NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — As the city of New Orleans begins to recover from a fatal attack on Bourbon Street on New Year's Day, efforts are underway to help victims and their families.
On Wednesday, the FBI reported that 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar plowed a pickup truck through Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens. Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, also died in a shootout with police, and two New Orleans police officers were wounded.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl was postponed until Thursday afternoon.
As the city begins to recover, blood drives and donation funds have been launched.
The Greater New Orleans Foundation has opened a New Year's Day Tragedy Fund to help the families of victims who have died or were injured in the attack. To donate, visit the Greater New Orleans Foundation website.
GoFundMe states that it has launched a centralized hub for verified fundraisers related to the Bourbon Street attack.
United Way of Southeast Louisiana has launched a United for New Orleans Relief Fund to offer support to the victims, their families and partnering organizations following the attack. Donations can be made at the United Way SELA website.
The Blood Center was requesting donations after the attack, as representatives say the holiday season is typically slow for donations and inventory gets low.
Eleven locations in Southeast Louisiana and Mississippi were open Thursday, and two additional locations were to be open in New Orleans and Mandeville, Louisiana.
In a post to social media, Ochsner Health stated that it was hosting an emergency blood drive, and all blood bank locations would be open on Thursday to accept donations. To find a donation location, visit the Ochsner Blood Bank website.
