Catholic Charities USA and Local Agencies Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the East coast prepares for the impact of Hurricane Sandy, Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) one of the country's leaders in disaster response, is working with its network of local agencies to ensure they have provisions in place to any possible needs the Hurricane may create in their communities.

Rev. Larry Snyder, President of CCUSA says, "Since Hurricane Katrina, we have focused on being prepared for future disasters. He adds, "Not only are we early responders, but our presence in the community also puts us in a position to be able to quickly assess and provide support in the long-term."

In a call with CCUSA's disaster response team with agencies along the east coast that may be impacted by the storm, it was clear that the most difficult part of the preparedness process is the uncertainty that exists from not knowing exactly what the impact will be. 

"One of the biggest mistakes people make is taking these types of weather warnings lightly," says Samuel Chambers, Senior Vice President of CCUSA's Disaster Operations. "Reports from the National Weather Service make it clear that many of our agencies on the East coast--from New York all the way down to Florida--will be feeling some impact from Hurricane Sandy and we stand ready to provide whatever support necessary to meet the needs of those affected."

When preparing for an emergency, individuals should assemble a kit with basic household items and essentials in the event you need to evacuate at a moment's notice and are unable to return for a period of time.  It is recommended that you have enough bottled water, food, and other supplies such as charged cell phones and batteries, to last at least 72 hours should an emergency force you to have to survive on your own.

It is also a good idea to have cash on you, as power outages caused by the storm could impact access to ATMs and stores may not be able to process credit card purchases.

For regular updates and resources on Hurricane Sandy, please visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Since Hurricane Katrina, Catholic Charities USA and its network of agencies across the country has helped thousands of families recover from disasters, first as an early responder to the immediate needs and later helping people rebuild their lives.  Relief and recovery services are provided at the local level by Catholic Charities agencies that provide critical services including emergency food, shelter, direct financial assistance, counseling, and support. These services are provided regardless of religion, race, creed, or socio-economic status.

About Catholic Charities USA 
Catholic Charities USA is the national office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA