Going to the Gulf?

I have been watching the coverage for days now and I'm becoming increasingly convinced that the scale of the disaster and the lack of preparedness has left our relief agencies overwhelmed.

Everyone says that private citizens should not try to get into the affected zone.  But this is basically the coastal region of three states!  They can't close down the whole thing, nor can they really provide aid to all of it.

I want to go.

I'm a grad student in public health.  I know that won't mean a whole lot but it might be SOMEWHAT useful.  I have my own vehicle and I can leave tomorrow, but would prefer Saturday.

But I need money and, if possible, manpower.  Like I said I'm just a student.  I have a few hundred dollars to contribute, as well as the use of my car, and I may be able to organize some friends.

I'd love to go with an aid agency, but everyone's saying they'll only send experienced volunteers.  Fine, but that bottleneck clearly hasn't been working for those agencies.

I know New Orleans is locked down, but the whole Gulf needs help.  I grew up less than 100 miles from Tampa so this hits me hard... a few degrees off and it could have been my family and friends starving in a convention center.  When government fails, it's up to the people to help each other.