For the third week in a row, a tragedy dominates our headlines. This time, it hit close to home. On August 29, the ground was washed out from under millions of lives as Hurricane Ida cut a path of destruction through Louisiana and parts of Mississippi.
Days later, Ida’s remnants combined with another storm front to flood parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Maryland, destroying homes and killing at least several dozen New Yorkers.
When Hurricane Katrina made landfall 16 years ago to the day, the NCF community rallied to send at least $4.6 million to provide immediate relief and eternal hope. We have witnessed what God can do when we respond to a disaster of biblical proportions with an outpouring of biblical generosity.
To help victims of Hurricane Ida, NCF teams in nearby states are just beginning to work with givers and ministries to coordinate relief. At press time, all of these efforts are still in the early stages. We will provide updates as details develop in the coming days. Please pray that God would use the NCF family to bring hope after the storm.
We’ve compiled this list of charities that are working on the frontlines in Louisiana and Mississippi. East Coast charities will be added as we determine who is working in these areas. All the charities below are already approved to receive NCF grants right away. If you have a Giving Fund at NCF, log in today to recommend a grant. If you don’t have a Giving Fund, you can open one in just minutes. Consider including a note with your grant recommendation: “For Hurricane Ida relief.”
This is a developing story. Charities are being added as we receive more information.
All Hands and Hearts
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All Hands and Hearts stationed their Disaster Assessment and Response Team (DART) in Beaumont, Texas on August 27 in preparation for the storm and is now in damaged areas assessing the damage and response needs. They will launch a team of volunteers to clean up with chainsaws, roof tarping, mucking and gutting and mold sanitization.
American Red Cross, Southeast Louisiana
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American Red Cross has 600 volunteers throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. See below for details of the coordinated efforts of their teams.
American Red Cross of Alabama and Mississippi
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At least 38 Red Cross shelters are open throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas to welcome those who have lost homes in the storm. All that’s needed is an address where they were living before the storm hit. Right now, the focus is on providing safe shelter, meals and comfort for people in need. They will remain on the ground in the weeks and months to come.
Americares
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Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization, has an emergency response team on the ground in Louisiana assessing the damage to the local health system. The team has offered assistance to more than 70 organizations – including partner health facilities and social service providers – and is prepared to deliver emergency shipments of medicine, personal protective equipment, hygiene products and relief supplies to protect survivors in the hardest-hit communities.
Cajun Navy Relief
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The Cajun Navy is an all-volunteer organization. Their primary work now is rescuing people from flooded homes in Southeast Louisiana, providing rescue updates for local news stations, and supplies to people in need.
Convoy of Hope
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Convoy of Hope is responding to devastating Hurricane Ida. Their Disaster Services team is distributing food, water, and emergency relief supplies to people in Louisiana who were most affected by the storm – in areas like Houma and Gonzalez.
Direct Relief
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Responding to the physical devastation and disruption of lives in Louisiana and Mississippi, Direct Relief has committed an initial $1 million in financial resources and is making available its $100+ million in inventory for any medicine, medical supplies, or other emergency aid requested by health clinics, emergency shelters, and state and local emergency response agencies in affected areas. Direct Relief is working with 214 partners in Louisiana and Mississippi — Federally Qualified Health Centers and free clinics to provide emergency-specific medical resources free-of-charge.
GlobalGiving
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Global Giving will provide funding for emergency food, water, medicine, and shelter and other aid to impacted communities. Once immediate needs are met, they will provide long-term assistance, with a focus on local organizations. All donations to this fund will exclusively support communities and first responders impacted by Hurricane Ida. Please include a note with your grant recommendation that your gift is for Hurricane Ida response.
Habitat for Humanity
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Habitat for Humanity International is conducting rapid assessments with local Habitat organizations across Louisiana. Immediate response activities include distribution of non-food items; debris removal and cleanup; and mobilization of local trained volunteers for repairs. Once early recovery activities are complete, Habitat will focus on long-term recovery supporting new, resilient construction and repairs of damaged homes.
Salvation Army, Greater New Orleans Command
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Salvation Army has 35 mobile kitchens and two field kitchens that can produce as many as 20,000 meals per day. The organization also has a command unit, refrigerated truck, laundry unit, shower unit and a bunkhouse.
Salvation Army Mississippi Gulf Coast
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On Tuesday, volunteers left the Salvation Army warehouse in Jackson, Mississippi with trucks full of supplies to help Louisiana’s more than a million people in the state without power. They teamed up with Total Transportation to bring truckloads of food, water, and other supplies to affected areas. The division will be stationed in New Orleans, but volunteers will travel where needed.
Samaritan’s Purse
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Samaritan’s Purse is rushing help to homeowners. Team members and three Disaster-Relief Units – tractor trailers filled with equipment and supplies, long with other vehicles, have been deployed to hurricane-battered areas. Their first base is Houma, Louisiana. Other bases will be established in partnership with local churches. Volunteer teams will clear yards, patch roofs, clean out flooded homes, and let devastated homeowners know they are not forgotten. The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team will be accompanying their teams to minister to these communities in Jesus’ Name.
Save the Children
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Save the Children is mobilizing its emergency response team to help vulnerable children and families living in areas that were hardest hit by the treacherous storm. Having pre-positioned critical supplies (including hygiene kits, diapers, wipes and portable cribs) before the storm, they were able to act quickly, and in coordination with national and state partners, to assess children’s immediate needs.
Vivoblu Water for All
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Two weeks after the hurricane, though many Louisianans had access to a water supply, most still lacked power and gas, making it impossible to boil water to remove toxins. Convoy of Hope invited Vivoblu Water for All to deploy into the town of Galliano, 70 miles southwest of New Orleans, to provide micron water filtration systems to families. Lowe’s donated buckets, and 2,000 people received filters, providing them with a steady supply of water. As a new storm brings flood warnings, and many remain without clean water or power, they’re preparing for the next round.
World Central Kitchen
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Within a day of the hurricane, World Central Kitchen set up three kitchens in Louisiana’s food capital, New Orleans. Bringing enough food to prepare more than 100,000 meals, teams started seeking out residents in need and volunteers to help pack and distribute the food. On the first day following the storm, they served hot lunches and dinners to first responders, shelters, and impacted neighborhoods.
Any updates to this story should be sent to jturner@ncfgiving.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Convoy of Hope
