The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-05-03
THOUSANDS STRICKEN
in FLOOD AREA
Relief Organizations Work
to Give Relief
FERTILE FARMS
UNDER WATER
thousands Of People Stricken Home.
less In Louisiana as Result of Flood
Waters of Mississippi Breaking
lerees. Whole Counties are Under

lerees. Whole Counties are Under
Water.
New Orleans, May 1.-Relief organ
izations were continuing to work to-
day to prevent hunger, exposure and
disease among the tens Of thousands
OF homeless in the stricken food
zones Of Louisiana and Mississippi
Particular efforts were directed to the
area in central and eastern Louisiana
where lake Of more than 1,4OO
square miles now exists on erstwhile
fertile farm lands and thriving com
mercial towns as a result OF the
breaking Of the levee of the Mississip-
pf river near Terriday, La
Harrisonburg, La, far west Of the
river but yet in the flood zone, con-
tinues to present the most serious
problem. Food Is the crying need OF
the thousand residents and several
thousand refugees who fed to that
town or were brought there by their
rcscuers.
Stocks of local merchants have be-
come exhausted. Today it was report
ed that some food has been brought in
by boat from neighboring communi-
ties which 1t is hoped will last until a
boat with food which left New Orleans
last Saturday arrives. In addition to
those in need at that town, it was re-
ported today that boats laden with T.
600 more refugees were enroute there.
Old men and women and children
upon their arrival at Harrisonburg
already showed the effects Of under
nourishment as the back waters of
the, rivers had been creeping into
their homes for many days before they
decided to flee.
There is a serious shortage Of shell
ter at Harrisonburg. Only fifty tents
are available and many are sleeping
on the ground in the open. There Is
also lack Of medical supplies.
The distress among the flood snf-
fcrers has been aggravated by the
refusal Of many inhabitants Of the
low lands to abandon their homes,
until the water forced them out.
In southern Louisiana where the
river Is continuing to spread through
a crevasse in st. Bernard parish,
refugees are being brought to the out
skirts OF New Orleans where better
shelter, medical attention and 1000
can be given them.
Relief camps established in the flood
zone have in many instances been
abandoned as the result OF the spread
Ing OF the waters.
In central western mississippi, re-
newed efforts were going forward 10
rescue the marooned in the Yazoo
basin where stretch Of land covering
100 square miles IS today mighty
lake. Relief bodies arc being taxed
to capacity to provide for the refugees
who continue to pour in at the iso-
lated high spots AMI larger towns.
Food, shelter, clothing and medical
supplies must be supplied for 1850
Of these areas it Is estimated.
With the crest still to come in the
lower and central reaches OF the
river, scores OF towns and villages
In Arkansas, Mississippi and Louis
lana are covered with water to a
depth In some instances of 20 feet,
while many larger communities have
Iencircled themselves In hastily con-
lstructed embankments which they
Ihope'will hold the water out, In the
meantime being !soiatsd froni the
world with the exception OF communi-
cation by boat.