Hurricane Laura Recovery

The governor says DSNAP benefits would be activated on Sept. 10, but preregistering for the benefits would “speed up” the process for residents in need.

Federal and state officials are now on the ground to help residents with home repairs and hotel stays.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has opened a Reception Center at the Alexandria MegaShelter for Hurricane Laura evacuees seeking shelter. The Reception Center at Shrine on Airline / Zephyr Field has now closed.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is launching “Connect,” a way for families to locate loved ones who evacuated from Hurricane Laura to state-provided hotel rooms.

“Many of our residents in the affected areas suffered devastating property damage due to Hurricane Laura,” said LSLBC Executive Director Michael McDuff. “Unlicensed contractors often solicit work after such an event to take advantage of consumers who need repairs. It is important that consumers learn to recognize fraudulent contractors and take the necessary steps to protect themselves from large monetary losses.”

Catholics schools in Baton Rouge are opening their doors to students from 17 Catholic schools in Lake Charles and Alexandria displaced by Hurricane Laura.

Air monitoring contractors for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found chlorine above detection limits at nine locations in neighborhoods surrounding the BioLab Inc. chemical plant in Westlake, while an EPA monitoring plane found minimal amounts of three other chemicals as it flew a few hundred feet above the area a few hours after Hurricane Laura moved through, according to an EPA document.

Rescue Alliance/Louisiana Pet Food Bank is asking for help feeding pets affected by Hurricane Laura and the coronavirus pandemic.

Hurricane Laura ripped through parts of southwest Louisiana and Texas last week, and its 150 mile-per-hour winds made it the strongest hurricane to strike Louisiana in over a century. As our neighbors in the Lake Charles area rebuild, there are so many ways we in Baton Rouge can help out—from buying a meal to supplying toiletries. Here’s a list of organizations and locations in and around Baton Rouge putting together donation drives to help hurricane victims.

These organizations are providing relief in Texas and Louisiana, and tips on how to evaluate charities.