Utility crews work on downed power lines.

HSF trailer ready to distribute water & ice

Almost a week as passed since Hurricane Isabel roared up the Eastern Coast reeking havoc through North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. About a half of a million households are still without electricity! Thousands of utility workers from out of state are working around the clock in hot temperatures to restore power. We are helping them get the job done.

Countless gallons of water and bags of ice are being consumed by Dominion Power employees as they work to quickly restore power to Hurricane Isabel victims. Keeping workers hydrated over the long work hours has been a challenge. Add to that, Dominion Power is buying water and ice for their employees from outside of Virginia so they don't deplete supplies in local grocery strores, leaving enough for those living in effected communities.

To assist Dominion Power in this huge task, OBI has parked 3 of its refrigerated Hunger Strike Force (HSF) trailers in key locations across Virginia. OBI will store the supplies being trucked in from other states so it can be easily distributed to the utility crews working in the surrounding regions; keeping them on the job restoring power for customers in need. Customers like a Virginia Beach couple with 8-month-old twins who have been without electricity for a week now. Coping with two infants is a struggle!

To date, in our continued partnership with The Salvation Army, Operation Blessing has provided more than 15 volunteer teams (6-10 people per team) to support Salvation Army’s local feeding programs and mobile canteens. Beginning Saturday, September 20th, individuals from The Christian Broadcasting Network, Operation Blessing, Regent University and numerous area churches are working three to four hour shifts, transporting and serving food to disaster victims. Operation Blessing’s Hunger Strike Force has delivered 19 truckloads of food and relief supplies.

Hunger Strike Force drivers and trucks also have been busy. As of today, 19 loads of food and relief supplies have been distributed through partnering organizations to victims in North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia.

Your help is needed now! Damage reports are still coming in. But OBI can only respond with the same amount of support that our faithful partners give us. President George W. Bush declared Virginia and many other effected areas as “States of Emergency”. While electric companies work to restore power, it is estimated that in Virginia’s Hampton Roads area it will take another 7 days to fix all of the problems. In parts of North Carolina it is expected to take a couple of weeks! Thousands throughout North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland are desperate for help in cleaning their flooded homes, fixing hot meals, and recovering from devastating loses.

Your gift of $50 or more can assist OBI in delivering critical emergency food and supplies to families recovering from Hurricane Isabel. There’s no time to waste; the need is now.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

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