Operation Katrina
Date: September 23, 2005

After this summer’s devastating hurricane, the name Katrina will either fall off the baby name list for its link to catastrophe or will rise to the top because of the overwhelming outpouring of compassion the name inspired.

It is impossible to know just how many people were touched by the help Floyd gave to the Gulf Coast hurricane victims. The news reports had no sooner aired when Floyd employees began reaching out, asking what they could do to help, volunteering their time, their talent and their treasure.

And, when some of those victims were brought to Rome to seek refuge, Floyd found a mission field in our own backyard.

Floyd’s business office employees combined their efforts to donate money, clothes, household items, school supplies, back packs, personal care items, paper products, toys and baby items to the Rome Housing Authority, who was helping to shelter 40 displaced families, and to Rome Kares, the community-wide refugee relief effort.

One employee took food, clothes, bedding and dishes to the Housing Authority and her items never made it inside the building. Outside the Housing Authority headquarters, she met a Katrina family and gave them the items she had collected.

The Floyd Accounting Department pooled their monetary donations and purchased 12 cases of water, which was sent to hurricane victims along with a shipment of other items from Cornerstone Church.

Melissa Wise of Floyd Home Care Services coordinated a drive to collect clothes, food and personal hygiene products for Katrina victims. Some home care nurses volunteered to serve at the Red Cross Shelter at Coose Middle School.

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