OBI's convoy, including a 20-ton crane and other construction equipment, is ready to help residents needing cleanup and debris removal.

NEW ORLEANS - Even though Hurricane Gustav has been downgraded to a tropical depression, remote coastal areas from Mississippi to New Orleans are still in need of aid.

"Last night we received confirmation from Mayor Ben Morris of Slidell that OBI's assistance will not be required there and only minimal assistance is needed in St Bernard Parrish," OBI President Bill Horan said. "The areas in desperate need are farther to the west and more isolated."

Today, a convoy left Hattiesburg for St Bernard Parrish where they will set up temporary headquarters at a local partnering church to immediately assist locals and send assessment teams to Homa, Thibodeaux and other hard-hit coastal areas. As soon as target impact areas are identified, OBI will establish a base camp to house, feed and manage volunteer teams.

Included in the convoy is a 20-ton telescoping mobile crane with rigging for tree removal; a skid-steer loader and a construction trailer filled with generators, chain saws, tools and safety equipment; roof repair supplies including blue tarps, furring strips and nails.

A portable shower trailer as well as Mercy Chefs' mobile feeding kitchen is also being dispatched to St. Bernard Parrish.

Before the storm, Operation Blessing teamed up with the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, La., to use the facility to stockpile 43,000 pounds of emergency relief supplies including food, water, hygiene items and disposable diapers.

As of yesterday, the church began distribution of aid to residents and evacuees.
During the weekend, OBI teams moved key staff, portable equipment and supplies to Hattiesburg, Miss. to stand by until the storm came ashore.

Above, OBI teams set up an ice station to aid residents returning home. OBI will also provide hot meals for residents until the power is restored.

"We wanted to be poised and ready, close-but-not-too-close' to the projected impact area," Horan said.

In addition to working with local emergency management officials, OBI is also working closely with partners in the Christian Relief Cooperative, including The Salvation Army, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Samaritan's Purse, Billy Graham Rapid Response and Convoy of Hope.

The Gulf Coast is a familiar place for OBI workers. Teams spent more than two-and-a-half-years in the region for post-Katrina relief efforts. During that time, OBI provided $60 million in relief that included 265,000 hours of volunteer service and operating a free medical clinic.

Other efforts post-Katrina includes helping the city fight potential deadly diseases by treating thousands of stagnant swimming pools with mosquito-eating fish. In addition, OBI helped prepare more than 1 million free meals for emergency responders and volunteers; donated an entire fleet of busses to St. Bernard Parish for transportation of relief workers and volunteers; and providing roughly $5 million in cash grants to local nonprofit organizations' relief efforts.

"Two and a half years of experience in helping the people of Louisiana pick up the pieces of their lives following Katrina have prepared OBI to answer the call should Gustav hit the Gulf Coast," Horan said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

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