TEMA Encourages Thoughtful Donations to Louisiana Flood Survivors

 

Nashville, Tenn. – From the Great Tennessee Flood of 2010 to the many localized disasters since, Tennesseans are very familiar with the great amount of effort needed to help communities and citizens recover from disasters.

 

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is providing the following guidance and resources on how Tennesseans can provide the most meaningful assistance to those recovering from the severe flooding in Louisiana.

 

“We are fortunate so many Tennesseans care for Louisiana’s flood survivors as if they are their next door neighbors, and want to help,” TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan said.  “Let’s make sure the help from Tennessee is channeled in ways to have the most positive impact in Louisiana without creating a burden on emergency managers and organizations coordinating the assistance.”

 

Cash donations are the most needed and effective way of helping in disaster recovery.  Cash donations help organizations avoid the labor and expense of sorting and transporting donated goods, and voluntary relief organizations use cash to meet individual needs more quickly. 

 

Relief Organizations Helping in Louisiana

 

·         Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster:  lavoad.org/how-to-help/

·         Volunteer Louisiana:  www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/

·         Red Cross Louisiana Flood Information:  www.redcross.org/local/louisiana/flood-information

·         Louisiana Flood Relief Fund:  www.braf.org/louisiana-flood-relief

·         United Way of Southeast Louisiana:  www.unitedwaysela.org/flood

 

Before donating goods, confirm what exactly is needed by contacting a voluntary relief organization working to help survivors.  A community hit by a disaster does not have the staff or money to store or dispose of unneeded goods.

 

Do not self-deploy as a volunteer to a disaster.  Instead, volunteer with an organization coordinating volunteer resources with local, state, or federal entities at the disaster scene.

 

On Sunday, a team of Tennessee fire marshals deployed to Louisiana to assist local officials with incident management, building and fire code enforcement, and the inspection of commercial and residential structures.

 

Federal officials call the historic Louisiana flooding the worst in the nation since Hurricane Sandy.   The flooding caused 13 fatalities and damaged 60,000 homes.  According to FEMA, 106,000 Louisiana residents so far have registered for federal recovery assistance. 

 

About the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency: TEMA’s mission is to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery from man-made, natural and technological hazards in a professional and efficient manner in concert with our stakeholders.  Follow TEMA on Facebook, TNDisasterInfo, on Twitter,@T_E_M_A, and at www.tnema.org.