Storm Updates

News Updates

Business Resources

Volunteering

The following volunteering opportunities are available:

Help at NORD Cooling Centers
Volunteers are needed to help with resource distribution at NORD Cooling Centers in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Volunteers will be helping residents access a range of services including AC, charging, FEMA assistance, meals, and more. The NORD Cooling Centers will be running daily for the foreseeable future. Volunteer shifts are 8am-1pm and 1pm-6pm every day.

United Way of Southeast Louisiana
Hurricane Ida destroyed so many of our communities here in Southeast Louisiana, but Louisianans are resilient, and we will get through this as we have done before. Families, friends, and neighbors face days and weeks without power and water and are in urgent need of immediate supplies, resources, and support. United Way of Southeast Louisiana has been around for nearly 100 years. Help our neighbors in need by volunteering your time.

HandsOn New Orleans
Two donations centers are opening and need volunteers to help receive, count, and package donations that will be immediately distributed. Sign up to volunteer at the New Orleans or Mandeville location.

Meal Distribution at #35 School
InspireNOLA, KIPP New Orleans, and members of the Orleans Parish School Board are working with NOLA Ready and World Central Kitchen to serve food at #35 High School (4000 Cadillac St) every night from Thursday 9/2 through Friday 9/10. We are asking volunteers to be present for a little over two hours—from 4:45-7:00pm. We are in need of local churches, nonprofits, or groups of friends to volunteer to pick up and serve the food. We need 6-8 volunteers per night.

St. Charles Parish Roof Tarps
The area has many residents that need help tarping their roofs ahead of rain next week and are in need of volunteers to help protect homes.

Second Harvest Food Bank
Disaster volunteers urgently needed! Our Harahan-area Community Kitchen is in overdrive helping hurricane survivors. If you can work right away, this weekend, or anytime next week we have have lot of shifts available.

Housing Authority of New Orleans
The Housing Authority of New Orleans is in need of volunteers to assist with the emptying out of refrigerators at various HANO properties around the city.

Inspire NOLA Charter Schools
Sign up to volunteer for food distribution efforts coordinated by Inspire NOLA Charter Schools.

SBP
SBP has teams ready to deploy to assist impacted areas and we will ultimately need volunteers like you to help us in the coming weeks. Please fill out the form if you are interested in volunteering with our initial response.

Sankofa Community Development Corporation
Sankofa Community Development Corporation is in need of volunteers to pack pantry boxes and help with the distribution of items. Volunteers are needed between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Step Up Louisiana
Seeking help with providing gas for vehicles, hotel/housing, cleaning up house/property, cleaning supplies, diapers, formula, clothes, toys and other needs for children.

Community Resources

DSNAP Pre-Registration
Individuals and families affected by Hurricane Ida can apply for FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance – Click link, call 800-621-3362, or install the app. Document damage & save receipts for repairs & hotel stays.
Small businesses impacted by Hurricane Ida can now file an SBA claim for assistance. Disaster assistance loans are up to $200k for homeowners to repair or replace; and SBA will loan up to $2M to qualified businesses for repair/replacement.
#OpenNOLA – A list of what’s open in the region. Find where to get food, groceries, gas, and other goods here.
Copeland’s has a food trucks that can feed 1,000 for one meal each truck – they have restaurants on the northshore and Baton Rouge and have the capability.. If the need for food trucks that were not damaged to can hire for feeding events, please contact Kathleen Gross Thomas at 504-491-3230 or email [email protected].

School Closures

K-12 School System	Status
Jefferson Parish	Jefferson Parish Public Schools will remained closed through the week of September 6th-10th. Tentative reopening dates will be announced on Friday, September 10th. Schools in Grand Isle and Lafitte will not be part of the general reopening tiers.Additional information can be found at: https://www.jpschools.org/Ida.
New Orleans Catholic Schools	Please check individual school's webpages and social media for additional information on individual school's reopening dates.
Orleans Parish	NOLA Public Schools sustained minimal damage and plan to re-open schools between September 15th- September 22nd- with all students returning back to school by September 22nd. However, the return of school for some 45,000 students remains dependent on continued power restoration and the availability of essential city services. All schools will notify families about their reopening dates by Friday, September 10th.
Plaquemines Parish	All PPSB schools in the Belle Chasse community will reropen on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. South Plaquemines High School, South Plaquemines Elementary, Boothville-Venice Elementary, Plaquemines Parish Learning Center, and Phoenix High School will begin school at a later date
St. Bernard Parish	All SBPSB schools will reopen on Monday, September, 13th. Please continuously check the Facebook page for up-to-date announcements.
St. Charles Parish	All St. Charles Parish Public Schools and offices are closed until further notice due to impacts from Hurricane Ida. Updated information on recovery efforts is being shared on the district webpage under the Hurricane Ida Recovery Tab, at www.stcharles.k12.la.us/hurricaneida, and on the social media pages. Please continuously check the Student Progress Center messaging system for up-to-date announcements.
St. James Parish	St. James Parish School System will remain closed through Friday, September 17, 2021.
St. John Parish	St. John the Baptist Parish schools sustained substantial damage and will remain closed until further notice. Information on school reopenings will be communicated with the community via the SJBS website, social media, and Edconnect.
St. Tammany Parish	All St. Tammany Parish public schools and offices will reopen on Monday, September 13th.
Tangipahoa Parish	Tangipahoa Public School System will announce reopening dates, as schools will open based on the School Readiness Checklist. TPSS will provide families and employees a minimum notice of 48 hours before schools are scheduled to reopen. Please stay updated via social media , school websites, and local radio stations (107.1 and 96.5).
Washington Parish	Washington Parish Schools will resume on Tuesday, September 7, 2021
City of Bogalusa	Bogalusa City Schools will resume on Tuesday, September 7th.
Higher Ed	Status
Delgado Community College	All campuses will remain closed through September 10. Virtural instruction and remote work will be held September 13-24.
Dillard University	Online classes will resume online classes September 13. Damages are still being assessed. Updates will be shared for in-person instruction.
Loyola University	Classes are cancelled through Friday, September 10 and online classes will resume September 13 with in-person instruction beginning September 20.
LSU Health Sciences	LSU Health New Orleans is working to reopen New Orleans campuses for activities on Monday, September 13.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary	In-person classes will resume on September 20, 2021. Classes on campus in New Orleans and originating from New Orleans campus will remain as they are this week for an additional week beginning September 13th. Please make sure you pay attention to information coming from your professors.
Northshore Technical Community College	All campuses will remain close through September 10 and are currently anticipated to reopen September 13. Stay tuned to college social media for additional updates.
Nunez Technical Community College	Resume instruction no sooner than Monday, Sept. 13. Only essential personnel will have access to campus until that time. Monitor Nunez.edu and official Nunez social media for future updates.
River Parishes Community College	All RPCC campuses will remain closed through at least September 10. Please register for the College’s SmartNotice emergency alert notification system and continue to visit the college website at www.rpcc.edu and RPCC’s social media for additional information.
Southeastern Louisiana University	Campus will remain closed at least through September 10.
Southern University at New Orleans	Southern University at New Orleans will remain closed through Friday, September 10. Classes and all campus operations will resume on Monday, September 13.
St. Joseph Seminary	Campus will remain closed through September 10.
Tulane University	Classes are cancelled through Sunday, September 12. Classes will resume online only beginning Monday, September 13 through Wednesday, October 6. In-person instruction will resume Monday, October 11.
University of Holy Cross	Saturday Classes will resume on September 18, 2021. Weekday classes will resume on September 20, 2021.
University of New Orleans	Classes will resume no sooner than September 13. Additionally campus will remain closed to all but essential personnel until that time.
Xavier University of Louisiana	Xavier University of Louisiana will reopen campus on Monday, September 13, 2021. Continued remote instruction through September 17, 2021, returning to in-person instruction on September 20, 2021, with some possible modifications as we complete recovery efforts. Residential students may return to campus on Sunday, September 12, 2021.
Last Updated: 9/8/21; 12:30 PM

Business Openings and Closures

Rouses Stores

Where to Donate

Louisiana Funds & Resources

United Way of Southeast Louisiana United Way of Southeast Louisiana is here before, during, and after disasters. When a disaster strikes, your gift helps families get back in their homes, rebuild schools and businesses, and give our vulnerable neighbors the care they need. All proceeds will fund immediate relief efforts already underway and long-term rebuilding and community grants to partner organizations providing direct services to assist with recovery. You can give here.

Greater New Orleans Foundation Disaster Response & Restoration Fund: The Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) will accept donations to its Disaster Response & Restoration Fund in response to the Emergency Declaration for New Orleans and other parts of Southeast Louisiana ahead of Hurricane Ida. The Greater New Orleans Foundation Disaster Response and Restoration Fund mobilizes and supports a network of voluntary and community organizations active in disasterswhose expertise is deployed locally, nationally and internationally. The Response and Restoration Fund provides immediate relief as well as long-term rebuilding support. You can give here.

Northshore Emergency Relief Fund: Hurricane Ida’s lashing winds toppled buildings, cut power to hospitals and caused widespread flooding across the Northshore. The disaster has just begun to unfold. With gusts of more than 170 miles per hour, Ida took out main electrical lines; New Orleans and other cities across South Louisiana are likely to be in the dark for weeks. Relief organizations in Louisiana are pretty good at taking care of our people. Once in a while, though, storms like Hurricane Ida give stretch their resources. Your one contribution to the Northshore Emergency Relief Fund will help many organizations provide water and food, medicines and shelter to people across South Louisiana. You can donate now here.

Al Copeland Foundation’s ‘Be a Hero. Thank a Hero.’ Campaign: This initiative to raise funds to deliver essential items to our heroes. The foundation worked with vendors and suppliers connected to Copeland’s restaurants to help during the pandemic, and are replicating for Hurricane Ida relief. More information to follow.

<!– Humane Society of Louisiana: A fund used to support animal rescue and relief. You can give here.

Texas Funds & Resources

Greater Houston Community Foundation Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: After receiving an overwhelming number of inquiries from citizens and companies who want to help, Mayor Sylvester Turner has established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund that will accept tax deductible flood relief donations for victims that have been affected by the recent floods. You can give here.

All Hands: This nonprofit has staff on the ground in Texas, and is in contact with emergency management officials about assisting in the response and recovery. You can give here.

Local food banks: The Houston Press has compiled a list of food banks in the affected area, including Houston Food Bank, Galveston County Food Bank, Corpus Christi Food Bank, Southeast Texas Food Bank, and more. They recommend contacting a food bank directly about their need and what you can do.

The Texas Diaper Bank: The Texas Diaper Bank, which is based out of San Antonio, is putting together relief kit for families with very small children who need access to clean diapers in the midst of flooding and evacuations. You can give here.

The Driscoll Children’s Hospital: It’s accepting financial donations now. They serve a large area, and people from many affected parts of the coast are likely to need their services. You can give here.

Houston Humane Society: The group is helping marshal care and shelter for pets in the area. You can give here. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas is undertaking similar efforts. You can give here. The San Antonio Humane Society is doing the same. More here.

The Houston Coalition for the Homeless: The group is facilitating shelter for homeless people in Houston, including offering up-to-date information about which shelters currently have space, who’s the best fit for each one, and how to get there safely. You can give here.

National Funds & Resources

American Red Cross: Usually the first group people think of when giving after a disaster. It says it is providing shelters for those displaced by Harvey, and it has thousands of volunteers on the ground in the state. You can give here.

Global Giving: A charity crowdfunding site that is attempting to raise $2 million to be used exclusively for local relief and recovery efforts. You can give here.

Foundation Beyond Belief: The humanist group is evaluating how best to use the funds it collects. You can give here.

Direct Relief USA: This organzation offers prescription drugs and other medical supplies to those who need it in emergency situations, and works with clinics and primary care doctors to ensure that people are able to get what they need when they need it. You can give here.

Americares: The nonprofit focused on medicine and health is seeking to provide emergency medical supplies and other basic resources to first responders and others in Texas. You can give here.

Portlight: A disaster response group dedicated specifically to people with disabilities. It is seeking to help affected people with evacuation and finding shelter, any medical equipment needs they might have, and more. You can learn more about its efforts here.

Airbnb: The hospitality company is working to coordinate people in need of a place to stay with people willing to offer a free room. More information here. –>