ASU Mid-South invites community to ‘Flood Louisiana with Love’

ASU Mid-South invites community to ‘Flood Louisiana with Love’

College partnering with United Way on supply drive for flooding victims

ralphhardin@gmail.com The recent flooding in Louisiana has left more than a dozen people dead and thousands displaced and despondent.

As part of an effort to bring at least a modicum of relief to the flooding victims from our neighbors to the south, Arkansas State University Mid-South is collecting needed supplies for and sending them to Louisiana via the United Way of Southeast Louisiana.

The collection drive is underway now, and will run through Sept. 9. Those wishing to donate may leave items at drop boxes located around the ASU Mid-South campus, located on West Broadway. Donations may also be dropped off at the ASU Mid-South Maintenance Building, from now until next Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

According to a flyer being circulated around the community, items needed include: Cleaning supplies (5-gallon buckets, bleach, cleaning detergent, mops and brooms, paper towels, large garbage bags, rubber gloves, masks, scrub brushes & scouring pads, sponges and air freshener); Toiletries (hand sanitizer, shampoo & conditioner, bar soap, adult diapers, shaving cream & disposable razors and toilet paper); Pet Supplies (cages & kennels, collars & leashes, pet food and cat liter); Baby supplies (diapers & wipes, baby food, formula, bottles and sippy cups; Non-perishable food items (bottled water and canned goods), and other items, such as mosquito repellent and school supplies.

The catastrophic flood devastating Louisiana is now the worst natural disaster to strike the United States since Hurricane Sandy four years ago, according to news reports.

Beginning on Aug. 9, and for the next several days, torrential rain storms dropped between 24 and 32 inches of rain across southern Louisiana. In one part of Livingston Parish, more than 30 inches fell in one 15-hour period. The estimated damages total more than $30 million, which could easily double once final tallies are made when the waters recede. The storms produced nearly 7 trillion gallons of rain during the one-week period, damaging thousands of homes and businesses.

Cleanup and relief efforts have been hampered by continued rain.

By Ralph Hardin