We are deploying to the flood-devastated community of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.

Dear Rob,

Tropical Storm Arthur has left its mark on a community that rarely sees this kind of devastation, and Hope Force is officially deploying.

Avoyelles Parish, located in central Louisiana, received around 30 inches of rain in 1 day. The result is catastrophic flooding with hundreds of homes sitting in 3-5 feet of water.

The Louisiana National Guard has been activated and water rescues have been ongoing this weekend. Families are now facing the kind of loss that doesn't have an easy or quick path forward.

For context, many residents here own their homes, which represent a lifetime of work and investment. And yet this community also carries a higher poverty rate with a median household income below the state and national averages. That combination of high homeownership, yet limited financial reserves, is what makes flooding so devastating and recovery so slow. Homeowners may not have the resources to recover on their own.

This is why Hope Force has decided to deploy.

Our Incident Commander for this disaster, Aaron Stetson, is in Louisiana now assessing where Reservists can make the greatest impact.

He assessed the home of the Avoyelles Parish fire chief, who told him, "I'm always the one who spends time helping to rescue people, but now that my house is flooded, I don't know what to do, and I need help."

In a flood situation, help needs to come ASAP. The sooner residents can remove flood soaked contents in their homes, the sooner the drying process can start, reducing mold growth and improving chances of recovery. And that's where Hope Force comes in.

As this deployment moves forward, will you consider giving toward this flood response?

Every dollar goes directly toward our efforts in Louisiana. Your gift will fuel our truck and trailer, equip Reservists with tools and muck-out materials, and bring real, practical help to those whose homes are underwater.

And lastly, will you pray?

• For families who have lost so much in this flooding.
• For older adults and vulnerable residents facing recovery with limited resources.
• For Aaron and our advance team on the ground today.
• For wisdom for Hope Force leadership as we determine next steps.

Thank you for standing with us. We'll keep you updated as things develop.

-The Hope Force Team