August 27th, 2020 2:00pm EST

Hurricane Laura made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday, August 27th, 2020.

With 150 mph winds and the threat of a storm surge 30+ miles inland, Hurricane Laura is the strongest hurricane to hit the Louisiana coastline since 1856.

"Catastrophic storm surges, extreme winds, and flash flooding" are threatening communities from Louisiana to Tennessee, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is moving inland across southwestern Louisiana, then heading north across the state on Thursday afternoon. The center of the storm will then move over Arkansas, Tennessee, and the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday, reaching the mid-Atlantic states by Saturday. (CNN)

Our team of disaster response volunteers are preparing to deploy. Currently, we are working closely with our partners, the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and Lutheran Disaster Response, to assess the communities most in need of our assistance across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Together, we are also in communication with the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee VOADs and EMAs to ensure we are collaborating and prioritizing communities with unmet needs.

We also have a disaster relief team on the ground in Tennessee ready to assist with homes that could be impacted by tornadoes and flooding that may arise on Friday, August 28th, 2020 from this storm.

All our teams are following COVID-19 safety guidelines and sanitary protocols while providing relief and support during this challenging time.

We’re extremely grateful for our collaborative partners during this difficult time, especially our trusted partners: the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and Lutheran Disaster Response.

We’re experiencing two disasters at the same time: COVID-19 and Hurricane Laura. But we’re an organization that, through your generosity and support, brings hope to the people who need it most. Please donate today. Your help during the early days of a disaster are critical!

HOW TO HELP:

DONATE HERE

VOLUNTEER HERE

BE A HOME HERO & FUNDRAISE HERE

MAIL GIFT CARDS/CHECKS TO:

Inspiritus

Attn: Disaster Relief

P.O. Box 7829

Atlanta, GA 30357

If you have any specific questions, please reach out to Sabrina More, our Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager. Be sure to check out our Hurricane Laura page on our website, as we will update it with the latest information.

And be sure to follow us on all our social media channels at: @weareinspiritus

Our hearts and prayers go out to our loved ones and neighbors in the path of this storm.

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer

Vice President of Development

Inspiritus