LOUISVILLE, Ky. — WaterStep, a Louisville-based nongovernmental organization, will soon depart for Augusta, Georgia, to assist with relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
What You Need To Know
- Louisville-based WaterStep is sending two of its mobile water purifiers to Augusta, Georgia, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene
- The systems can clean 10,000 gallons each per day
- WaterStep is waiting for authorization from officials in other states before sending resources elsewhere
- The company is looking to raise $250,000 to fund additional purification systems
The company is sending two of its mobile water purification systems, which it said can clean 10,000 gallons each per day.
“The great thing about the cart is that it's movable, so it doesn't have to stay in one place," said Mark Hogg, WaterStep founder and CEO. "It can also be brought to another place."
WaterStep is partnering with Georgia’s Emergency Operations Center to decide where the water purification carts should go first. They’ll send a team of four Friday, Oct. 4 to train those there on how to run them. The devices will remain deployed for as long as they’re needed.
“Whether you're in a disaster group or you're with an organization or a business that's responding to the disaster, these carts are able for anyone to become a hero and to be able to supply safe water in the areas of the storm,” Hogg said.
He added they’re still waiting to hear from agencies in other affected states before sending additional resources. As of Thursday afternoon, Oct. 3, more than 260,000 Georgia residents remain without power a week after Helene made rainfall.
During a Thursday morning news conference, Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., said the state's death toll has risen to 33. The storm has claimed at least 200 lives.
“When you have the resources and you have the knowledge and you see the hurt and pain in the midst of disaster and you're a compassionate person, which I am, you have to do it,” said Kurtis Daniels, WaterStep vice president of training and operations.
WaterStep has some additional purification devices that are nearly finished and ready to be deployed, but staff said they will need help from the community to keep doing so. Their goal is to raise at least $250,000 to fund the next batch of devices. Donations to their relief fund can be made online.
WaterStep has helped provide clean drinking water to communities around the globe since the mid '90s. The Louisville-based organization helped with disasters in Kentucky such as the Dec. 2021 western Kentucky tornadoes and the 2022 eastern Kentucky floods.