The U-Haul Co. of Mississippi is offering 30 days of free self-storage or U-Box portable storage to residents who’ve been affected by the recent rain and severe flooding in Harrison and Jackson County, Miss., and surrounding Gulf Coast communities. Families in need of assistance can contact U-Haul Storage of Pascagoula in Pascagoula, Miss., or U-Haul Storage of Gulfport in Gulfport, Miss.

"We had seven inches of rain on the coast [last] weekend," said Dick Porter, marketing president for U-Haul Co. of Mississippi. "This is a tough time for many Mississippians, and we want to assist in any way possible. We hope that dry, safe and secure storage at no cost will help those who need support."

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

Storm victims can also take advantage of the U-Haul Take a Box, Leave a Box program, which enables customers to use recycled boxes at no charge. Instead of discarding reusable boxes and bins, U-Haul encourages local residents to drop them off at the nearest U-Haul location, allowing other people to use them.

U-Haul stores also offer supplies to help residents with storm recovery, such as boxes, tarps, propane and propane tanks, according to a company press release.

Established in 1945, U-Haul International Inc. has more than 40 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,200 owned and managed facilities throughout North America.

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