The Department of Housing and Urban Development has laid out new guidelines for the disbursal of $2 billion in disaster-relief bloc grants, with an emphasis on climate-change mitigation and equity for underserved communities.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Two local organizations are stepping up to send truckloads of relief to those affected by Hurricane Zeta. God’s Pit Crew and Gleaning for the World are helping people in Mississippi and Louisiana, respectively. They’re shipping more than 100,000 pounds of items including personal care products, water, blankets and snacks. “We had the supplies in our warehouse to be able to send our first truckload down there, and also we had a partner come out and say they wanted to supply the funds for the shipping,” said Teresa Davis, communications director with Gleaning for the World. “All of the trucks have a variety of product on them,” said Randy Johnson, founder and director of God’s Pit Crew, “But one of the key ingredients is our ‘blessing bucket,’ which is a five-gallon bucket filled with a variety of personal hygiene supplies: soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste.”Both organizations already sent multiple truckloads to the Gulf this year to help with hurricane relief.

A camping trailer by a neighboring camp has been damaged by Hurricane Zeta in Grand Isle, La., Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. It hit hard on Grand Isle, a popular waterside getaway and recreational fishing destination. “That thing just souped up and kicked all of our butts, especially the levee,” said Lan Tivet, a member of the Grand Isle town council. It's been an especially active season in Louisiana, hit so far by two tropical storms and three hurricanes, including Laura, which devastated southwestern Louisiana in August. “We're so close to the end of hurricane season that we can't jeopardize — just start a project sooner — it's not an option," she said.

Early voting ended Tuesday, so Zeta hasn’t disrupted any voting so far. Early voting ended Tuesday, so Zeta hasn’t disrupted any voting so far. State officials weren’t sure how many of the 336 early voting locations statewide were closed or delayed in opening. ___6:55 a.m.Officials in Georgia say high winds from Tropical Storm Zeta have caused a second death in the South. ___4:00 a.m.A tropical storm warning is in effect in Atlanta as Tropical Storm Zeta makes its way quickly toward the northeast.

Hurricane Zeta passed through Wednesday with a tidal surge that caused the boat to become unmoored. In Atlanta and New Orleans, drivers dodged trees in roads and navigated intersections without traffic signals. John Bel Edwards said the state sustained “catastrophic” damage on Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish, where Zeta punched three breaches in the levee. Edwards ordered the Louisiana National Guard to fly in soldiers to assist with search and rescue efforts and urged continued caution. Zeta was the 27th named storm of a historically busy year with more than a month left in the Atlantic hurricane season.

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)NEW ORLEANS – The Latest on Zeta (all times CDT):10:45 p.m.WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has declared an emergency exists in Mississippi and ordered federal assistance be expedited to aid state, local and tribal efforts to recover from Hurricane Zeta. — In Bay St. Louis in Mississippi, former mayor Les Fillingame said Hurricane Zeta was “very intense” when it blew through. ____10 p.m.MIAMI — Hurricane Zeta is weakening further but remains a still-dangerous storm as it barrels across Mississippi into the U.S. Southeast. — Louisiana's governor says Hurricane Zeta has caused extensive structural damage to businesses and homes in hard-hit areas of the state's southeast. School officials are calling off school because of the fear of rain, wind and power outages from Hurricane Zeta as it makes its way inland.

Hurricane Zeta passed through Wednesday leaving much of the city and metro area without power. Even as Zeta battered the south, the upcoming election was still on the mind of some residents. “Guys, we received the brunt of Zeta, and Zeta gave us a good punch,” McInnis told WDSU-TV. More than 875,000 customers were without electricity in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, including about 350,000 in metro New Orleans. Zeta had top sustained winds of 110 mph (177 kph) as a Category 2 hurricane at landfall and is the 27th named storm of a historically busy Atlantic hurricane season — with over a month left to go.

ROANOKE, Va. – 5 p.m. Wednesday updateA Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for many along and south of U.S. 460. Hurricane Zeta has continued to gain strength this afternoon and it’s now a category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph. 5 a.m. Tuesday updateZeta made its first landfall along the Yucatan Peninsula and is now emerging into the Gulf of Mexico as a strong tropical storm. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings have been posted in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and western Cuba ahead of the storm’s arrival. On the forecast track, Zeta will move into the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall late Wednesday along the Gulf Coast.