The disastrous and unprecedented flooding in Louisiana has taken the lives of at least 13 people, ABC News reports. According to the Red Cross, the flooding is the worst natural disaster in the country since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Additionally, this is the second time within the past five months that Louisiana has experienced more than 24 inches of rain during a single storm. At least 110,000 homes have been affected by the flooding, local officials have estimated. More than 20 parishes have been affected by the disaster, while the areas also face power outages and road closures. The response is expected to cost more than $30 million, the Red Cross reports.
“This intense storm wasn’t given a name, but it affected as many as 110,000 homes in Louisiana and has changed countless lives forever,” says Brad Kieserman, vice president of Disaster Services Operations and Logistics for the Red Cross.
The relief effort has led to nearly 1,500 Red Cross staff members assigned to Louisiana, including more than 22 volunteers who have been deployed from the Chicago and Northern Illinois region. Additionally, around 40,000 meals and more than two-dozen shelter-and-kitchen support trailers have been sent to the area. More than 90 emergency response vehicles have been distributing food, water and relief supplies throughout the affected neighborhoods. As of Monday night, more than 2,400 people were seeking shelter at the 18 Red Cross and community shelters.
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Give Support
- American Red Cross: Help those affected by donating here. Your support helps to provide families with safe shelters until they can return home; provide clean water and hot meals; help those with disabilities; provide fist aid; distribute cleanup supplies; and prepare recovery plans. You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text the word “LAFLOODS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Since the flooding began, the Red Cross and its partners have served around 300,000 meals and snacks, provided 82,000 relief items and provided more than 45,000 overnight stays in emergency shelters.
- LSU Zeta Phi Beta Sorority GoFundMe: The women of Zeta Phi Beta’s Rho Epsilon chapter at Louisiana State University are in the process of raising $10,000 dollars to help families and students who have been impacted by the flood. They plan to donate $500 to each family or student. Visit the GoFundMe page to donate.
- The Salvation Army: Donate here to the Salvation Army’s Gulf Coast Flood Relief Efforts.
- Samaritan’s Purse: Donate here to the Disaster Relief efforts, where Samaritan’s Purse teams are working with homeowners and providing emergency aid to those who have been affected by the disaster.
- Save the Children: Donate here to the Gulf Coast Floods Children’s Relief Funds, which assesses children’s most urgent needs while ensuring child-friendly spaces are established in shelters.
- Public Good: When you donate through Public Good using the Take Action button below, your donation will be split among organizations like United Way of Southeast Louisiana and St Bernard Project.
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Give Things
- Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank: Donate here to give funds that will help the food bank provide for those in need during this difficult time.
- Second Harvest Food Bank: Donate here to help Second Harvest supply thousands of pounds of food, water and supplies to victims.
