Coast organizations get relief efforts underway for towns impacted by tornado
Coastal organizations and cities are helping provide some relief to those impacted by the tornado in Mississippi.
Relief efforts are underway for the cities impacted by a tornado on March 24th. The Salvation Army is sending a mobile canteen to help feed people a hot meal after their lives were turned upside down.
Volunteers will work for two weeks before reassessing the need. Major Jerry Friday explains how well-equipped these volunteers are. “These individuals have had serve-safe training, they’ve had canteen operations training, they’ve had spiritual and emotional care training. So, that takes place throughout the year. So, when a disaster strikes, we immediately start contacting all of the individuals in our database that have been trained and say ‘Can you go?'”
Once there, the Salvation Army will assess the needs of the community and help with efforts to get clothing, hygiene supplies, and more.
As the Salvation Army gets ready to do what it does best, communities are coming together to help. Cities across the coast are collecting everything they can for people in need.
The City of Gulfport has collected over 600 cases of water to deliver to Amory, Mississippi. The Gulfport Fire Department will drive this water up to Amory on Tuesday. Gulfport Fire Chief Billy Kelley said, “It could possibly be us any day, any hurricane season, any flood can happen right here at home. And the people are aware of that. The citizens here know what it was like after Hurricane Katrina when people came and helped us. So, we always try to pay it forward.”
While there, the fire department also plans to gauge the need so they can continue to collect items that are necessary.
Other drop off locations around the Coast include:
- BILOXI FIRE STATIONS: non-perishable food items, water, and basic necessities.
- PASCAGOULA SENIOR CENTER: diapers, toiletries, bottled water, and canned goods.
- GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI: canned goods, bottled water, paper products, diapers, and toiletries until Thursday.
- 213 KLONDYKE ROAD, LONG BEACH, MS AND OCEAN SPRINGS FIRE STATION NO. 1: cleaning supplies (soap, bleach, and gloves), yard tools, plastic totes w/lids, 5-gal buckets w/lids, trash cans, flashlights/batteries, emergency candles, duct tape, carpenter’s, aprons, hand-held tools, clotheslines/pins, rain ponchos, sunscreen, blankets, generators, grills, matches – lighters, charcoal briquettes
- D’IBERVILLE FIRE DEPARMTMENTS AND BAY ST. LOUIS FIRE DEPARTMENT: High visibility vests for workers/ volunteers; Water (cases & 2–5-gallon jugs); Batteries of all sizes; Basic Cleaning supplies (bleach, disinfectant, dish & laundry detergent); Paper towels; Garbage cans & bags; Duct & electrical tape; Tarps of various sizes; Candles & lamp oil; medical supplies; Diapers & wipes; Sunscreen; and 2-cycle oil for chainsaws.
- EAST JACKSON COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: water, nonperishable items, cleaning supplies (bleach, gloves, etc.), feminine products, baby supplies (diapers, wipes, formula), personal hygiene, clothing, toilet paper, sunscreen, and bug spray, and first aid kits.
