Faireraven echoed your post so I thought I'd clear up a misconception. Most military bases are NOT on alert. I just came from Ft. Belvoir and there is no lockdown and phone lines are clear. Ones near Ft. Hood might be on higher alert and obviously Hood is locked down but everyone else should be clear. I was at Belvoir on 9-11 so I've been through a lockdown. You can check a base's website for information on their operation status.

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i was reporting from the washington post news ....... which has been updated since.... including that the gunman is alive now...

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The Post reported everyone was shut down? Egads. Way to jump to conclusions there Post. Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was grumping at you but trying to head off a mass panic and my inbox filling up with "OMG, there's been a shooting at a military base!! Are you okay?!?!?!?!?" You know how teh intarwebs can be. :)

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yup, i subscribe to the post for "news alerts" and had just gotten one saying "all civilian bases are on lock down" in the text.

and yes, i was on a military base in California when wildfires swept trough one (not mine) and hubby and i both had panicky people calling....

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This AM one of the radio stations was saying that Quantico was on heightened alert, which I thought was odd. I was shocked when I saw that the THREATCON was Alpha and thought we were too but then I remember that A is the lowest level and Delta is the highest, not the other way around. Stooopid media.

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This is just beyond horrific. I'm sending out healing to all..
I wonder if there will be any way for others to help? I'm in Canada and would want to help however I can.

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as keastree says.. donations to the USO, the Red Cross, and other military relief and charitable agencies will be helpful
prayer is helpful
prayer is really helpful

i expect there will be more evident "things to do" when the dust settles.

of course, blood donations are always needed, everywhere. world wide. i tend to obsess on it a bit. but near the holidays traffic accidents go way up, and donations go way down.....

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Shooter NOT dead. Shooter of Jordanian descent, born in the US, an officer, and was reportedly upset about deployment to Iraq. This would have been his first overseas deployment.

The two taken into custody earlier have been released. A new person of interest is in custody.

Running out to give blood, unless you happen to be in Texas, is likely less helpful right now. They'll defer to donations taken from military sources first, which will flow in from Hood, Polk, Sam Houston, and other posts where the soldiers will pretty much run to give blood to take care of their own. There will be more than enough blood, though I am sure that The Red Cross will be happy to take extra.

Giving to the USO or similar relief organizations that do charity/relief work with the families of fallen soldiers WILL be very helpful. There will be a LOT of need to go around.

Prayer works wonders.

I am not sure how anyone on the planet thinks you could lock down Ft. Hood. It's the largest base in the US! 25,000+ people on post. They DID have schools and facilities in the immediate area on lock down for several hours after the shooting, but those facilities, including daycares and other similar, were opened back up by 8pm EST.

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sadly, since the injured have been taken to civilian hospitals.... they will not be able to use the military blood supplies as much.

you see, the HOSPITALS have given blood from their own stock..... and CANNOT replenish their civilian blood stock with most of the military donors.

reason? about half the military, maybe more, is *disqualified* from donating to civilian blood supplies
yup
every time i go in i have to jump through a few hoops, because i was in the military.... because if you were overseas..... posted almost anywhere in Europe, most of the Middle east, or Africa, for more than 4 months.. you are no longer eligible. (yes i am drastically oversimplifying)
mad cow disease, dont ya know...
we dont have any here

but the red cross lost half its donors in one move when "based overseas for a tour" (between certain dates) became a disqualifying statement

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Yeah, it sucks... There have been times i've been motivated to donate, despite my massive fear of needles. But having lived in England for several years, i'm not allowed to.

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