URGENT NEED OF SUPPLIES FOR TRUCK GOING FROM RICHMOND TO MISSISSIPPI TO AID HURRICANE VICTIMS

September 3, 2005 | Flora McDonald

[Flora McDonald]

This was in my inbox when I got back from the Walter Reed FReep. A friend of mine from Powhatan has located most of his family in Mississippi and sends out an urgent request for supplies. Things are so bad his parents are storing bodies in a refrigerated truck.

The email below was written by his brother-in-law.

His family is right in the middle of Biloxi Miss. He left yesterday at 5:00 AM from his home in Powhatan with 125 Gals of Gas, some food, water etc. Anyway he just called me and has located most of his family.

His father owns a trucking company in Mississippi and is going to put a truck on the road to Richmond VA, ASAP for supplies and such for the community. James said the people around there are sleeping under trees and have very little clothing and or anything to survive with. There is not a bank within miles that these people can get money from. So we are going to need a few things.

Let me paint a little picture Temperature = 101 House = No house and or No Roof Electricity = None Clothes = What they have on ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. James says even if you have a house left you cannot go in it because its 125 degrees an more comfortable outside

We have already purchased 10,000 bottles of water and a few pallets of canned food to put in the truck when it gets here.

Items that the community are in need of:

-Gas money for the truck to get back to Mississippi -Clothes -Small Hibachi grills -A Pallet or Two of Charcoal -Tents -Food -2 More Water / Pallets only -Everything else you would need in everyday living.

THE PLAN- Fill the truck and send it back to Mississippi

We will be taking the items at Old Dominion Insulation, Inc 8142 Hull Street Rd. Richmond, Va 23235 Across from the Food Lion Behind the B&W Auto

Please help us fill this thing ASAP ...

THE TRUCK IS LEAVING AT 1:00PM SUNDAY MORNING - 9/4/05

[Flora McDonald]

As you all know - time is critical. FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU NEED A PHONE NUMBER FOR MORE INFO.

[Flora McDonald]

PINGING RICHMOND FREEPERS

PLEASE PING YOUR LISTS!!!!

[wardaddy]

Do you know the route he used to get down there?

[Flora McDonald]

DROP OFF TIME FOR SUPPLIES WILL BE 10:00AM TO 5:00PM SATURDAY 9/4 AND 10:00AM TO 1:00PM SUNDAY

[Flora McDonald]

Do you know the route he used to get down there?

I haven't heard what route he took. It was four days before he got word from his parents that they were ok. He loaded up and took off.

I was gone most of today and wasn't even going to check the email but am so glad I did.

[Cedar]

Do you know if gas is available down in south MS? I've thought about driving down there with some supplies to check on a friend's family (who STILL hasn't been heard from).

But if there's no gas down there to fill up the car and drive back..........

Is your group planning on taking stored gasoline with them for the ride back or what?

[Flora McDonald]

Cedar I haven't heard about the gas situation. I'm going to call James' wife in the morning and get a few more details if I can.

The worry for your friends must be agonizing. Lord, I hope they hear from them soon.

I'll ping you if I get any info.

[Cedar]

Thanks.

[Quilla]

Gas supplies are running low from Pensacola, Fl and points west toward Biloxi.

Should y'all be unable to fill the truck before leaving, here's a suggestion. There are numerous locations in Dothan, AL where trailers are being loaded with supplies from generous citizens. Park the trailer, call the local radio stations, and they are full within hours. If you can still get in touch with them and they plan to pass through Dothan, please freepmail me. I'll be happy to contact the radio stations in advance and set up a location for their truck.

[Corin Stormhands]

Thanks Flora. I've got a couple of tents and a picnic canopy. I'll get them and whatever else I can over there sometime today.

[Victoria]

bttt.

[Flora McDonald]

FReepers are the greatest - what can I say.

Quilla-thank you for that info.

I am passing everything along.

[wardaddy]

It is prudent to have your own gas anywhere in Mississippi in the southern 2/3rds I'm told

and in South Alabama

[Flora McDonald]

Thanks for the info.
Latest word is the truck is filling up fast with supplies. We are leaving now to take our tents/table/cot etc.

[Flora McDonald]

We just returned from the drop off and I am so impressed with these great people. In only 24 hours they have pulled this operation together and are filling a huge tractor trailer thanks to many generous donations.

The Davoud family owns Old Dominion Insulation, Inc. and are using their vehicles to pick up pallets of water, charcoal, etc. from Costco and Sam's Club.

The Hodge family in Biloxi own a trucking company and sheltered their employees and families in their building during the hurricane. They parked the big trailers all around the building and although the wind at times lifted some of the trailers 4 to 5 feet off the ground, when all was calm theirs was one of the few buildings standing in the area.

Food is hard to come by but a banana co. next door has distributed crates of bananas to survivors. There is also a meat processing plant donating their products but people have no efficient way to cook yet. Hence the need for grills and charcoal.

UPDATED INFO

CONTACT PERSON: JEFF DAVOUD
CELL #: 804-389-9233
DROPOFF LOCATION:
Old Dominion Insulation
8142 Hull Street Rd. (not far from the Chippenham Pkwy. interchange)
Richmond VA 23235
Across from the Food Lion behind the B&W Auto
DROPOFF TIMES:
10:00AM TO 5:00PM TODAY, SAT, 9/3/05
10:00AM TO 5:00PM TOMORROW, SUN, 9/4/05

They are accepting any and all donations of goods or money for gas.
Anyone wishing to donate of pallet of water, charcoal or anything else please call Jeff and he will have it picked up.

TRUCK LEAVES FOR MISSISSIPPI AT 6:00PM TOMORROW, SUNDAY, 9/4/05

[Victoria]

Flora, I am trying to put together a list of things we could imagine people will need in addition to what you listed (for those in MS):

Batteries, portable radios, hand sanitizer, kleenex/tissue, wet wipes, liquid soap, bleach, first aid kits (bandaids, ointment), bug spray?, tarps, towels, plastic bags, storage containers, potted meat, peanut butter (canned food or not?), bag chairs, blankets

I know there are hundreds of items that could be used, but what are the most necessary? We are doing something similar here and I need to make a list for our community.

[Flora McDonald]

Great idea Victoria.

The guys at Old Dominion Insulation had collected these items also:
diapers
baby formula/bottles
baby food
pallets of canned goods
feminine products
chain saws
trash bags
toiletries: toothpaste, tooth brushes, etc.
pots/pans/can openers
clothes

One of the ladies on site said imagine you wake up one day with nothing except the clothes on your back and take it from there.

[Victoria]

Great ideas, I didn't even think of babies, nor trash bags, can openers, cooking utensils, foil.


Thanks Flora, I will add these to my list.