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Anytime I try to make bread it's a disaster, including the time I turned the oven on forgetting that the pizza box from the night before was still in there!

Let me be blunt here. SEND MONEY.
If you don't know anyone in the area I would suggest a donation to the Salvation Army. I've seen them in action after Camille on the Mississippi Gulf coast and here in New Orleans after Katrina. They do wonderful work and they spend less of their money on administration than most charitable organizations., so needy people get more from your money.
If you know someone in the affected area, do not be shy. Send them money directly. They may have lost everything they own. I spent a lot of time in big box stores in Kansas buying basics like underwear and socks and T-shirts Post-Katrina because we evacuated with about three days worth of clothes. Five weeks on the road put a lot of stress on my credit cards. Money was most welcome.
When they are able to return home and receive packages, find out what is difficult for them to purchase and send them care packages. Few stores will be open and supplies will be short. The only time I cried Post Katrina was when I opened a package from my sister-in-law containing socks, books, and personal care items.
Also, please remember they will need help for a very long time.

I do not stockpile anything because I evacuate. During the height of Hurricane season (Aug. & Sept.) we eat as much as possible from the freezer and the pantry so that we actually have very little food left. This is because before we leave we empty the refrigerator and freezer and prop the doors open to prevent mold from growing. Trust me, you do not want to see what happens inside a fridge that has been sitting for five weeks before you can get to it.
When I flee for my life I take a Huge thermous of coffee and a large can of nuts. That's what I live on while driving. Eating makes me tired and you may be driving for 15 hours or more. The coffee keeps me awake and the peanuts keep my blood sugar stable.
In the trunk is a large variety of Liquor and wine, so that when I reach my destination I can drink myself silly while watching TV and hoping to hear some good news.
Good luck Texas. I feel for you.

I like Paul Prudhomme's recipe from "Louisiana Kitchens". I use converted rice because that's what he recommends. It the only time I use converted rice and it does make a difference. I can't tell you how many jambalayas I have eaten with either lumpy, mushy, or undercooked rice. It is always perfect with converted.

This is the closest I could find to the original commercial.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DrIAhWP7cA
In 1984, after living upeast for a year,I found a Popeye's in Philadelphia. I ran in, jumped up and down,and sang the jingle. I am amazed no one called the cops. It was a taste of home.

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My biggest baking success was making cinnamon buns.

I like to try different candy recipes during the Christmas Holidays, so a few years ago, I found a recipe for homemade cherry chocolates. They were easy to make and tasted great, so I made a lot of them, for family and friends. Now, every Christmas they all want more of them, lol, which is fine, with me, they are easy to make and you can make them early in the season. They improve with age.

Biggest success is when I make my Candy Bar Cheeskcake. Always turns out perfect. I have never had any horrifyingly bad experiences. So far, so good (knock on wood).

My biggest baking success was the Baed Alaska I baked for my husband's second anniversary.