New Orleans, LA | August 15, 2016 – To provide immediate relief for the victims of the recent historic floods in Louisiana, the Mayor of New Orleans has opened the \u201cNOLA Pay It Forward Fund\u201d for those who want to help the approximately 10,000 people currently living in temporary shelters throughout southeast Louisiana. Within the past several days, approximately 20,000 people have been rescued from their homes due to swollen rivers from record-breaking rainfall.\u00a0 Proceeds from this fund will support nonprofit organizations working tirelessly in the affected areas to provide assistance and care for residents with emergency needs. As for long-term recovery efforts, the funds will be used to address the comprehensive rebuilding needs of fragile Louisiana communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur thoughts and prayers are with our nearby neighbors affected by this devastating flood,\u201d said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. \u201cWe\u2019ve witnessed before how the generosity of friends from around the world can have a profound impact on recovery. Please join us by making a contribution to the NOLA Pay It Forward Fund.\u201d<\/p>\n
To facilitate the administration of the fund, Mayor Landrieu has teamed up with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the region\u2019s community foundation. \u201cWhile it\u2019s too early to know the full extent of the damage as a result of the thousands of homes flooded, our experience after hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Isaac, and after the Gulf Coast Oil Spill, is that we have to be fully prepared to aggressively tackle both the immediate and long-term challenges our communities face,\u201d said Martha Landrum, vice president of marketing and communications.<\/p>\n