1. How is ERD spending and using donations received following Hurricane Katrina?

All gifts designated to Episcopal Relief and Development’s Hurricane Katrina Fund are being used to help those most economically marginalized by the disaster.

In Phase I of a four-phase, long-term hurricane response program with diocesan partners, ERD dispersed over $600,050 in direct emergency assistance to affected dioceses and an ecumenical partner. ERD is currently in Phases II and III of a multi-year response program. We are providing $4.7 million to the Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi  and Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi for ongoing recovery work such as psychosocial care, livelihood, health, and housing recovery, case management, and other interventions. It will take three to five years to complete the program and ERD will continue providing assistance to its partners as needs arise in the years to come.

2. How much money has been raised thus far?

ERD received an outpouring of contributions from generous donors including individuals, churches, dioceses, schools, and other institutions following Hurricane Katrina. As of December 1, 2005, ERD has raised $15 million in donations designated for Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery. ERD will use the funds for the Hurricane Katrina Response Plan to help the most vulnerable people affected by the disaster.

3. What are the Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi using ERD funds for specifically?

The needs in the Gulf Coast region are great and numerous. It will take a number of years for devastated communities to rebuild completely. In accordance with ERD’s mission and mandate and as determined by IRS guidelines, ERD meets the unmet needs of people who have been most impacted by disasters and seeks to identify and address the root cause of suffering.

ERD’s partnership with the Diocese of Louisiana is building the local capacity of the diocese to respond to marginalized populations disproportionately affected by the hurricane. The partnership is providing assistance such as medical services, spiritual counseling, a mobile case management unit, and psychosocial services. ERD’s partnership with the Diocese of Mississippi and Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi is supporting seven relief and recovery areas which are providing medical care and other critical services throughout the state. The partnership is also providing case management services and training volunteers in psychosocial care.

For more detailed information on ERD’s response, please visit the Hurricane Center on our Web site.

4. How does ERD respond to disasters in the United States versus those that occur internationally? Does this work include rebuilding churches?

Internationally and domestically, ERD works with Anglican and Episcopal partners and others immediately after a disaster to provide essential needs such as food, shelter, and water. After the emergency phase is over and rehabilitation can begin, together with our partners, we conduct an assessment to determine how best to address the humanitarian needs of affected communities.

ERD’s international rehabilitation work in the developing world is usually part of an integrated community building project which constructs homes, schools, clinics, community centers, and critical infrastructure such as water systems, and when everything is near completion, sometimes churches.

Domestically, our priority is on assisting our partners in addressing human suffering--meeting the needs of the poor and destitute. In our efforts following Hurricane Katrina, we are partnering with the Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi to provide assistance such as psychosocial care, health and housing recovery, livelihood renewal and small business development, as well as other interventions.

Because ERD’s mission focuses on addressing human suffering, we do not rebuild churches domestically after disasters. We know these important institutions are a valuable and an essential part of communities, but our mandate calls upon us to serve those who are poor, sick, and hungry. The Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi are soliciting funds to rebuild churches and pay clergy salaries after Hurricane Katrina. If you are interesting in supporting that work, we encourage you to contact each diocese directly.

For more information on ERD’s emergency relief and rebuilding programs, please visit the Emergency Relief and Rebuilding section under "Our Programs" on our Web site.

5. There are overwhelming needs within the affected dioceses. How can I help?

The Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi have both established special funds to address the needs of churches and clergy as well as other institutional and church infrastructure needs. You can help the Diocese of Louisiana by sending a donation for the “Diocesan Rebuilding Fund” to: St. James Church/ Attn: Bishop's Office, P.O. Box 126, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0126. Please include the diocese’s Tax ID Number which is 72-0475542. To help the Diocese of Mississippi, please specify contributions for the “Diocesan Rebuilding Fund” and send them to: Diocese of Mississippi, PO BOX 230107, Jackson, MS 39225-3107. Please include the diocese’s Tax ID Number which is 64 303 076.

You can continue to support those affected by Hurricane Katrina by donating to the Hurricane Katrina Response Fund by credit card at er-d.org or by calling 1 (800) 334-7626, ext. 5129. Or you can mail your gift to: Episcopal Relief and Development, c/o Hurricane Katrina Response Fund, PO Box 12043, Newark, NJ 07101. Any gift made to the US Hurricane Fund starting August 28th will also go toward Katrina response and recovery.