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CWS appeal: Summer 2007 U.S. flooding (broadened response)

Carrie Bacon, safety coordinator at the Community Access Center in Independence, KS, prepares safety kits for volunteers. Photo: Nick Wright

October 4, 2007

CWS is working in partnership to respond to flooding in the following states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Earlier this year, torrential rains brought destructive flooding to the central U.S. Most damage was concentrated in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, where more than 70 counties in all are federally-declared disaster areas. Noteworthy was flooding in and around Coffeyville, Kansas, where a damaged refinery poured 1700 barrels of crude oil into the floodwaters, affecting houses and businesses along the Oklahoma and Kansas border.

Last week, a weather system dropped massive rains on the upper Midwest just as the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin made their way inland, bringing major flooding across a broad swath of the central U.S. Storms felled trees and power lines, leaving an estimated 375,000 customers without electricity just as sweltering heat follows in the storms’ wake. Flooding and storms from this event have claimed at least 22 lives.

Illinois

Long term recovery planning is well underway.

Winnebago County and Stephenson County (Rockford and Freeport) have received federal declarations, and more than 900 families have requested assistance.

Federal assessment still underway in 13 other Illinois counties

Statewide, storms and floods destroyed 23 homes, made major damage to 406 homes, minor damage to 228, and affected 2,565 homes.

Iowa

13 counties under Governor's disaster proclamation

Concern about contamination following major sewage spills caused by floods

Kansas

Montgomery County's Long-Term Recovery Committee continues to operate the Community Access Center in Independence.

In Montgomery County, CWS joined the United Church of Christ to provide protective coveralls, respirators, goggles, gloves and antibacterial wipes so homeowners and volunteers will be safe in this time of recovery.

The Community Access Center will continue to distribute the safety gear as groups show up to volunteer, ensuring crews are protected from mold and toxicity.

Michigan

Officials are investigating a possible tornado near Fenton

Fenton: 17 homes destroyed; Eaton County: 12 homes destroyed

Minnesota

Presidential disaster declaration provides individual assistance to six counties, more are possible as assessment continues

Preliminary estimates indicate at least $26 million in flood damage

Estimates indicate 1,500 damaged homes across six counties

Ohio

Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, Seneca and Wyandot Counties are eligible for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA reports 4,000 registrations so far for FEMA assistance. Hardest-hit Findlay, Ohio (Hancock County) has at least 2,000 registrations

200 cases of needs expected for Hancock County, 140 in Putnam County and 300 anticipated in Crawford County

Oklahoma

Gov. Brad Henry has asked President Bush to declare Blaine, Caddo and Kingfisher counties disaster areas to receive federal individual assistance

Seven people killed from system that originated as Tropical Storm Erin

Five shelters remain open

Texas

FEMA has registered more than 14,000 people for assistance following summer floods

Individual assistance is available in 43 Texas counties

Long-term recovery planning is underway, by a mix of experienced and new organizations

Wisconsin

Presidential declaration for five counties, as many as 2,700 homes affected

PDA teams will work Tuesday through Thursday to catalogue public infrastructure losses

Preliminary estimates indicate $38 million in damage

Vulnerable communities watch

Excessive heat followed the storm in the upper Midwest, proving problematic for evacuees and clean-up workers

More than 400,000 Texans live in colonias - small, communal villages where those affected by this disaster will not likely receive federal aid. Many colonias lack basic infrastructure, are isolated and populated predominately by legal Hispanic immigrants.

Farmers who faced drought before the storm, will face ground too soggy to plant fall crops

Sewage treatment plants across the Midwest have suffered spills, posing significant health risks. Noteworthy are 27 sewage spills in northern Iowa communities.

CWS Response

CWS contines to focus its response in three areas: training of long-term recovery groups, support of disaster-recovery projects implemented by existing agencies, and early response grants to support operations and programs of long-term recovery organizations.

Training

CWS Emergency Response Specialist (ERS) Tom Davis will provide training sessions scheduled for Rochester, Minn. and Winona, Minn. this week

In Texas, CWS coordinated and participated in long-term recovery training in Wichita, Denton, Taylor, Nueces, Victoria and Bexar Counties in September

CWS anticipates convening tools & training seminars in the affected states and will add follow-up training when needs are identified

Project development

ERSs Lura Cayton and Joann Hale will evaluate damaged areas for potential project development opportunities

Emergency Response Grants

Emergency Response Grants are intended to assist long-term recovery groups in their service to affected communities as soon as possible post-disaster

Given the widespread nature of this disaster, CWS anticipates several grant requests from affected areas.

In addition, CWS has provided protective Tyvek suits and hats, rubber gloves, respirators, and goggles for use in earlier clean-up efforts in southeastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma, allowing residents and volunteers to safely reclaim lost possessions and muck out homes.

Contributions to support these efforts may be sent to your denomination or directly to: Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515

Contributions may also be made by credit card online, or by calling: 800-297-1516, ext. 222.

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

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