Catholic Charities Agencies Monitoring Irene and Preparing to Assist

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Aug 25, 2011, 12:49 ET

2011 storms, tornadoes, and flooding have already impacted areas in Irene's path

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), among the nation's largest providers of disaster response and disaster case management services, reported that it has been in touch with its agencies along the East Coast—that plans and preparations are in place to minimize the potential impact of Irene and to respond to any damages it may cause.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081008/CCUSALOGO)

"With our active involvement in Gulf Coast hurricanes since 2005, CCUSA has developed strong capability in preparing and assisting local communities," said Kim Burgo, vice president of Disaster Operations for CCUSA. "Our resources—both dollar and human—have been stretched with the detrimental spring tornadoes and storms that affected most of the mid and eastern United States. We call upon everyone to participate in CCUSA disaster response efforts by being generous financial supporters."

Catholic Charities agencies in presently-impacted areas of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are conducting damage assessments, with plans to report back to the CCUSA headquarters in Alexandria, VA.

To help disaster-stricken areas across the country, please visit the Catholic Charities USA Disaster Donation Page.

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrated its centennial anniversary.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA