DONATED MATERIALS SOUGHT FOR HURRICANE-DAMAGED BATON ROUGE
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed today appealed to businesses, non-profit groups and citizens to donate badly-needed materials to the City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
"While the national reports indicate Hurricane Gustav did not have the total effect of Katrina and Rita of three years ago, Baton Rouge has suffered their worst hurricane damage in that city’s history. Their electrical infrastructure is substantially destroyed. There is localized flooding and, even today, they are getting heavy rainfall from the backwinds of Hurricane Gustav," Reed said. The Mayor has spoken with officials there and the U.S. Conference of Mayors has asked cities across the country to answer Baton Rouge’s call for donated materials.
Needed items, according to Baton Rouge officials, are personal hygiene products, baby diapers, tarps to cover damaged or destroyed roofs, bath towels, MRE’s (Meals Ready-to-Eat), canned or boxed foods, and bottled water – the MOST NEEDED items.
Further needed are cots, first aid supplies, blankets, blow-up mattresses, washing supplies (powdered items), portable AM radios, communications devices, portable generators, portable storage pods, hand sanitizers and other baby supplies.
Reed said items can be dropped off at City Fire Station No. 1 at 1820 N. 6th Street from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. starting today through next Tuesday and will be transported to Baton Rouge as received.
Cash donations will be converted into purchasing needed items for transport. All donated items are tax-deductible and any checks would be payable to ‘City of Harrisburg – Hurricane Relief Fund’ and will be used solely for this purpose.
Reed said Baton Rouge officials reported that they were advised the storm would not be hitting them and no flood recovery materials were prepositioned near their city as a result. The hurricane’s path changed and Baton Rouge and counties west of New Orleans were badly hit, with the extent of damage and suffering only now becoming more evident. It will be weeks or longer before all power can be restored to the city and county that has a combined population of 500,000 and which received evacuees from coastal areas that have added to the number of people now affected.
One hospital had to be evacuated today due to lack of adequate supplies and electrical power. Over 1,000 trees remain blocking roads and highways and await removal.
"The need is immediate and urgent and we hope for a good response to the call for help from this American city hit hard by Hurricane Gustav," Reed said.
For further information, citizens may call the city public safety communications center at 255-3131. Fire personnel will be on-hand at Fire Station No. 1 at 1820 N. 6th Street during the collection hours to handle receipt of items and to answer questions.
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