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CWS Appeal: 2006 Fall U.S. Disaster Response

November 13, 2006

Wide-ranging unmet needs stemming from destroyed and damaged housing -- the result of a series of disasters across the U.S. from western New York to the Hawaiian Islands the past several weeks-- will require the attention of at least a half dozen long-term recovery organizations over the next one to two years.

Last week as a result of heavy rains and flooding, the State of Washington declared emergencies in 18 counties. In addition, 21 cities and counties have proclaimed states of emergency. Flooding has extended to Native American tribal lands.

Heavy rains since mid-October in Southeast Texas have caused flooding that has destroyed close to 100 homes and damaged several hundred more. Many of those affected are still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Rita.

Flooding, downed trees, and power outages in the wake of a snowstorm that hit western New York in mid-October affected thousands of persons -- many uninsured or under-insured and living on fixed incomes. Close to 10,000 persons have already applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance in the region - more than 8,000 in hard-hit Erie County, NY, alone.

In mid-October, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Hawaii centered about 155 miles southeast of Honolulu affected every island in the state in some way. The preliminary damage estimate is $46 million. The western side of the County of Hawaii (the Big Island) sustained the most damage, where homes and houses of worship were destroyed.

CWS has issued this appeal to support long-term recovery organizing, the community capacity building work of its Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons (DRRLs), and grants to at least six long-term recovery organizations in the affected states. Read more about this appeal.

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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