Getting water promptly to the victims and refugees of Hurricane Katrina is essential. One relief effort being coordinated in the rural South is the bottled water drive through Delta State University, in Cleveland, Mississippi – on Highway 61, about an hour and a half south of Memphis.

The campus Student Government Association is partnering with the BolivarCountyEmergencyOperationsCenter and the local Red Cross chapter. Donations will be accepted through Friday, Sept. 9.  

Here are the addresses for dropping off or delivering factory-sealed containers of water, as soon as possible:

·        Delta State University, Highway 8, Cleveland MS 38733 (1-800-GO-TO-DSU or 800-468-6378). Drop off at the information booth, first floor of the H.L. Union Building

·        Knight Rider Mart, intersection of Highway 8 West and Bishop Road (664 Highway 44 North), no phone number given

·        The Bolivar Commercial newspaper, 821 North Chrisman Av, ClevelandMS (662-843-4241) 

N.b.: The Bolivar Commercial office is probably the best bet, for now, unless you can reach someone at the local Chamber of Commerce or through the county. “Suitcase campuses” tend to be partly closed down on weekends, especially over a holiday weekend.

Call the Bolivar EOC (fire dept) at 662-843-2300 before sending or giving them any more water, because as of 3:46 p.m. EST they still had some left and want to clear out the space before taking on more water supplies.

“The water will be transported and dispersed throughout Mississippi to victims and work crews dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.”

Call the statement office at (662) 846-4715 for further information. [Unfortunately, phone communications will be at a minimum over the Labor Day weekend.]