Church focuses aid on next approaching hurricane

Two news outlets, the  Atlanta Journal-Constitution  and WXIA-TV  in Atlanta, have reported on the church’s preparations for Hurricane Hanna, which is expected to hit the southeast coast of the U.S. on Friday. The video story from WXIA-TV illustrates how the church prepares locally to assist all residents when disasters hit.

Supplies are being shipped from a bishops' storehouse in Tucker, Georgia, to be in place if needed following Hanna’s landfall. The truckloads of supplies are being sent each day to bishops' storehouses in other parts of the Southeast where staging areas are being established.

In anticipation of Hurricane Gustav, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent several truckloads of aid to the Gulf Coast. Church members in affected areas continue to assist in cleanup efforts with supplies the church has provided.

The church continually gathers donations of food, medical supplies and other relief items. Needed resources are then pre-positioned in key locations for shipping on short notice.  This planning and preparation allows the church to respond quickly in times of emergency.

When the timing of response is critical, international relief agencies have come to rely on the church for food and materials.

Each year, millions of men, women and children are impacted by war, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters.  In these desperate circumstances, quick response is often the difference between life and death.