The Humane Society of Missouri’s Disaster Response Team Deploys to Louisiana to Assist Animal Shelters Impacted by Hurricane Ida

At the request of the Louisiana SPCA, this morning the Humane Society of Missouri’s (HSMO) Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) deployed four members of its Disaster Response Team to New Orleans to assist local animal welfare organizations affected by Hurricane Ida. The Disaster Response Team is expected to be on-site in New Orleans for 7 to 10 days and will provide overwhelmed local shelters with badly needed manpower and life-saving supplies.

HSMO joins eight leading Louisiana animal shelters that are actively working together on post-storm animal response and rescue efforts. HSMO will be stationed in the New Orleans area, likely working in the Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana’s southernmost parish which was the most devastated by Ida.

As Hurricane Ida made landfall early last week and the search and rescue phase of recovery has already occurred, HSMO will be acting in a supportive role to assist local shelters with their ongoing recovery operations. The Disaster Response Team is providing hundreds of pounds of Purina dog and cat food, litter and other necessities that overwhelmed Louisiana shelters need desperately.

During their time in Louisiana, the team from HSMO will be self-sufficient, bringing their own food and water supply to not put further strain on local recovery efforts. HSMO is also prepared to transport some animals back to its St. Louis shelters if necessary due to space and supply limitations in Louisiana.

“When disaster strikes, the Humane Society of Missouri is always at the ready to help animals in dire need. Our seasoned Disaster Response Team members will be assisting with the recovery phase of Hurricane Ida, which can take weeks to months, and we will be on-hand as needed” said Kathy Warnick, President of HSMO.