katrina. I remember walking the streets of the French quarter to St. Luis Cathedral for a funeral and seeing the mountains of garbage piled up. I never would have thought that I would see entire cities covered in garbage here in Japan." says Billiot as he works to help raise funds to pay for meals and provide shelter.

"Last time, during Katrina, there was nothing I could do but try to pick up the pieces of my own life. This time I can actually help someone who needs my help."

Earlier today, Billiot met with Fr. Yamamoto of Kokura Catholic Church to begin raising money and to pay for meal and caravaning the meals up to Honshu Island.

"Everyone is pulling together for this. Banking and giving money in Japan isn't quite as easy as it is in the states so it is a bit slow raising money but hopefully with international donations coming in we can get the work done."

When asked if this disaster is worse than Katrina Billiot simply said "Oh yeah. A city with 18,000 people in it is now underwater. It's like Atlantis."

If you would like to help donate directly to the charities in Kitakyushu or Fukuoka, Japan please visit Japan Tsunami Relief at http://www.japantsunamirelief.blogspot.com.