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Hurricane Katrina devastated a 90,000 sq. mile region of the U.S. Gulf Coast displacing more than 1 million persons and causing unprecedented destruction in Louisiana, Mississippi.  Of the million displaced persons, some 750,000 have dispersed throughout the country and now 43 states are eligible for resettlement assistance from the federal government. 

Trauma for those directly and indirectly distressed by this hurricane will have far-reaching consequences for not only the survivors, but also untold thousands of relief/rescue personnel and sheltering/case management care-givers will expose themselves physically, psychologically and spiritually to the grief, frustration and hopelessness of the overwhelming demands on their lives.

CWS is working to identify culturally diverse populations, and other vulnerable households in isolated areas, that may who require special assistance to access disaster relief resources.  

This Church World Service appeal will address the hurricane’s damages to communities and lives through meeting immediate needs, organizing for long-term recovery at multiple faith community levels, and will address the relocation of individuals across the country in concert with other state, federal and CWS programmatic partners.

This appeal requests collective funding for three program components of Church World Service's response that will assure development of effective, sustainable long-term recovery.  The appeal will support: Response; Recovery; Relocation; Spiritual and Emotional Care; and CWS "Tools of Hope" in the form of blankets and kits.

CWS Tools of Hope Blankets and "Gift of the Heart" Kits

As of September 16, Church World Service has shipped nearly $900,00 in donated material assistance to affected areas, including 14,670 CWS Blankets (valued at $107,510); 47,190 "Gift of the Heart" Health Kits (valued at $618,667); 3,360 CWS "Gift of the Heart" School Kits (valued at $43,680); 704 CWS “Gift of the Heart” Kids Kits (valued at $16,896); 1,625 CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets (valued at $73,125); 20 IMA Medicine Boxes and 17 UNICEF Recreational Kits (the two combined valued at $21,953). Total value: $881,831. Shipments have been made to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, as well to relocation centers in Michigan and Virginia. 

Recovery work by CWS Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons (DRRLS):

• DRRL Heriberto Martinez continues work in Texas in support of the development of relocation support systems for displaced persons.  He has worked extensively with the Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston in building networks and formation of IMGH’s substantial investment of staff and resources in the sheltering and relocation efforts.  He is working with Texas Interfaith Disaster Response in Austin and the San Antonio VOAD in the coming week.
• DRRL Lura Cayton has worked with the Louisiana Interchurch Conference (LIC) and the Greater Baton Rouge Federation of Churches and Synagogues in development of programs and support services for the 263,000 new residents of the city.  Lura and the judicatory leaders of the LIC are also in planning for projects for long-term recovery.  Among the many meetings, Lura attended a briefing on the care of bodies retrieved from New Orleans city, and reports great respect and sensitivity to religious traditions.
• DRRL Art Jackson has completed early long-term recovery assessment needs in the northern third of Mississippi.  Development of faith-based response to damages in the area is to be determined.
• DRRL Tom Davis has made significant contacts with churches in Meridian and Laurel, Mississippi.  Tom will work across the center of the state during the coming week.  In addition, in his role as chair of the Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Tom is providing significant leadership to national planning for a continuum of emotional and spiritual care and possible emotional and spiritual care desk in the Mississippi joint federal/state disaster field office.
• DRRL Cherri Baer is completing early long-term recovery assessment in the western central area of Mississippi.  She will be contacting pastors and community leaders during the upcoming week.
• DRRLs Lesli Remaly and John Sims are working with developing recovery structures in the southern part of Mississippi.  Lesli, John, and Cherri Baer attended the first statewide coordinating meeting for faith-based, other voluntary agency and governmental representatives in Biloxi on Friday, September 16.
• DRRL Tim Johnson continues work with Volunteer Mobile and other agencies delivering long-term recovery in the southern tip of Alabama following the hurricanes of 2004.  These agencies have assumed care for those affected by Hurricane Katrina by expanding their service area.  Recovery services will especially be extended to the former residents of Bayou La Batre who suffered similar tidal surges and total devastation.  Tim, as the DRRL who is primary contact for Florida, is also supporting recovery work on the southern tip of Florida where Hurricane Katrina first made landfall.
• DRRL Joann Hale is investigating volunteer health and safety concerns related to current or future exposure to toxic substances in water, soil (dry or wet), air, and building materials.  Through the cooperative Church World Service and United Church of Christ Technology Caused Disasters ministry, Joann will continue to inform and raise awareness around these issues for faith and community recovery partners.

Relocation:

CWS, through its existing resettlement affiliate offices in eight states that have already received uprooted families, will support the relocation of up to 500 displaced Americans over an initial period of three months.  Atlanta and Miami are the first cities to be identified for relocation activities.  CWS will release the name of the six additional sites, once funding for the process is secured in those areas. 

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