The U-Haul Co. of Southern Alabama is offering 30 days of free self-storage, as well as U-Box pod moving and storage, to residents of Alabama and Florida who have been affected by recent torrential thunderstorms and flooding.

Through the U-Box pod program, storm victims can pick up a custom-designed trailer and take the pod with them, or U-Haul can store the pod in its secure warehouse or pick up and deliver it to another location.

In addition to the free storage offer, storm victims in need of boxes can take advantage of the U-Haul Take a Box, Leave a Box program. The program enables customers to use reusable boxes at no charge. Instead of throwing out or recycling reusable boxes and bins, U-Haul encourages residents to drop them off at the nearest U-Haul location to enable other families to use them.

"These severe thunderstorms and unexpected floods have caused a tremendous amount of damage to the communities we serve throughout coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle," said Shannon Oliver, president of the U-Haul Co. of Southern Alabama. "I hope this effort will help provide assistance to families that need support. We will do our best to help our friends and neighbors in this time of need."

Families in need of assistance or who want more information about the 30-day, free self-storage offer should contact one of the following Pensacola, Fla., U-Haul centers:

Established in 1945, U-Haul has 36 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,000 owned and managed facilities throughout North America.

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