MAYOR MACK ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO HELP IN DISASTER RELIEF

Posted on: October 30, 2012

Mayor Melvin Mack and the City of Laurel have received phone calls from concerned citizens asking how to get involved in disaster relief efforts after the effects of Hurricane Sandy along the East Coast. The Laurel Chapter of the Red Cross has already deployed Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV), four staff and several volunteers. Our local chapter of the Red Cross in working with other chapters from the Mississippi Region and are responding to the disaster in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. 
“We had such a tremendous response after Hurricane Katrina from our neighbors in the North, especially from Laurel, Maryland, that we want to be able to help out when they need our help.” said Mayor Mack.

Residents are urged to help Mississippi Volunteers on the Ground by giving to the Red Cross Disaster Relief.  Visit www.mississippi-redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to our local Laurel Red Cross chapter located at 401 West Oak Street in Downtown Laurel.

“Right now, the best way people can help is by donating money to the Red Cross. It will make the biggest and most immediate impact.” said Martha Duvall, Communications Officer for Red Cross – East Central Mississippi.

Nearly 11,000 people spent Monday night in 258 Red Cross shelters in 16 states – New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Indiana and Michigan.

“This will be a large, costly relief response, and the Red Cross needs help now,” said Sandra Hodge, CEO, Red Cross Mississippi Region. “People in Mississippi can help by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief online, by text or by phone.”

Other agencies helping in the disaster relief efforts are: 

The Salvation Army has dozens of mobile feeding units and shelters along the East Coast that are working to serve thousands in the most heavily hit areas. Visit www.salvationarmyusa.org to donate.  

Feeding America has thousands of pounds of emergency food, water and supplies in the disaster zone that it is working to distribute to the storm’s victims. To donate, visit www.feedingamerica.org or call 800-910-5524. 

AmeriCares is providing medicine and other supplies to people affected by Hurricane Sandy. To donate, visit www.americares.org.

World Vision is distributing flood clean-up kits, personal hygiene items and emergency food kits to people hit by the hurricane. To donate, visit www.worldvision.org.

Save the Children is also working to provide relief to families and their children. Visit www.savethechildren.org to donate. 

Samaritan’s Purse is asking for volunteers to help storm victims. To volunteer, visit their website.