HOW YOU CAN HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS

How You Can Help Hurricane Victims

Colchester, Vermont - September 1, 2005

As one part of a three-part plan to assist in the hurricane recovery effort, Governor Jim Douglas is urging Vermonters to contribute nonperishable food and other supplies tomorrow at 10 collection points organized throughout the state.

Officials in the hurricane-stricken Gulf Coast region say these resources are desperately needed. As a result, Vermont Emergency Management personnel, working in close coordination with the Red Cross, have organized a series of 10 collection points across the state tomorrow to collect the most basic goods needed by hurricane victims.

Due to the urgent need for these supplies, collection points will only be open tomorrow between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Should the need in the affected area persist, the state will coordinate future shipments.

Once tomorrow's donations have been collected, the Vermont State Police will escort the convoy of trucks to Gulfport, Mississippi, leaving the Brattleboro area early Saturday morning.

Collection points will be located in:

Bennington - Town Clerk's Office
Derby - State Police Barracks
Hartford - Fire and Police Department
Montpelier - Vermont State House
St. Albans - Collins-Perly Recreation Facility
St. Johnsbury - Municipal Office Building and Fire Station
Rockingham - State Police Barracks
Rutland - State Police Barracks
Vergennes -- Vergennes High School
Williston - State Police Barracks
Only the following basic non-perishable items will be accepted:

Bottled Water (Size: Liter and larger)
Non-Perishable Food
Clothing (new or like-new condition only)
Infant Supplies (Formula, Diapers, etc.)
Snacks/Protein Bars
First Aid Kits
Transistor Radios
Batteries (Sizes: AA, C, D, 9V)
Flashlights
Hygiene Products (bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)
Dog/Cat Food
"On Tuesday, immediately after the full extent of Katrina 's destruction was apparent, I instructed my staff and the Department of Public Safety to reach out to the storm ravaged gulf coast and offer our state's assistance," the Governor said. "Due to an almost total failure of the telecommunication system we were not able to reach the appropriate authorities until early this morning."

At approximately 9:00 am Thursday, Commissioner of Public Safety, Kerry Sleeper, spoke with Colonel Marvin Curtis, Director of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, who is assigned to the Disaster Field Office in Gulfport, Mississippi. Colonel Curtis said Gulfport and the surrounding area have been overwhelmed by the devastation and its surviving population is in dire need of basic supplies such as water, non perishable food, and sanitary supplies.

"Colonel Curtis emphasized the point that most of the survivors had lost all personnel belongings and any timely donations would be greatly appreciated and essential in sustaining life and health," the Governor said. "The Colonel eagerly accepted any offer of assistance on behalf of the grateful state of Mississippi and Governor Haley Barbour and he thanked the people of Vermont for their generosity and compassion at this difficult hour."

State officials are emphasizing that they can only accept items on the list. These are the items that Mississippi authorities have indicated are needed. Staff at the collection points will not be able to accept other items.

The Red Cross will also be at the collection points accepting contributions to their disaster relief fund.

Vermonters with questions about collection points can contact Vermont Emergency Management at 800-347-0488. Phones will be staffed until 11:00 p.m. tonight and from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. tomorrow.

OTHER STATE EFFORTS

Specialized State Services

In addition to this public effort for the Gulfport Mississippi area, state officials are also preparing a response with specialized state government assets, such as public health officers, special transportation and hazardous material teams.

"Vermont Emergency Management is working with the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to identify specific needs in affected areas and match those needs with state resources," the Governor said.

At present, the Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Transportation are asking for volunteers within those departments to fill specialized tasks requested by EMAC. Right now, authorities in the affected areas are not seeking general volunteers, the Governor added. "They are seeking only specialized support through state governments and we will continue to communicate with them and offer them whatever specialized assets we can provide."

The Vermont National Guard

The third component of Vermont's response involves the National Guard.

Approximately 25 members of the Vermont Air National Guard and 100 members of the Vermont Army National Guard-all specializing in security-will be deployed to the Gulf Coast region within the next few days to assist their counterparts already in the area.

"As we all know, hundreds of thousands of Americans in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are now beleaguered and burdened with what must seem to them now an impossible task," the Governor concluded. "Our job now as Vermonters-indeed, as Americans-is to rally around our forlorn countrymen and shoulder whatever part of the burden we can bear. Our job is to offer hope where now there is only despair."