To: Houston Texas Region North America Southwest Area (NASWA) Priesthood Leaders
From: Elder Dan Jones- Area Seventy NASWA and,
Elder Randy Bluth- Area Seventy NASEA

August 23, 2016 Update

Dear Brethren,
Original Volunteer Request, Additional Information and Status Update:
The estimated number of volunteers requested by Louisiana Church leaders from the Houston Texas Region was based on their local work experience of this past weekend using teams of 8-12 men which resulted in muck-outs of 1.5 homes per day per work crew. Specifically, they have requested 1500 to 2000 volunteers from our Region for the upcoming weekend of August 27-28 and the following weekend of September 3-4. That equates to 100 volunteers from each of our 20 Stakes for both weekends. They have requested that any participating Young Men be at least 16 years of age and if under age 18, to have a signed parental permission slip.
We are exempting members of the Orange, Bear Creek Stake and Bay City Stake’s this weekend (August 27-28) due to scheduled Stake Conferences. The Houston West (Spanish) Stake has requested non-participation this weekend due to a Storehouse Cannery Assignment. Each of these stakes is planning on participation as requested the following weekend. (September 2-3).
We are also monitoring very closely the developing storm patterns in the Atlantic Ocean for any potential threat from Invest 99L along the Atlantic Seaboard or Gulf Coast by early next week.
While much of Baton Rouge now has ample availability of gasoline, food and other needed amenities, local Church leaders have asked that volunteers be self-sustaining in terms of food, water and work supplies as much as possible, especially at their assigned work locations away from the designated Command Centers. Numerous restaurants and fast-food businesses are now open. Hotels are reopening, but definitely need to be booked in advance.
The Lamar-Dixon Expo Center is our designated camping location, it is a large 4-H and Equestrian complex with numerous agriculture-related facilities and structures. For those volunteers who are tent camping Friday or Saturday night we have a very large grass-covered area reserved. RV parking at the Expo Center is limited; but can be reserved by calling Betty Delaune at: 225-450-1009 and identifying yourself with Mormon Helping Hands. Hook-ups are available.
We expect to have a large group dinner for all volunteers in the Gonzalez area Saturday night provided by local Jambalaya specialists. Details will be provided at registration. State dignitaries have been invited.
Several Stakes have requested permission for Adult Sisters and Young Women to participate on this and next weekend’s assignments. We recognize the invaluable service they always provide, but local Baton Rouge Church leaders caution that the work conditions at this stage of the clean-up process will generally be physically demanding and quite hazardous due to the hot and humid weather forecast. We are not precluding sisters from serving, but want to be sure that they ready for the heavy work loads and less than optimal conditions that will be encountered.
Additional safety concerns center primarily on the limited camping, restroom and cold water shower facilities for volunteers camping at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center. Showers and Porta-Potty’s for volunteers are currently located outside the Expo Center, but we hope to have limited access to some of the inside restroom facilities by this weekend. Site Maps are available online.
Should sisters desire strongly to participate we recommend that accommodations at newly reopened local area hotels be given consideration where feasible as opposed to tent camping. Please refer to listings posted on well-know internet web search sites for updates on availability near our Command Centers and locations near the Lamar Dixon Expo Center.
Sisters in our Houston Region have asked if a clothing or basic supply drive should be undertaken and transported to the Baton Rouge area by volunteers. Many supplies have been donated at this time and sorting is becoming an issue.
The Red Cross, Salvation Army and local VOAD faith-based groups have not designated all of their storage sorting and distribution points yet. Consequently, such donations will be better handled in the near future after the muck-out work is completed. At this weekend’s assignment, local leaders have asked that we not send donated materials to our Command Centers, but to prepare for possible specific future requests for items.
Equipment, Tools and Supplies
Some tools and work-related materials will be provided, but volunteers are strongly encouraged to bring their own needed tools and to dress appropriately for the heavy and wet work involved. Leather soled shoes or work boots, leather gloves and hats are highly recommended. Other needed work items are the same we have used in recent flood-related activity in our Region.
Specifically, the type of work assignments require square-nosed shovels, wheelbarrows, razor-knives for cutting drywall, pry bars, claw hammers, chalk line markers for dry wall removal lines, clear goggles, breathing masks, push brooms and large dust pans. We will supplement some additional needed materials from our local storehouse emergency supplies as authorized and appropriate for the scope of the work. No heavy equipment, as used in Deweyville and other previous work is currently requested or needed.
Proposed Plan of Action and Weekend Camping Accommodations
The proposed plan of action for volunteers is to arrive on either Friday night or early Saturday morning at one of the two designated reception Command Centers in Baton Rouge or Gonzales. They will register in and receive a work assignment package and safety briefing. From the Command Centers, volunteers will be directed to the Lamar Dixon Expo Center for overnight tent and RV camping facilities. This location also serves as the FEMA and Red Cross Command Centers. Some displaced residents are also located there, but should be resettled by this weekend.
We expect arriving volunteers to be about equally divided between the Gonzales and Baton Rouge Command Center reception and registration areas according to the total number arriving by stake. Once the numbers of expected volunteers are tallied here in the Houston Texas Region, we will designate a Command Center for each stake to register at and will communicate that to you by Friday morning. (See map attachments)
Volunteers arriving Friday night should arrive between 6:30 and 10:00 pm at a designated Command Center and will be registered at their time of arrival. Volunteers arriving Saturday morning (between 7:30-9:00 am) should go directly to one of the Command Centers as designated in the communication on Friday. Please bring any permission slips and completed volunteer forms with you. (See attachment)
Sacrament-only Church meetings will be conducted for volunteers early on Sunday morning at each Command Center prior to moving onto work assignments. Assignments are expected to be completed by early afternoon to allow for safe driving times to Houston.
We recognize that the time for organizing and responding to this request is extremely short and that many calendar conflicts may reduce participation this weekend. We are very grateful for your response by midweek and are always humbled by the diligence and sacrifice of our members to assist one another.
We have included several attachments with this email for more detailed instructions and your planning needs with respect to this very large and complex effort. Additional materials will be sent as questions arise and conditions evolve this week.
We request an initial volunteer response tally by Houston Texas Region stakes as soon as practical, with a projected total volunteer commitment by Thursday night August 25th. Please provide these numbers and direct any questions to Stirling Pack, the Houston Texas Region Disaster Response Coordinator: sdpackjr@gmail.com.
Brethren stated once again: we have experienced an unprecedented series of severe weather events this year in both Texas and Louisiana. The experiences in Texas have prepared us to assist in a very meaningful manner for this very complex and widespread disaster in Louisiana and the size and strength of our membership in the Houston Texas Region has provided a means of assisting our members and the communities they live in of the Lord’s commandment to Love One Another.
Brethren, thank you for your willingness to respond under the time constraints and travel conditions of this Priesthood-lead recovery effort.
Yours truly,
Elder Dan Jones and Elder Randy Bluth