BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — A combined effort between Harrison and Marion counties is collecting relief supplies for Helene storm victims in North Carolina, with plans to leave for the Asheville, North Carolina, area Wednesday morning.
Director of the Office of Emergency Management in the city of Bridgeport, Tim Curry, said they are collecting items to provide immediate relief. Officials on the ground in the storm-ravaged area have requested the following items:
Bottled Water
Cleaning Supplies
Coolers
Bleach
Hand Sanitizer
Toilet Paper
Diapers
Paper Towers
Shovels
Brooms
Gloves
“As far as clothing and long-term stuff, they’re not set up for that yet,” Curry said. “Right now, we’re filling immediate needs for water, cleaning supplies, and things like that.”
Curry said many local retailers have cleaning supplies pre-packaged with a bucket that can be very helpful for those in the clean-up zone. Other priority items for storm victims are batteries, along with items for toddlers and babies.
“Home Depot and Lowes are great about having those 5-gallon buckets that you can fill with bleach, gloves, paper towels, and stuff like that,” Curry said.
The supplies will be collected at the Marion County Emergency Squad Headquarters in Fairmont, the Shinnston Fire Department, and the Bridge Sports Complex.
“The U-Haul place here in Bridgeport has been kind enough to give us a 26-foot truck, and we’re going to load that bad boy up over the next two days and head out Wednesday morning,” Curry said.
In addition to relief supplies, some emergency and communications equipment is also being sent to the area. Some reports indicate it could be weeks before water and electricity can be restored, and many roads and bridges vital to the area are just gone, according to reports.
“With some other supplies they need as well,” Curry said. “Some communications things and other emergency items they’ve asked for, so we’re going to be fulfilling several requests.”
This relief shipment will leave West Virginia on Wednesday morning, and more trips will be organized in the future, according to Curry.
“We’re working on the immediate needs right now,” Curry said. “Clothing and things like that will come later, but they’re not set up to receive things like that.”