SITUATION:
On Sunday Aug. 25, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck northern California. The quake epicenter was 5 miles SSW of Napa. Early reports are that about 170 persons were injured. There are no reported fatalities. Dozens of buildings have been damaged. Numerous power outages were initially reported with most power restored as of Monday morning. Damage assessments are now underway by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Office of Emergency Management.
CWS RESPONSE:
CWS disaster response specialists are working with state, regional and local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, FEMA and CWS member communions and other agencies to determine where the agency and its members and partners can help or will be needed. CWS communions will work closely together to assist the survivors with emphasis on helping those whose life situations are the most fragile.
CWS will provide material resources, such as CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets, Baby Care Kits, Hygiene Kits and Blankets, if requested.
As the situation moves from immediate response to long-term recovery work, CWS is ready to respond to requests for training support and to requests for financial support to get long-term recovery committees organized and operating.
HOW TO HELP:
Contributions may be made online or sent to: Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.
The lead CWS Emergency Response Specialist for this disaster is Barry Shade, CWS Associate Director for Domestic Emergency Response: bshade@cwsglobal.org
During any disaster, including this earthquake, the best help that an individual can provide is cash.
If you want to provide useful material assistance, help keep CWS warehouses stocked with CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets, Hygiene Kits, Baby Care Kits and School Kits. Click here for instructions: www.cwsglobal.org/get-involved/kits. If you have other supplies that you think may be of help, contact a CWS emergency response specialist to see whether the materials can be used and, if so, where.
CWS is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.