Appeal # 627-V update
CWS appeal goal: $100,000 (unchanged)
Funds received: $32,000
Funds received: $37,000 (estimated)
Situation:
Hurricane Isaac was a slow moving storm that took eight lives and caused an estimated $2 billion in damage in September 2012. It affected Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama in September 2012,
Mississippi and Louisiana were again affected in December by severe storms and tornadoes. In Mississippi the counties impacted include: Forrest, Greene, Hinds, Jones, Lawrence, Pearl River and Wilkinson.
Fifty-nine homes were destroyed and another 27 sustained major damage. Eighteen individuals were injured. In Alabama, Mobile and other areas were struck by tornadoes on Dec. 21 and 25. Fifty three homes were destroyed and an 167 sustained major damage in 11 counties. Two churches were also destroyed and a school (Murphy High School) was severely damaged.
CWS response:
In response to these events CWS provided:
2,310 CWS Blankets
2,000 CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets
1,518 CWS Hygiene Kits
55 CWS Baby Care Kits
These 5,883 items are valued at $149,841. The estimated shipping and handling cost for the goods is $12,000.
The CWS Development and Humanitarian Assistance Program has provided long-term recovery start up and sustainment grants to five long-term recovery committees. The value of these grants is $25,000. These funds will be used to rent office equipment; to hire disaster case managers; to purchase building materials and tools; and to support volunteer housing activities.
In addition, CWS Emergency Response Specialists have provided long-term recovery training to numerous organizations that include: the Alabama State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster; the Tri-State (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi) VOAD, the Mississippi State VOAD; and the Alabama Governors Community Response Workshop. Training by electronic and telephone consultation with state, regional and local VOADs (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), our member denominations and other partner agencies to determine where additional assistance and training is needed continues. The specialist for Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama is Sandra Kennedy-Owes skowes@churchworldservice.org
CWS communions and affiliated organizations are in place in the affected states and are assisting hurricane and storm survivors, to include as a minimum: Adventist Community, Brethren Disaster, World Renew, Lutheran Disaster Response, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, The United Methodist Committee on Relief, Mennonite Disaster Service, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Episcopal Relief & Development, the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), International Orthodox Christian Charities. Response activities included debris removal, chain saw crew, volunteer management, material goods warehousing and distribution, emotional and spiritual care and more. The emphasis will now be on long-term recovery — the rebuilding of homes, communities and lives.
Budget goal is $100,000. Funds will be used for processing and shipping material goods, for long-term recovery committee start-up grants and for long-term recovery committee training activities.
Concerning CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets:
CWS thanks its member communions for the efforts to help restock our warehouses with material goods, such as CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets, Hygiene Kits, Baby Care Kits and School Kits.
Many people in need will benefit from these resources. However, the responses to Hurricane Isaac and Hurricane Sandy has depleted our supplies, especially of CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets. All efforts to replenish our supplies for future emergencies are as always, greatly appreciated. More information on CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets.
How to help:
Contributions to support CWS emergency response efforts around the world may be made online, sent to your denomination, or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.
Church World Service is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.