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A Friend in Need - Louisiana Floods
If there is one thing South Mississippians know, it is to show our hospitality, more so in times of need. Over this past week our friendly neighbors in the state of Louisiana have experienced devastating floods. What can we do to help our neighbors during their time of need?
Across the Gulf Coast there are locations you can drop off donations to support the flood victims of Louisiana.
Supplies needed: Water, nonperishable food items, personal hygiene products, baby clothes, diapers, baby formula, baby food, socks and shoes, fans, pet food, cleaning supplies, trash bags, safety glasses, portable chargers, shop vacs, pillows, blankets, towels, underwear, and medical supplies.
If you want to make a donation to Red Cross relief efforts you can text “LAFLOODS” to 90999.
Drop Off Locations
Jackson County
- Oasis Church - 4007 Pascagoula St., Pascagoula
- First Baptist Church of Pascagoula- 902 Live Oak Ave., Pascagoula
- Pascagoula Police Department – 611 Live Oak Ave., Pascagoula
- Little River Marina – 3200 Dumas Rd., Moss Point
- Bienville Animal Medical Center – 1524 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
- Jackson County Sherriff’s Department – 6904 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs
- Jackson County Recreation Department – 5400 Ballpark Rd., Vancleave
- Singing River Health- 7007 Hwy. 614, Hurley
- Singing River Health-11700 Hwy. 57, Vancleave
- Singing River Health- 2819 Denny Ave., Pascagoula
- Singing River Hospital- 2809 Denny Ave., Pascagoula
- Ocean Springs Hospital- 3109 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
Harrison County
- Gulfport City Hall – 2309 15th St., Gulfport
- Gulfport Central Fire Station – 1515 23rd Ave., Gulfport
- Station 2- 1200 42nd Ave., Gulfport
- Station 3- 2324 25th St., Gulfport
- Station 5- 641 41st St., Gulfport
- Station 6- 1000 East Pass Rd., Gulfport Station 7- 210 Cowan Rd., Gulfport
- Station 8- 13440 Old Hwy. 49, Gulfport
- Station 9- 15239 Dedeaux Rd., Gulfport
- Station 10- 12001 Dedeaux Rd., Gulfport
- Station 11- 13000 Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport
- Station 12- 15550 Martin Luther King Blvd., Gulfport
- Allen Toyota – 11397 Helen Richards Dr., Gulfport
- Long Beach Fire Station 2- 120 East 2nd St., Long Beach
- Long Beach Fire Station 3- 21066 Johnson Rd., Long Beach
- Planet Beach- 15238 Crossroads Pkwy., Gulfport
- Penecostals of the Gulf Coast – 1907 Popp’s Ferry Rd., Biloxi
- Bancorp South Insurance Center- 213 Porter Ave., Biloxi
- Ladner Drugs- 12435 Shriners Blvd., Woolmarket
- Neco’s Market Place- 12342 Cable Bridge Rd., Pass Christian
Hancock County
- Sail Away Skateboard Company- 547 Hwy. 90, Bay St. Louis (Accepted until Saturday 8-20-16)
- Rosettie Liquor Barrel- 998 Hwy. 90, Waveland
- Taco Bell- 4456 Hwy. 90, Waveland
- Diamondhead Fire Station 1- 444 Kalani Dr., Diamondhead
Stone County
- Diamond Portable Buildings and More- 999 Hwy. 49, Perkinston
Pearl River County
- Big Mama’s Cajun Kitchen- 131 Sandy Smith Rd., Poplarville
- Big Time Vapes- 711 Memorial Blvd., Picayune
- The old Dixie Glass Building- 424 Memorial Blvd., Picayune (volunteers welcome, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Flood Insurance
Our number one priority remains available and affordable flood insurance for the homeowners that need it. As you may know, I was an original co-sponsor of The Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act (H.R. 3370) which continues to keep NFIP on a path to solvency, but does so with compassionate rate management.
This legislation amended significant portions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act that placed an unfair burden of exorbitant rate increases upon hard working South Mississippians. This legislation allowed for not only reduced rates, but the restoration of many grandfathered rates and a means of reimbursement for policyholders who make successful map appeals. I will continue to aggressively pursue reforms and fight to hold FEMA accountable.
Furthermore, in my capacity as Vice-Chairman of the House Home Protection Caucus, I will continue to bring members and experts together to discuss the best ways to improve flood insurance. We’ve used this forum to raise awareness of flawed FEMA practices and educate our colleagues on crucial flood insurance reforms long before many knew that they were needed. The NFIP is due for re-authorization in September 2017, and I will use this opportunity to fight to enact substantive reforms to the program.
We can only maintain NFIP’s affordability and solvency if we consider improving outdated flood-risk maps, offering incentives to homeowners for purchasing insurance plans, inviting more communities to take advantage of discounts through the Community Rating System, supporting mitigation planning through means such as tax-preferred disaster savings accounts, and encouraging more private insurers to enter the marketplace to spur healthy competition.
The recent flooding in Louisiana, and parts of the neighboring 3rd congressional district of Mississippi, serve as a reminder of how important flood insurance coverage is. We must dispel the myth that only waterfront homeowners are at risk. As I stated in a speech on the House floor, my constituents are “teachers, veterans, fishermen, and people who work at the shipyards in support of our Navy” many of whom “live 50 or 100 miles or more inland”.
Baton Rouge, where we’ve seen incredible images of devastation, is only 60 miles inland. However, only about 12% of homeowners were covered. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by this tragedy.
Your comments are always welcome and you can contact Congressman Palazzo on facebook, twitter or by visiting his website.
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