How thousands mobilized to offer assistance after Hurricane Ida

New Orleans firefighters assess damage as they look through debris after a building collapsed from the effects of Hurricane Ida, Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in New Orleans, La. All of New Orleans lost power right around sunset Sunday as the hurricane blew ashore on the 16th anniversary of Katrina, leading to an uneasy night of pouring rain and howling wind. The weather died down shortly before dawn. | Eric Gay, Associated Press

In a news release on Sunday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that “thousands of volunteers” from throughout the region devastated by Hurricane Ida are “in place and helping with the recovery and restoration.”

Volunteers from Helping Hands arrived in Louisiana within days to help with the clean-up efforts. The Church also reported, “Emergency relief supplies, including water and food commodities from Church storehouses in the southeastern United States, have been delivered to Church meetinghouses for distribution to persons in the disaster area.” Read the full news release here.

Members of the Church have provided much-needed assistance to those suffering from the aftermath of the deadly hurricane.

Hurricane Ida home cleanup hotline

A Southern Latter-day Saints Facebook group, consisting of members who live in southeastern United States, is promoting a home cleanup hotline number to support those affected by Hurricane Ida. Anyone needing assistance with fallen trees, removal of drywall, flooring or appliances, roof or mold damage can all the number until Friday, Sept. 17 to request the volunteer service.

“All services are free, but service is not guaranteed due to the overwhelming need,” a digital flyer said.

Crisiscleanup.org

A Hurricane Ida home cleanup hotline has been established to help those needing assistance.

Church members in various congregations organized a schedule for volunteers answer calls to the hotline, another Latter-day Saint group in Florida posted.

Similar information was distributed by Latter-day Saint Facebook groups in New Orleans and Monroe, Louisiana; Tupelo, Mississippi; Boynton Beach, Florida; and Montgomery, Alabama.

“The best time to prepare for the storm is before the storm,” the Monroe, Louisiana, post read. “Let’s lift some burdens!”

Hurricane Ida is one of the strongest storms to make landfall in the U.S. It hit on Aug. 29, the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005.

In Katrina’s aftermath, Latter-day Saint missionaries and members were among many volunteers who distributed supplies and assisted in the clean up.

How can I help those affected by Hurricane Ida?

Several charitable organizations are accepting donations to assist in providing shelter, food, clothing and other essential supplies to individuals and families affected by Hurricane Ida.

• American Red Cross
• United Way
• The Salvation Army
• Americares

Steve Helber, Associated Press

Traffic diverts around downed power lines Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Metairie, La. A fearsome Hurricane Ida has left scores of coastal Louisiana residents trapped by floodwaters and pleading to be rescued, while making a shambles of the electrical grid across a wide swath of the state in the sweltering, late-summer heat. One of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the U.S. mainland has now weakened into a tropical storm as it pushes inland over Mississippi with torrential rain and shrieking winds.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3yMC07T