BOSSIER CITY, La. — At least 10 volunteers with the American Red Cross Kentucky Region have deployed to Louisiana and Texas to help with hurricane relief efforts as Hurricane Laura makes landfall in Louisiana.
David Silver, a volunteer with the Bluegrass Chapter, has been assisting in disaster relief efforts for seven years. He’s been stationed in Bossier City, LA, more than 230 miles from ground zero.
“The two hotels are literally full of evacuees from down south,” he said.
FEMA is offering hotel vouchers to many families seeking refuge from the hurricane’s trajectory as some cities make the decision to keep hurricane shelters closed because of COVID-19.
Silver will be serving meals to evacuees at multiple of these hotels in northwest Louisiana.
“We want to alleviate suffering and you do that any way you can,” Silver said.
We initially talked to Silver around 3 p.m. EST. At that time, the eye of the storm was still south of Bossier City.
“I haven’t seen any roofs come off. There’s a used car lot on the other side of the hotel and their flags are standing straight out,” Silver said.
When we checked in a few hours later, Silver was trying to make sense of the aftermath. He said the power went out at his hotel and he could still see rain falling from his window, but everyone was safe.
