The massive floods and forest fires that have disrupted thousands of households in the South and Southern California have spurred colleges in the areas of the disasters into emergency actions to help institution employees, neighbors and students weather the troubles, officials at the institutions say.
The Baton Rouge-based Southern University System (SUS), located in the heart of the state’s flood region, has extended registration that was to begin this week and said it is making special arrangements for students whose lives at home have been disrupted by the floods. Working through a special Flood Relief Fund run by the SUS Foundation, Southern is offering food, clothing, personal effects and helping with housing to students and employees.
“We are deeply concerned about SU employees and students who may have been impacted by the widespread flooding in south Louisiana,” says Dr. Ray L. Belton, president-chancellor of Southern. “The university is still assessing the situation and is making every effort to reach all of our faculty, staff, and students to determine the full extent of the hardship. A System-wide Emergency Response Team has been activated to provide assistance and to direct employees and students to services.”
Across the city, Louisiana State University (LSU) has only empirical information, as does Southern, on the impact of its employees and students. Still, it’s widespread, a spokesman says. Among the many actions taken by the university community has been the activation of its LSU food pantry.
A statement from LSU President F. King Alexander gave strength to that assessment:
“Our students and staff are of the utmost importance to us and we want them to know that we will be with them every step of the way on the road to recovery and restoration,” Alexander says in a statement.
