Operation Hoosier Relief

Daily Update – Day 19

Mission Assignments:

• The Indiana Department of Homeland Security continues closely monitoring Hurricane Rita.  The storm currently poses no direct threat to Camp Indiana, but team members expect rain in the area throughout the end of the week.

• Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials, along with members of the medical and mental health teams, continued providing assistance to areas not easily accessible.

• DNR forestry teams are focusing much of their work on Harrison and Jackson counties.

• Indiana State Police personnel conducted patrols with the Biloxi PD, Long Beach PD, and Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.  Troopers made dozens of security checks and responded to routine law enforcement calls.

• The medical and mental health teams treated over 1,000 patients and dispensed over 425 inoculations.

• Hoosier Helper crews traveled over 400 miles and made 25 stops to provide assistance and investigate abandoned vehicles.

Evacuee Assistance:

• Indiana is currently home to an estimated 4,200 evacuees.

• The American Red Cross reports that all guests currently at the shelter at the Indiana State Fairgrounds will be moved to long-term housing by the end of the day.  

• Indiana is encouraging all evacuees residing in Indiana to call the following toll-free number to register with the state and make themselves available for state assistance – 866-679-4631.

State Government Action:

• Two engineers from the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunications System (IHETS) left this morning to help restore Internet capability at Alcorn State University and Southern University.

Volunteer Efforts:

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact INVOAD online at www.invoad.org or at 866-909-4673.

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