Ruan Transport is hauling water, food and other supplies for residents in Hurricane Gustav-affected areas. In partnerships with FEMA and Target Corp., Ruan will provide aid to storm-damaged communities along the Gulf Coast, including Lafayette, La.
Thirty Ruan tankers are delivering clean water to a Home Depot warehouse in Lafayette, where it is being distributed to citizens and businesses. Much of the water supply in Lafayette and surrounding areas may be contaminated from bacteria stirred up and brought in by Gustav, and some government leaders estimate it could be a couple of weeks before water plants are operating normally.
Ruan has a history of donating services for disaster assistance. The company first worked with FEMA in 2003 when storms battered Florida, and assisted again in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.
“FEMA knows when there’s a need, we’ll respond,” says Roger Marlow, vice president and regional manager of Des Moines, Iowa-based Ruan. “Ruan’s fleet can quickly and efficiently get essential items to the people who need them, and we’re happy to do it.”
A Ruan truck also picked up 14 pallets of food and comfort items from the Target distribution center in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and delivered it to the Minneapolis Convention Center. Target is donating more than $300,000 in product for relief packages to support Hurricane Gustav relief assistance efforts, in partnership with the Red Cross. The packages were assembled by volunteers and delegates in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area for the Republican National Convention.
Ruan and Target also partnered to provide relief supplies to residents of tornado-stricken Manhattan, Kan., earlier this summer.
