August 27, 2020

Hurricane Laura made landfall early this morning near Cameron, Louisiana, as a Category 4 hurricane, the region’s strongest storm in over a century.  

The combination of what the National Weather Service is calling an “unsurvivable” storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded up to 30 miles inland from the coastline. Through Friday, Laura is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches across portions of the northwestern Gulf Coast – causing widespread flash and urban flooding. Additionally, hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area, with catastrophic wind damage expected where Laura's eyewall makes landfall.

The Red Cross, the Caterpillar Foundation’s disaster relief partner, is ready for a large response effort in Louisiana and Texas with nearly 600 trained disaster workers helping communities threatened by Hurricane Laura. They also have pre-positioned shelter and relief supplies along the Gulf Coast, and additional workers are standing by to assist as needed. Earlier this week, as many as 5,000 people were provided a safe place to stay in emergency lodgings, including shelters and hotels.

How the Caterpillar Foundation is helping.

The Caterpillar Foundation is a member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). This program provides a funding base that allows the Red Cross to respond immediately to the needs of individuals and families impacted by disasters. This model has proven to be efficient and effective in immediately meeting disaster relief needs, ensuring the Red Cross has the funds to prepare for disasters before they occur.