NEWS RELEASE: Operation USA to Aid Flood Relief in Southern United States

Los Angeles, Calif., August 26, 2016– Operation USA, a Los Angeles-based international relief agency, today announced that it plans to support flood relief efforts in Louisiana through the delivery of cash grants and material aid support to partners. The organization is currently assessing opportunities to aid existing partners—established during Hurricane Katrina relief—and is calling for additional financial and in-kind support from donors and corporations to further aid relief efforts.

As of Friday, a reported 13 people have been killed as a result of the disaster, and tens of thousands of homes and businesses have been damaged or destroyed. More than 100,000 individuals and households have registered for federal support, and experts predict it will take months for communities to make progress in the recovery process, reconstructing homes and recovering losses. Local officials and relief agencies are appealing to the public to support these efforts.

Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Operation USA delivered more than $8 million in financial and material aid to Gulf Coast states. OpUSA currently supports the Awesome Girls Program in New Orleans, empowering at-risk young women through educational and leadership development programs. The organization will call on long-standing partnerships, including the Louisiana Primary Care Association, to quickly and efficiently distribute aid in areas where it is most needed in the wake of recent flooding.

HOW TO HELP:
All donations will be directly allocated to relief efforts in Louisiana and the surrounding area.

Donate online at give.opusa.org, by phone at 1-800-678-7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, PO BOX 36188, Los Angeles, CA 90036-0188. Donations can also be made via text message: text AID to 50555 to donate $10. Text donations are collected for the benefit of Operation USA by the mGive Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mGive.org/t.

Corporate donations supporting recovery efforts—bulk quantities of medical supplies, protective gear, portable generators and hospital equipment—are also being requested. Only new items in bulk are being accepted at this time. For more information call 1-800-678-7255.

United air miles can be donated to Operation USA through United Airlines Charity Miles program at www.united.com.

ABOUT OPERATION USA:
Founded in 1979, Operation USA supports health and education programs in order to help children and families at home and abroad recover from disasters. Focusing on under-served and overlooked communities, and working with partners around the world, OpUSA empowers communities to recover, build resiliency and thrive.

Richard Walden, President and CEO of Operation USA, is available as an expert source on disaster recovery.

PRESS CONTACT:
Mary Dolan
Operation USA
mdolan@opusa.org
323-413-2353