VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – In our attempts to predict the eventual path of the storm and “shoot in front of the target,” we picked what we hoped would be the best “close-but-not-too-close” staging areas. Last week, we staged supplies in Baton Rouge; yesterday, our disaster relief team headed to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Baton Rouge now looks now like it may wind up in the thick of the storm.

The convoy that left the Operation Blessing Ocala, Fla., warehouse yesterday consisted of: our 20-ton truck crane, a truckload of temporary roof materials (blue tarps, furring strips, nails), 4-door diesel pickups each pulling trailers loaded with skid steer loaders, portable showers, tools, etc. Our mobile command center with its satellite communications equipment and mobile office, as well as a mobile kitchen with partner Mercy Chefs, left for Hattiesburg today. Our disaster relief leadership team arrived in Hattiesburg around 8:30 p.m.

We are in communication with Craig Taffaro, the St Bernard Parrish president. Craig knows OBI is standing by to help. I just called Mayor Ben Morris in Slidell. He said “Bill I knew you would call, I knew we could count on OB.” He said that he had pulled the trigger on (Slidell) mandatory evacuation at 8 a.m. today. Mayor Ben said he would send a police escort to get our convoy through National Guard and State Police roadblocks that will be in place if this storm hits as anticipated.

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