Emergency Response News Briefs

March 8, 2007 • Archive

CWS, Habitat for Humanity International Grant Extended

Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, CWS and Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) set out to repair or rebuild 500 damaged homes for needy families. CWS and HFHI are expanding the grant program to include an additional $3 million in grants over the next year. The grant extension will be channeled through local long-term recovery committees that can best attract and manage cases of unmet needs in their communities. The new agreement allows grants of up to $10,000 per family.

DRRLs Design and Provide Training

Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison (DRRL) Lura Cayton represented CWS at a "Ministry in Tragedy" forum at Wichita's Exploration Place science museum. The discussion on ministering in the midst of more recent tragedies followed a presentation on how ministers aboard the HMS Titanic applied care amidst chaos. Cayton also participated in a disaster preparedness forum for the faith community in Midland, Tex. The day-long seminar, hosted by the Midland Ministerial Association, was designed to better equip community groups, particularly the congregations, to respond in disasters.

Meanwhile, DRRL Tom Davis spent two weeks in Washington state providing training in long-term recovery as a part of the piloting and launch of the forthcoming Community Arise Curriculum. Additionally, Davis also co-led two Interfaith Trauma Response Training (ITRT) sessions Feb. 27-28, in Gulfport, Miss. Thirty persons attended the sessions. As part of his work with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NOVAD)’s Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee, DRRL Davis is working with a cadre of peers designing core components of training for early psychological intervention programs following disasters.

Hurricane Rita Follow-up

In early March, DRRL Heriberto Martinez returned to the southeast corner of Texas, an area heavily devastated by Hurricane Rita, in order to follow-up on rebuilding efforts and needs of community long-term recovery groups. More than a year following the hurricane, he found that thousands of families still need their homes repaired and rebuilt. The affected area is among the Gulf Coast regions which has had the least amount of media attention, financial resources and volunteers.