U-Haul Teams Open to Serve Labor Day Movers

PASCAGOULA, Miss., Sept. 2 -- U-Haul Company announced that as of 7 a.m. today all U-Haul Centers in the state of Mississippi will be open to support self-movers over the Labor Day weekend.

U-Haul maintenance teams from across the Southeast converged on Mississippi as soon as the storm passed. Stockpiles of supplies have been accumulated and positioned in Alabama and Mississippi.

"Our maintenance teams have worked 24/7 to restore service to U-Haul customers. This weekend, U-Haul expects to help 183,000 customers move. As these customers travel across the country to their new homes, they need to know that the U-Haul network is up and running to support them," said JT Taylor, U-Haul executive vice president.

U-Haul maintenance teams drew on their experience in recovery from Hurricane Andrew and were poised for action as soon as the eye of the storm passed.

Facilities will be open, although in many cases there is no phone service and electricity is provided by generators. Where buildings are too damaged, teams will operate out of office trailers.

"This is the second busiest moving time of the year," said U-Haul Chairman Joe Shoen. "Whether people are crossing the country or trying to repair and rebuild locally, they need to know U-Haul is up and running to serve them."

Most people move during summer school breaks so this is the last chance for many families to relocate this year. U-Haul has previously announced that it will offer one month free self-storage to storm victims in the affected areas.

Six U-Haul stores in New Orleans remain underwater. U-Haul has set up a temporary disaster headquarters in Hammond, La., and will be in New Orleans as soon as conditions permit. Except for New Orleans, U-Haul is up and running everywhere.

There are reports of spot fuel shortages across the country. If a U-Haul customer needs help finding fuel, they should contact their neighborhood U-Haul location for locations in the area that have fuel.

U-Haul is requesting that customers needing recovery supplies in affected areas purchase only as much as they can use immediately so that all customers can be helped. More supplies will arrive steadily over this busy Labor Day moving weekend.

Editor's note: Executive Vice President JT Taylor will be available for
interviews.