Emergency Response News Briefs
April 5, 2007 • Archive
CWS monitoring situation in Colombia
The CWS Colombia office reports escalating confrontation between the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia) and the Colombian Army in the remote rural area of Rio Tapaje, in El Charco, Nariño, is forcing hundred of families to leave their villages. This is a region inhabited by Afro-Colombian peoples where CWS, with support from UMCOR, has worked since 2004 in food security and organizing women’s work programs. The International Red Cross is providing some initial relief in coordination with the local municipality. CWS is determining how best to assist internally displaced persons in the town of El Charco and in remote villages like San Jose.
ERP prepares for a busy hurricane season
Colorado State University’s respected Natural Hazards Center just
released its forecast for a more active 2007 Atlantic hurricane
season. The Center predicts nine hurricanes, and the United States
as having an above-average chance of being hit by a major storm.
Of the nine hurricanes forecast, five are predicted to be major
ones of Category 3 or higher with winds over 110 mph (177 kph).
“One of the ways we prepare is to make sure we have a healthy inventory
of health and cleaning supplies at the ready to send,” ERP associate
director Linda Reed Brown said. “Given this year's tornado season
has been active very early, and predictions are for a busy hurricane
season, we've issued appeals that will bolster our stockpiles of
emergency blankets and those of health and cleaning supply kits."
Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison (DRRL) news
DRRL Lesli Remaly-Netter was a part of a training team that led sessions in Americus, Ga. and Enterprise, Ala. on March 27 and 28. The sessions, entitled “Tools & Training for Long Term Recovery” enjoyed participation of 125 community leaders and recovery staff from recovery organizations forming in the wake of the March tornadoes in the areas.
DRRL Joann Hale is on the planning team of the New York State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters Annual Conference to be held June 27-28 and is working with the New York State Community of Churches to plan an add-on disaster training for the faith community.
Heriberto Martinez (DRRL), Linda Reed Brown (ERP Associate Director) and Matt Hackworth (ERP Communications) are participating in a planning team for a “Rita Summit” scheduled in southeast Texas for May 3. The goal is to highlight the impact of the hurricane and the more than 5,000 families in the 17 counties who need long-term recovery assistance.
DRRL Lura Cayton was advisor at a 2-day strategic planning session of the Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership on March 29-30 in New Orleans. GNODRP’s primary goal is to support long-term recovery groups. Cayton is providing expertise as the group further hones its role with six long-term recovery committees in the Greater New Orleans area.
DRRL Lesli Remaly-Netter attended a Florida summit March 29 and 30 on strategies for communities, and especially the faith community, in a pandemic disease occurrence. The purpose of the meeting was to heighten awareness and plan for specific areas in which voluntary agencies (including churches) may appropriately participate.