(New Hyde Park, NY, 08/31/2021) – An ICNA Relief emergency response team will be deployed to the Gulf Coast in the coming days to respond to Hurricane Ida. The storm made landfall yesterday exactly 16 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the region. This Category 4 hurricane has brought storm surge, heavy rain, and damaging winds.
“Thousands of families are now dealing with the aftermath of this hurricane and ICNA Relief is ready to meet their most urgent needs,” said ICNA Relief Director of Disaster Relief Services Rafiq Mehdi, who is leading the Hurricane Ida response team. “As soon as the storm clears and it’s safe to travel, we will begin damage assessments in the hardest hit communities. Many communities along the Gulf Coast are still recovering from last year’s storm and will need help.”
ICNA Relief offices and partners had begun to collect emergency essential medicines, medical and food supplies in advance that will now be delivered quickly in this time of crisis. ICNA Relief has professional relief workers and a network of volunteers ready to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice and has a long history of responding to emergencies in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
ICNA Relief has responded to over 30 natural disasters and continues to establish long-term recovery projects and disaster preparedness programs for vulnerable communities. Since it was founded more than 15 years ago, ICNA Relief has provided more than $1 billion in aid and servicing 28 states to over 654 cities.
