Hanna could divert hurricane clean-up supplies to East Coast

By DAN KEGLEY/Staff

An Atlantic storm could divert a Project Crossroads delivery of donated sanitation materials and bottled water from the Gulf Coast to Virginia’s east coast.
Earlier this week as Hurricane Gustav followed Katrina’s path, but fortunately not so closely her act, the Smyth County mission organization issued a call for donations of flood buckets to aid in cleaning up behind Gustav, bottled water to replace disrupted municipal supplies, and cash donations.
Project Crossroads Director Harry Howe met with ministers Tuesday to arrange transport of the supplies and water to a Methodist-run warehouse and distribution center at Baldwin, La., near New Orleans.
But that transport is now on hold as Howe waits to see whether a telephone call tells him the supplies are needed in the Gulf or in Virginia’s own tidewater region.
Hanna remained a tropical storm Friday forecasters said could drop two to four inches of rain by Saturday on eastern Virginia, but less in the western portion. Meteorologists projected Hanna would hit North Carolina early Saturday as a tropical storm instead of a hurricane.
Still, Hanna could cause some tidal flooding and possibly tornadoes in eastern Virginia, forecasters said.
“We’re waiting on a call from Baldwin or a call from the East Coast,” Project Crossroads Administrative Assistant Howard McGhee said Thursday.
A Methodist conference in Tidewater operates a warehouse and distribution center like the one at Baldwin, he said.
Earlier in the week, Project Crossroads was gearing up for a trip down south to deliver bottles of water and buckets filled with cleaning supplies, similar to the organization’s response after Katrina.
“We take it to the warehouse and they deliver it,” McGhee said as Project Crossroads asked for donations of water, money and the goods on a formal list of cleaning agents, sponges, gloves and the like.
Those donations “are going pretty good,” McGhee said Thursday, estimating disaster relief fund receipts of some $5,000 in cash. He could not say how much cleaning supplies and water had accumulated at a collection point at First United Methodist Church, other than the water he delivered there.
“I took four cases” of 24 bottles “and ten gallons,” he said.
Project Crossroads will continue accepting donations, McGhee said. Checks should be made payable to Project Crossroads Disaster Relief, McGhee said, and delivered or mailed to 214 West Main Street, Marion VA 24354. Water and cleaning supplies should be taken to the church.
The organization is looking beyond the weekend’s weather as Hurricane Ike churns unpredictably but an estimated four or five days away from a possible U.S. landfall.

What’s in a flood bucket?
These items are needed for clean-up in areas hit by hurricane winds and floodwaters. First United Methodist Church in Marion is accepting these prior to delivery by Project Crossroads.
Five-gallon bucket with resealable lid.
Bleach (two 1-quart or one 82-oz. bottle)
Five scouring pads
Seven sponges
One scrub brush
18 cleaning towels (reusable wipes)
Liquid laundry detergent (two 25-oz. or one 50-oz.)
One bottle household cleaner, 12-16 oz.
Disinfectant dish soap, 16-28 oz bottle
50 clothespins
Clothes line, two 50-ft. or one 100-ft.
Five dust masks
Two pairs latex gloves
One pair work gloves
24-bag roll of heavy-duty trash bags, 33-45 gal. (remove roll from box)
One can insect repellant spray, 6-14 oz.
All items must be new.
Do not include personal notes, money or additional materials.
Additional requirements govern flood buckets sent through the mail or other delivery service. Contact Project Crossroads for details if mailing flood buckets directly to affected areas.