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RSSEpiscopal Relief & Development Partners to Respond to Hurricane Gustav
9/2/08
Hurricane Gustav sent an estimated two million people, in possibly the largest exodus in US history, out of Louisiana before it roared ashore and through the coastal villages of the state’s Gulf coast as a category two hurricane with winds of 110 mph.
When the Episcopal Church of Louisiana’s Office of Domestic Response (ODR), an Episcopal Relief & Development partner, learned that Gustav was heading its way, it sprang into action. Nearly three years to the day since Hurricane Katrina tore through Louisiana and Mississippi and upended the lives of millions of people in those states, the ODR was ready and prepared to respond.
This response included evacuating building supplies, food, water and other emergency materials, creating emergency shelters, relocating and securing staff and coordinating with churches to ensure that the elderly, the vulnerable and families in the low-lying bayou regions of Louisiana that would flood in the event of a direct hit, were accounted for and had disaster plans in place. When Gustav came through Louisiana, its people were safe, thanks in part to the hard work of the ODR.
In Mississippi, where Gustav did not make a direct hit, but where there is a risk of flooding and tornadoes from the storm system, Episcopal Relief & Development’s partners there, the Diocese of Mississippi and Lutheran Episcopal Services of Mississippi (LESM) were also prepared with emergency shelters and staff on standby.
“The level of preparedness among these churches operating just three years since Hurricane Katrina has been amazing,” says Abagail Nelson, Senior Vice President for Programs at Episcopal Relief & Development. “They were prepared for the worst and are now ready to reach out to the communities and families impacted by this disaster. We will continue to work with them in service to those impacted by this storm, as all work to rebuild their lives.”
With communication still down in parts of Louisiana, ODR, LESM and the Diocese of Mississippi are assessing damages from Gustav in preparation for rebuilding efforts.
To support people impacted by Hurricane Gustav, please make a donation to Episcopal Relief & Development’s “Hurricane Relief Fund” online at www.er-d.org , or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief & Development “Hurricane Relief Fund” P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.
