atlanta responds to hurricane katrina

“Atlanta reaches out its arms and heart across the many miles to tell these cities that have been affected that we are here to help and assist in any way that we can,” said Mayor Franklin.

Hurricane Katrina hit approximately 500 miles of the Gulf Coast on Monday and has left cities in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana flooded and thousands without power. The worst of these is Louisiana, which has experienced severe flooding, causing an overwhelming 80 percent of the town to be submerged below sea level. There are 450,000 people on the waiting list for shelter, and 300,000 of these will need to be evacuated within 24 hours.

Tim English, a representative from the Red Cross of America said that some 450 people fleeing the gulf are being housed throughout the metro Atlanta area. It is believed that the numbers could increase over the next few days.

The City of Atlanta has opened the Adamsville Recreation Center, 3201 Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive SW, Atlanta GA 30331, as a shelter center and people are already staying at that facility.

Other City departments involved in the relief effort include the Atlanta Fire and Rescue who is planning to send two firefighters to Louisiana tonight and plan to hold a fire engine and a ladder truck on standby. An Atlanta Police Department helicopter will also be dispatched to Jackson County.

Members of the faith-based community were also at the news conference to appeal to churches, synagogues, mosques to offer financial support and volunteer resources to the American Red Cross during this devastating crisis.

Hurricane Katrina is the largest hurricane disaster since 1881 and the Red Cross will need plenty of donations and volunteers. To make donations to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, call 1.800.HELPNOW. To make a donation on the Internet, visit www.atlantaredcross.org. To volunteer with the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross call 404.876.3302.