Photo: Getty Images
Hurricane Ida hit Mississippi and Louisiana hard over the weekend, leaving more than one million people without electricity and one person dead. This week, the two states will work to rebound from the storm. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has deployed 1,600 emergency personnel across the state and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is expected to make a similar move in the coming hours. Public officials in Colorado, New York, Ohio, California and several other states are also deploying personnel to help assess the damage while executing search and rescue missions. In order to fully repair what has been damaged, disaster response teams will have to put forth a strong and sustained effort.
"Not only was this a Category 4 storm, but it stayed a Category 4 storm for hours over southern parts of Louisiana," FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told MSNBC's Morning Joe.
"Having those high winds for several hours, that storm surge for several hours, as well as the intense rainfall, and I think as we get up this morning, we're hearing reports, but we're going to see even more destruction. This is going to be a really long recovery."
Along the road of this "long recovery," thousands will be in need of emotional, physical and financial support. Those impacted can look toward charitable organizations like United Way for house and government entities like FEMA for meals. Here are just a few resources for those in need during this difficult time.
Federal Organizations
FEMA
"We continue to work with federal, state and local partners as well as non-governmental agencies to support needs of areas affected by Ida. We have positioned supplies such as meals, water, and generators to assist states with impacts from this storm. More than 2,400 FEMA employees are deployed to various states and are ready to provide additional support as needed," a statement from FEMA reads.
State Organizations
Louisiana GOHSEP
"The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) serves as the Governor's Authorized Representative for disaster events and is responsible for coordinating resources for state and local governments, private non-profits and our Louisiana citizenry. There are lots of things to think about when your family, pet or business is impacted by a natural or man-made disaster. After a disaster, in returning home you are faced with the need to rebuild, cleanup, and seek financial and/or other assistance. The resources below provide you potential assistance opportunities," a statement from Louisiana GOHSEP reads.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
"Our mission, at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, is to safeguard Mississippi and her citizens by fostering a culture of preparedness, executing timely response during disaster, and quickly restoring quality of life post event. Emergency Management is a comprehensive approach for administering and governing efforts in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery," a statement from MSEMA reads.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
"Be weather aware as the remnants of Ida move inland. Talk about your emergency plan with friends and family & have more than one way to receive weather alerts," TEMA tweeted.
Charitable Organizations
American Red Cross of Louisiana
"Our hearts are with all those in the path of this storm. Please, heed all guidance from local emergency officials, hunker down, and the Red Cross will be there to support on the other side," Louisiana Red Cross tweeted.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Catholic Charities of Acadiana
"Catholic Charities of Acadiana is prepared to respond in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida," a statement from Charities of Acadiana reads.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Christ's Community Church
DirectRelief
"Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay," a statement from DirectRelief reads.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Greater New Orleans Foundation
"We provide civic leadership in our communities to create transformational change. Our commitment to civic leadership goes beyond grantmaking. While connecting donors with causes that stir their passions is a key component of our work at the Greater New Orleans Foundation, it’s not the only thing we do. By conducting research, convening individuals and organizations, and providing engaged civic leadership in our communities, we can effect change that lasts much longer than any one donation. That’s why we actively work with communities across the region to establish partnerships and create initiatives to address pressing challenges facing our region. Previous examples of the Foundation’s leadership after Hurricane Katrina include the Unified New Orleans Plan and the $23 million Community Revitalization Fund," a statement from the organization reads.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Imagine Water Works
"Imagine Water Works is place-based with a global vision. Since 2012 we’ve helped lead the changes we’ve seen locally in how we think about living with water, working in an intersection of reducing risk from flooding, pollution, and natural hazards. We knew that the best solutions were multidisciplinary, and so we integrated science, history, identity, and art into our work," a statement from the nonprofit reads.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
United Way
"Money may be available to rent a place to live. If rental resources are not available, you might also be eligible for government-provided housing. FEMA will pay for your lodging directly to hotels and motels. A listing of participating hotels is available online," the organization tweeted.
Crowd Recommendations
Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.