Jones county officials helped Louisiana flood victims

JONES COUNTY, Miss. - Jones county deputies and firefighters headed to Livingston Parrish, Louisiana Saturday.

Officials donated food, clothes, water, and cleaning supplies in Denham Springs to those affected by the flood.

The donations were made available from Pine Belt residents, businesses, and organizations. The Jones county community were able to fill up an 18-wheeler truck that was donated to the relief effort.

Jones county Volunteer Firefighter, Lance Chancellor said, "Everywhere you go you see furniture, clothes, piled on hundred and hundreds of homes, businesses completely devastated in their central business district."

Officials said around 20,000 to 30,000 homes were flooded and the supplies were desperately needed.

"The kids, the adults, were all clapping, their relief center was basically down to one day left of supplies" said Chancellor.

The convoy leader, Calhoun Chief Lee Garrick said when Jones county was hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 thousands of people helped, now he is returning the favor.

He said, "We wanted to pay that forward, we know what it feels like to be without everything, and to lose everything, a lot of us do."

Officials are planning a second trip to Louisiana and they are taking donations all week.

You can donate at the Jones County Training Center Monday - Friday 8 AM to 5 PM.