On Wednesday night, Hurricane Laura ripped into Southeast Louisiana with wind gusts of 150 miles per hour. It was the strongest storm to hit the state in 160 years.

While it downgraded to a tropical storm as it churned northward through Louisiana and into Arkansas the following day, behind it, the storm left at least four dead in Louisiana and significant damage in the state and far east Texas. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said Thursday, “It is clear that we didn't suffer the absolute catastrophic damage that we thought that was likely ... but we have sustained a tremendous amount of damage.”

As the storm moved out of the area, hundreds of rescue personnel, along with boats and high-water vehicles are searching for survivors and rendering assistance throughout the area stricken by the hurricane. More than 800,000 people are reportedly without power in the region.

In the wake of the storm, PPAI, in conjunction with the Regional Association Council (RAC), is offering disaster relief to help promotional products industry members and nonmembers located in federally-declared natural disaster areas get back to business through the Promotional Products Disaster Recovery Foundation (PPDRF) Business Recovery Fund. Click here for information on applying for funds.

Financial contributions to support the fund should be directed to the Promotional Products Business Recovery Fund, care of PPAI RAC, 3125 Skyway Circle North, Irving, Texas 75038. This fund is a 501(c)(3) organization and all contributions will be tax deductible. A tax-deductible receipt will be mailed to donors, or donate online here.

Follow the news on Hurricane Laura at pubs.ppai.org. Companies that are affected by the hurricane are encouraged to report their status to JamesK@ppai.org for follow-up reports in PPB Newslink.