Area business owner to transport ‘flood buckets’ to coast

Flood buckets

“Flood buckets” contain supplies that enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or hurricane.

Contents:

  • 5-gallon bucket with resealable lid
  • Bleach (two 1-quart or one 82-oz. bottle). Do not include bleach if you are shipping the bucket through the U.S. Postal Service, UPS or FedEx.
  • 5 scouring pads
  • 7 sponges
  • 1 scrub brush
  • 18 cleaning towels (reusable wipes)
  • Liquid laundry detergent (two 25-oz. or one 50-oz. bottle)
  • Household cleaner, 12-16 oz. bottle
  • Disinfectant dish soap, 16-28 oz. bottle
  • 50 clothes pins
  • Clothesline (two 50-ft. or one 100-ft.)
  • 5 dust masks
  • 2 pair latex gloves
  • 1 pair work gloves
  • 24-bag roll of large, heavy-duty trash bags
  • Insect repellent spray, 6-14 oz. can
  • Air freshener, 8- or 9-oz. can.

Aerosol cans must have protective caps.

A Lawrence businessman is collecting relief supplies for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“I was in the Coast Guard for four years,” said Andy Sampson, who owns Quantum Exile Car Audio.

“I’ve worked a lot of hurricanes. I know what it’s like,” he said. “I can’t just sit here and watch it on TV. I have to do something.”

Sampson, 38, said that as soon as he collects 200 to 250 “flood buckets,” he’ll haul them to the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s depot in Baldwin, La.

“I have a large van and double-axle trailer,” he said. Baldwin is roughly 75 miles west of New Orleans.

Buckets, supplies and/or donations may be left at:

— Quantum Exile, 711 W. 23rd.

— Set ‘Em Up Jack’s, 1800 E. 23rd.

— Wheat State Pizza, 711 W. 23rd.

–First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt.

“I want this to be a community, small-business thing rather than a corporate thing,” Sampson said. “And I’m hoping people will actually take the time to go buy the supplies rather than, you know, just writing a check and going on with their lives.”