PHOENIX (3TV / CBS 5) – More than a million people in the Gulf of Mexico are without electricity, running water, and some of them have even lost their homes. Right now, Arizona volunteers are in Louisiana helping the victims get food and water. Aged 73 and retired, Pat Simmons left the desert on Friday to help thousands of people whose world was turned upside down by Hurricane Ida. “It breaks your heart to see people go through this,” said Simmons. Hurricane Ida turned into a tropical storm as its peak winds subsided over Mississippi on Monday. Simmons runs a shelter at a Louisiana high school. He said hundreds of people came for help after the hurricane left much of the state without power. The shelter has the same problem with a solo generator that occasionally fails and running water comes and goes. Reflecting on Hurricane IdaSimmons, the Cajun-style restaurant owner from the Phoenix area said the number of people and problems they see will be overwhelming. “The problems are endless,” said Simmons. “We had 80 customers this morning. They just tried to hand in another 100 that I wanted to turn away because one of the rooms that we wanted to use here as a shelter was flooded.” The residents of this small Louisiana town describe “hours of agony” as Hurricane Ida struck the Gulf Coast. Better to be outside with the aftermath of Ida. “No question about it,” said Simmons. Hurricane Ida left a trail of destruction in the Gulf of Mexico. (Source: CNN) Simmons said he will help as many people as possible during his trip, but he hopes his Arizona community will think of those who are out in the cold in Louisiana. “I want you to feel a tug in your heart,” said Simmons. Simmons said the Red Cross is taking precautions for COVID-19, including screening guests, wearing masks and social distancing wherever possible. If you would like to donate to the Red Cross, click here. Copyright 2021 KPHO / KTVK (KPHO Rundfunkgesellschaft). All rights reserved.
[ad_2]
