Alabama Power Volunteers Pack 1,000-Plus Hurricane Isaias Relief Kits for Brewton, Castleberry and Beatrice

Volunteers with Alabama Power’s Magic City chapter of the Alabama Power Service Organization gave up their lunch break this week to pack more than 1,000 Hurricane Isaias relief kits for families in some of the hardest-hit communities in southwest Alabama, including Brewton, East Brewton, Castleberry and Beatrice.

Dozens of employees from the Magic City Chapter of the Alabama Power Service Organization, known as APSO, spent their lunch hour on Tuesday filling sealable bags with shelf-stable food and basic supplies. The kits were then sent south, along with six pallets of bottled water, to towns still working to recover from the storm.

What went into the bags

Each relief bag was filled with food that does not need refrigeration or cooking, an important consideration in communities where power was out for days after the storm and where many families are still getting back on their feet. According to the company, the items included:

• Peanut butter crackers
• Beef jerky bites or canned chicken
• Trail mix
• Breakfast bars
• Fruit cups
• Tissues

Shelf-stable, ready-to-eat foods like these are a staple of disaster relief because they can be handed out quickly, stored without electricity and eaten without a stove, which matters in homes that have lost power or been damaged.

Where the kits are going

The relief bags and water were sent to Brewton and East Brewton in Escambia County, Castleberry in Conecuh County and Beatrice in Monroe County. Those communities sit well inland from the Gulf Coast but took some of the worst wind damage in Alabama when Isaias pushed north after landfall.

Isaias came ashore on the Gulf Coast as a Category 2 hurricane on the night of Friday, Oct. 9, making landfall near Destin, Florida. Its strong winds carried far inland across much of Alabama, toppling trees and bringing down power lines. State and local officials have described Brewton, the Escambia County seat, as the hardest-hit community in the state.

According to Alabama Power, the sheer number of fallen trees and the extent of the damage to electrical equipment made restoration especially difficult in some areas. In the hardest-hit places, crews have had to rebuild parts of the electric system rather than make routine repairs, including replacing large numbers of broken poles.

‘Our commitment extends to helping people’

Mike Jordan, vice president of Alabama Power’s Mobile Division, which serves southwest Alabama, thanked the Birmingham-area volunteers for stepping up for communities about 200 miles away.

“Hurricane Isaias brought devastation to several communities throughout southwest Alabama. The Power Delivery and support teams have again done an incredible job in working around the clock to restore power and bring a sense of normalcy to families. The Alabama Power work, however, does not stop when the lights come on. Our commitment extends to helping people meet emergency needs and support for our communities. Thank you to Magic City APSO for assembling care kits to be distributed to those in need. Even from almost 200 miles away, our company rallies to support one another and our communities. Thank you!”

Jordan’s remarks reflect a common pattern after major storms: once power is back on, the needs of affected families shift to food, water, clean-up supplies and help with housing and repairs.

About the Alabama Power Service Organization

The Alabama Power Service Organization has chapters throughout the company’s service territory in Alabama. Its volunteers are Alabama Power employees and their families, who work through the Alabama Power Foundation and take part in a wide range of community projects.

The Magic City chapter takes its name from Birmingham’s longtime nickname, the “Magic City.” Birmingham is home to Alabama Power’s corporate headquarters. APSO volunteers from chapters around the state have taken part in projects ranging from school supply drives to cleanups. Last month, Alabama Power volunteers also joined the 39th Alabama Coastal Cleanup along the Gulf Coast.

A wider relief effort

The Alabama Power kits are part of a broader wave of help that has poured into southwest Alabama since the storm. Relief groups including World Central Kitchen, the Salvation Army and Samaritan’s Purse have set up in and around Brewton, and World Central Kitchen has served hot meals in East Brewton and in Beatrice. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency has delivered pallets of water and meals to the region.

Local officials have said one of the biggest challenges is getting supplies to rural families who live miles from town and may not be able to reach a distribution site. That is one reason pre-packed kits that can be handed out quickly have been in demand.

How residents can get help

Residents in storm-affected areas who need food, water or other assistance have several options:

• Call 211: The Alabama Emergency Management Agency has directed residents with unmet needs to call 211, which connects callers with local relief resources.
• American Red Cross: The Red Cross helps people displaced by disasters with shelter, supplies and casework and can be reached at 1-800-RED CROSS.
• Local officials: City halls and county emergency management agencies in Escambia, Conecuh and Monroe counties have been sharing information about distribution sites and times.
• Document damage: Residents should photograph damage and keep receipts in case additional state or federal assistance becomes available.

Those who want to help can give through established relief organizations working in the area. Consumer advocates recommend confirming that a charity or fundraiser is legitimate before donating and avoiding links in unsolicited texts or emails.