Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing emergency assistance following a deadly fire in Charleston, South Carolina and flooding in Northern and Southern parts of New Jersey.
ERD offers prayers and support to families of the firefighters who died responding to fire at a furniture warehouse in Charleston. On June 18th, a fire at a furniture store and warehouse caused part of the building to collapse. The roof caved in and nine firefighters were killed after being trapped inside the burning building. Two store employees were rescued. More than 20 fire personnel were buried and debris and ash were dispersed throughout the area.
The Charleston fire is the nation’s deadliest single incident for firefighters’ since the September 11 attacks.
“We are deeply saddened for the loss of these nine brave firefighters. ERD will work with Coastal Crisis Chaplains to provide much needed care and support to the Charleston community after this tragedy,” said Richard Ohlsen, ERD’s Director of Domestic Disaster Preparedness and Response.
ERD is working in partnership with the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy to support the temporary hiring of chaplains to provide counseling and support to Charleston’s first responders, families who lost loved ones, and the Charleston community.
In April, severe flooding in Bergen, Essex, and Hudson counties in New Jersey left 40,000 people without electricity, and forced over 4,000 people to evacuate their homes.
ERD is working with the Diocese of Newark to help the Northern New Jersey Long Term Recovery and Un-met Needs Roundtables. ERD’s support will aid people who do not qualify for federal disaster aid.
“ERD provides for the long-term needs of communities and victims after disasters. It takes several months for those affected to recover. It is important that we work together to help people through these round tables as the insurance and the federal assistance they receive is often not enough,” said Ohlsen.
To help people affected by disasters, please make a donation to the “Emergency Relief Fund” online at http://www.er-d.org/, or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development “Emergency Relief Fund” P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.
Episcopal Relief and Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. An independent 501(c) (3) organization, ERD saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world. ERD’s programs work toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We provide emergency assistance in times of crisis and rebuild after disasters. We enable people to climb out of poverty by offering long-term solutions in the areas of food security and health care, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.
