As Texas and Louisiana residents struggle to stay afloat amidst the damage from Tropical Storm Allison, area truckstops and travel plazas are assisting the American Red Cross
by providing free fuel and truck washes for emergency response vehicles.
Participating truckstops include Petro Stopping Centers, Beaumont, Texas; Love's Country Stores, Port Allen, La.; and Pilot Travel Center, Houston.
The NATSO Foundation, the public outreach arm of the travel plaza and truckstop industry, partnered with the American Red Cross in assisting those who have been victimized by hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters in 1996. Since then, more than 650 travel plazas and truckstops across the nation have formally agreed to assist in the aftermath of regional or national disasters, providing over 13,000 gallons of fuel, as well as meals, truck washes and other services to Red Cross personnel.
With more than 20,000 homes in Texas and 632 homes in Louisiana suffering from damage inflicted by Tropical Storm Allison, Petro Stopping Centers, Love's Country Stores and Pilot Corp. have agreed to support emergency response vehicles for up to three weeks. Love's will sustain 30-50 Red Cross emergency response vehicles during this time period, and Petro and Pilot will be supporting at least 50 vehicles apiece with free fuel and truck washes.