Disaster Relief Group Drives Cross-Country To Assist Hurricane Laura And Sally Victims

September 28 23:42 2020
Disaster Relief Group Drives Cross-Country To Assist Hurricane Laura And Sally Victims

The Recovery Outreach Inc. team traveled to the areas devastated by Hurricanes Laura and Sally on September 7, 2020, to provide the residents in that area with much-needed relief. 

Helping with the Damage Created by Hurricanes Laura and Sally 

When a hurricane wreaks havoc in an area, regardless of how many government agencies or first responders arrive, there are never enough people to assist everyone in need. The people who make up the relief mission’s group understand this fact. That is why 17 members of the group packed up their belongings on September 7, 2020, left California, and headed to Lake Charles, Louisiana.  

Within four weeks in August and September, hurricanes Laura and Sally left thousands of families in Louisiana with damaged homes and without power, food, and water. In the wake of a hurricane is when the need is the greatest. The group’s mission is simple, to go to an area devastated by a catastrophe and help those in need. In Lake Charles, they vowed to remain there and support the people for however long as it is necessary.

Damage Created by Hurricanes Laura and Sally and the Number of People Affected 

As a Category 4 Hurricane, Laura was one of the most powerful storms to ever land in eastern Louisiana. The last time that areas saw a storm that powerful was in 1965 when Hurricane Betsy made landfall. On Thursday morning, August 27, Hurricane Laura landed near Cameron, packing wind speeds of 150 mph. It did not take too long after the storm landed for it to arrive in Lake Charles.  

In Lake Charles, Louisiana, Hurricane Laura destroyed homes, downed power lines, toppled trees onto rooftops, flooded neighborhoods, and scattered debris for miles. The storm left about 615,000 people without electricity. Three of the casinos in Lake Charles suffered damage. A riverboat broke loose and collided into the I-10 bridge. It seemed as if no type of building was exempt. Schools, churches, and cemeteries also received damage. The storm also caused the death of at least 28 people.  

When asked by a reporter, Mayor Nic Hunter, the mayor of Lake Charles said, “the biggest obstacle facing his community was housing. The storm left thousands of people without a home.” The mayor also appealed for anyone who could take a day trip to Lake Charles to help with clearing away the damage properties and cleaning up yards. Helping others is precisely what the relief mission group is doing. With chainsaws in hand, they are clearing away downed trees from rooftops, backyards, and roadways. The families in Lake Charles are very appreciative of the help they are receiving.

Three weeks after Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Sally, a Category 2 storm, began to threaten Louisiana. The governor declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Louisiana. Government officials also issued an evacuation order to several areas. On September 16, 2020, fortunately for Lake Charles, Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Still, in some parts of Louisiana already devastated by Hurricane Laura, Sally brought more torrential rainfall. 

More than 550,000 homes and businesses in Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana lost power. Already in Louisiana at the time of Hurricane Sally’s landfall, the relief mission group did not allow the threat of additional storms churning in the tropics deter them. It only gave them more resolve. Regardless of how many storms come their way, the group has vowed to finish the job they started in Lake Charles. 

Types of Relief Provided 


After traveling three days, the relief mission’s group arrived in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Tired from traveling and getting as little as three or four hours of sleep did not stop them from getting up at 6:30 am the next morning to begin their mission. On day one, the 17-member group began to engage the community by serving over 500 hot meals. 

The next day as more people learned about their presence, they served 1200 meals to those in need. Cars lined up to receive food for themselves and food to take to family members who could not come in person. One lady picked up food for her daughter, whose family had no lights or water. 

The group used a fast-paced assembly-line approach to preparing the food. Each of the outreach members had an assigned task. Understanding the people’s emotional state, the group tried to keep things lively. They kept things moving in the drive-thru lines by taking food to the people in the style of Sonic restaurants, on roller skates. 

While interacting with the people, group members quickly learned that many people in Lake Charles did not have internet connections, electricity, or water. So, in addition to serving food, the relief mission group was soon conducting search and rescue missions along the coast of Alabama with an 18-foot skiff. From the boat, they sent teams of three people to deliver supplies and serve meals to families who could not make it to the tent due to floodwaters. 

Back at the camp, other members of the group served another 1200 meals. Due to the high demand for help, an additional four disaster relief volunteers come from California to help the group in Lake Charles. By day six, the group has served over 5000 meals. With four additional team members, the group was able to go from house to house to help with removing debris, demolishing broken structures, and removing fallen trees from homes.

Echoed from so many people was the appreciation for not only the relief they received but for the hope it gave them. One such couple was Pat and Debra Nelson from Orange Beach, Alabama. The latter were very appreciative of the water and food they received from the relief mission group. Norma Pence thanked the group for clearing trees and limbs from her property. Lori Snyder 

For pictures of the relief efforts can be found on the relief mission’s group’s website at www.recoveryoutreachinc.com/projects

About the Relief Missions Group 

The relief missions group categorizes itself as a service-based non- profit organization. Their mission is to go to places affected by national catastrophes and help in whatever way they can. They started helping areas affected by disasters around the country in 2016. The two things they offer the most are food and manual labor. 
Although the relief mission’s group is autonomous, they are not long rangers. Wherever they go, the relief missions group partners with local faith-based organizations and first responders. They also coordinate their relief efforts with FEMA and other organizations to ensure families receive the assistance they need.

Families facing a disaster often have no idea of where they can receive help. They may not know where their next meal will come from or where they will be able to sleep at night. The stress and emotional hardship alone are devastating. The relief missions group gives these people hope. The love and energy from the members of the relief missions’ group are infectious and puts smiles on many faces, who were unable to see through their tears. The generosity of the relief missions’ group helps families in need began to believe in the possibility of rebuilding their lives. 

When the relief missions group members first arrive in an area, they set up their tents and provide hot meals to the people who need them. As they become embedded in the community and learn of the needs, they began to branch out and help. Almost always, the help starts immediately, as it does not take long to find people devastated by a hurricane. 

The first place the group traveled was to North Carolina to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The following year they took 52 people to help those affected By Hurricane Harvey. In 2018 they helped with relief efforts following Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael. In addition to assisting in areas affected by hurricanes, the relief mission group has been extending help during the pandemic. They spent 37 days providing aide to persons who are homeless in Monterey County, Santa Barbara, and South Lake Tahoe. The mission’s group served over 11,000 meals and provided clothing and basic necessities.

Additional Information

The disaster relief missions group believes it is the little things in life that mean the most. It would not be uncommon for them to replace a favorite toy lost by a child during the hurricane. When the relief missions group shows up at a family’s door, they bring hope to that family. By helping families clean up after a disaster, they let that family know that they are not alone. 

You can rest assured that when the relief missions group leaves an area, that place is in better condition than when they arrived. The people who are recipients of the group’s generosity affects the hearts of the members of the relief mission. The love and appreciation they receive from the people are as equally rewarding as their ability to help. The relief mission trips are indeed a win-win for both the outreach members and the communities they have the privilege of serving. 

However, Recovery Outreach can do none of what they do alone. As a service-based organization, they depend on the generosity of donors. Other volunteers also help with physical labor. They invite you to join in their relief efforts by donating to their non- profit organization on their GoFundMe page.

For more information about the relief mission’s group, please visit them online at www.recoveryoutreachinc.com/.

Media Contact
Company Name: Recovery Outreach Inc
Contact Person: Jill Ross
Email: Send Email
Phone: 310-699-8411
Country: United States
Website: www.recoveryoutreachinc.com