VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Help from Hampton Roads is on the ground in storm-battered Louisiana.
“One of the things that was really positive about this storm, it was very fast moving,” said Operation Blessing Deployment Manager Bob Burk.
The Virginia Beach-based disaster relief organization sent out tractor-trailers full of disaster relief supplies Tuesday ahead of the storm.
On Thursday morning, Burk talked to 10 On Your Side from Baton Rouge, where they waited out the storm, Francine.
“But we also have teams to the southeast evaluating the damage and looking to find out where the best need is for us to deploy our resources,” he said.
Burk expects they will be firing up their mobile kitchens pretty quickly.
“If they’ve got extensive power outages, they may need ice, they may need water, they may need food that can be easily prepared without being cooked and that’s what we’re doing right now,” Burk said. “We’re out in the field assessing that need.”
Operation Blessing has a long history of helping the people of New Orleans. The organization was there for three years following Hurricane Katrina. During that time they coordinated more than 200,000 volunteers, helped homeowners rebuild and provided millions of dollars worth of medicine, meals and grants.
“It is so incredibly rewarding to be able to get out and help people at the time that they have their greatest need,” Burk said. “And I’m working with the absolute best people I’ve ever worked with in my life.”
And while the damage from Francine is nowhere near as bad as Katrina overall, it is just as devastating to the individuals whose lives just turned upside-down.
“Just keep these folks in your prayers and we really appreciate your support,” Burk said.
Operation Blessing could also use volunteers and donations to help with disaster relief efforts in New Orleans and elsewhere around the world. You can learn more here.
