Wednesday, August 31, 2005

By Matthew Davies

ENS 083105-1

[ENS] — Episcopalians are working tirelessly to assess and respond to the
destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, a category four hurricane that ripped
through the Gulf Coast August 29, leaving at least 120 people dead and countless
more displaced and homeless.

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, in an August 31 message to all bishops, clergy
and congregations, called for “a community united in prayer and service during
this time.”

“At this time let us be exceedingly mindful that bearing one another’s burdens
and sharing one another’s suffering is integral to being members of Christ’s
body,” Griswold said in his statement. “I call upon every member of our church
to reach out in prayer and tangible support to our brothers and sisters as they
live through these overwhelming days of loss and begin to face the difficult
challenges of the future.” [Full statement at: http://
www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_64601_ENG_HTM.htm]

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) responded immediately by sending
emergency funds to the Dioceses of Central Gulf Coast, Louisiana, Mississippi,
and Western Louisiana to support immediate needs such as food, shelter and
medical supplies.

Robert Radtke, president of ERD, described the hurricane’s devastation as
“tsunami-like.”

“Authorities are locating people, rescuing them from houses, from rooftops,” he
said. “But our main concern is taking care of those persons who have been
displaced or have lost their homes and everything they have.”

The people most affected in any natural disaster are the poor, Radtke explained.
“The people who have resources can get out of harm’s way,” he said. “Our
priority is people living in poverty — we’re looking after the people who’ve
been most drastically affected by this.”

“We’re like a deer caught in the headlights,” said Bishop Charles Jenkins of
Louisiana, by phone from temporary offices at St. James’ Church in Baton Rouge.
“We’ve lost at least 18 churches. The diocesan offices didn’t flood until today,
but I understand they had already been looted. New Orleans is a city with many
poor people, and there’s a lot of civic unrest.

“But we’ve had calls from dioceses all over the country offering help, and ERD
has been a tremendous aid to us,” he added. “This is the church at its best —
pulling together and helping each other through hard times.”

Bishop Bruce MacPherson of Western Louisiana explained that his diocese has
taken on thousands of evacuees during the past 72 hours. “A number of our
congregations are providing care for some of these people, and we have about 200
people from nursing homes and individual families housed at our diocesan camp
and conference center,” he said. “The latter are being provided with rooms and
meals, with many sleeping in group cottages.”

In Mississippi, many churches are a “total loss,” explained diocesan
communicator Lauren Auttonberry. “We have lost the structures for many of our
coast area churches,” she said. “St. Peter’s by-the-Sea suffered extensive
damage, although some of the walls are still standing. St. Mark’s, Gulfport,
Christ Church, Bay St. Louis, and Redeemer, Biloxi are a total loss.”

Bishop Duncan Gray of Mississippi described the disaster as one of
“unprecedented proportions.”

“Long time residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast have noted that the damage
and facilities from the storm will far exceed that of Hurricane Camille in
1969,” he said. “Thousands have lost their homes and those holy places of
worship to which they have instinctively gone in times of crisis. Unconfirmed
reports have indicated that at least six Episcopal Churches have been totally
destroyed with serious damage to many others. It is a time of deep shock and
grief and tears.”

“And it is a time of hope,” Gray added, citing the hundreds of Episcopalians
from throughout the country who have called offering help in various forms. The
diocese received $25,000 immediate relief funds from Episcopal Relief and
Development.

“A list of coast-area clergy and their status is currently being compiled,”
Auttonberry said, urging those with information on any of the churches and their
clergy to call the diocesan office at 601.948.5954 or email
allinhouse@dioms.org.

Further information and details on how to send donations are available from the
Diocese of Mississippi website at http://www.dioms.org.

Bishops Jenkins, Gray and Philip Duncan of Central Gulf Coast have instituted a
daily conference call to coordinate relief efforts between their three dioceses.

ERD has responded with preliminary support of $50,000 to the Diocese of
Louisiana. “While full details of the devastation continue to unfold, a complete
needs assessment is underway,” said Malaika Kamunanwire, ERD’s director of
communications and annual fund. “The funds will support
immediate needs for basic payroll, food, shelter, medical supplies, and
additional needs for all affected.”

A grant of $20,000 has been sent from ERD to the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast.
“These funds will be directed toward helping vulnerable populations whose homes
were either destroyed or severely damaged by the storm,” Kamunanwire said. “The
diocese is also in the process of assessing the damage and its responses, but
these initial funds will help resource parishes that are helping to meet
emergency housing and sustenance needs in their communities.”

ERD is also sending a grant of $7,500 to assist the Diocese of Western Louisiana
as it provides care for thousands of evacuees. ERD stands ready to continue
support as additional needs emerge.

To make a contribution to help people affected by Hurricane Katrina, please
donate to the US Hurricane Fund by credit card at http://www.er-d.org/ or by
calling 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and
Development, c/o US Hurricane Fund, PO Box 12043, Newark, NJ 07101.

Episcopal Relief and Development is the international relief and development
agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. An independent 501(c) 3
organization, ERD saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world.
We provide emergency assistance in times of crisis and rebuild after disasters.
We enable people to climb out of poverty by offering long-term solutions in the
areas of food security and health care, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.

For the latest news and information from ENS on Hurricane Katrina, visit:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_64552_ENG_HTM.htm.

— Matthew Davies is staff writer and web manager for Episcopal News Service.