The Salvation Army group which left a week ago to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana is reportedly doing well.

Carol McDowall said in an e-mail that the group of ten was working around the clock to help as many people as they could.

Seven team members are based at Laplace, about 30 miles north of New Orleans.

The town, with a population of some 27,000 was hard hit by Katrina on August 29 as it lies only 13 feet above sea level.

Ms McDowall said she was working in an area called "The Line" or canteen, dispensing water and other necessities to stranded residents.

"The line begins at 10 a.m and ends around 2.30 or 3 p.m. and is like an outside drive-through warehouse," she said.

She said as the people drive through, their cars are loaded with water, ice, cleaning supplies, canned goods, baby items, toiletries and whatever else is brought in for donations.

Ms McDowall said residents were very grateful and thanked them from the depth of their hearts for coming to help them in this way.

"Many people are sitting outside the command centre in their cars waiting from 7 a.m. and the line stretches around a large parking lot and about one and a half miles down the highway."

She added that all the Bermudians on the team worked "The Line" on Saturday last week and enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to help others.

"It allowed us to talk to people, smile, and say a quick encouraging word ? and Major Alfred Wilson is driving a canteen truck!"

"Everyone has been enjoying it and making the best out of a depressing situation when it comes to seeing and hearing people's stories," she said.

The other members of the team include Major Wilson, Captain Patrick Bulloch, Dean Foggo, Angela Fubler, Delano Ingham, Barbara Millett, Cheryl Jones, Geraldine Lambert and Major Clarence Ingram.

They will continue working 12-hour shifts for another week before returning to Bermuda.