ERD Plans Multi-year Response to Hurricanes, Reaches $10 million in Contributions
Episcopal News Service. October 6, 2005 [100605-1]
Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing ongoing emergency relief and long-term recovery to people affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Through a four-phase, multi-year rehabilitation program focusing on human need and outreach ministries, ERD is working in partnership with Episcopal dioceses and communities affected by both disasters. So far, ERD has received close to $10 million in donations from individuals, parishes, and dioceses after the hurricanes.
"We are so humbled by the overwhelming generosity and compassion shown to help those affected by the hurricanes," said Bishop Harry B. Bainbridge of Idaho, chair of ERD's Board. "This outpouring of gifts from Episcopalians has come from throughout the country as well as from our brothers and sisters around the Anglican Communion including El Salvador, Guam, Taiwan, Greece, and the Philippines."
"Right now, we are still in the early stages of Phase I as we work with our partners to assess and plan a comprehensive rehabilitation program," said Abagail Nelson, ERD's vice president of Program. "Our four-phase response will use all the funds received in the following stages: Phase I, Immediate Response; Phase II, Assessment; Phase III, Recovery; and Phase IV, Long-Term Development. It will take between three and five years to complete our program."
Phase I is focusing on emergency needs such as food, shelter, and temporary housing during the first three months after the hurricanes. ERD's partnerships with nine Episcopal dioceses in states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama are building local capacity to respond to the needs of people affected by the hurricanes.
ERD's assistance is helping transport critical supplies such as food, water, baby formula, and first aid supplies to distribution centers. Episcopal and ecumenical partnerships are also providing health care services and medical supplies at relief centers. ERD's funding is supporting offices to coordinate disaster response in the dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi.
The disaster response offices are helping the dioceses reach survivors, organize volunteer responses, and manage their involvement with local, state, and federal officials. ERD's work with dioceses in Tennessee, Kansas, Louisiana, and Alabama is helping to resettle people displaced by the hurricanes. In the second phase of recovery, ERD and diocesan partners will continue conducting assessments and performing recovery work in affected dioceses.
ERD is also working in coordination with national church agencies. In addition, ERD's partnership with Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is finding temporary or permanent resettlement for evacuees through a relocation program with dioceses, congregations, and communities across the country. Detailed information on ERD's emergency response after the hurricanes is available at www.er-d.org.
The Diocese of Louisiana continues its work supporting people impacted by the hurricanes as Bishop Charles Jenkins plans to move back to the Cathedral in New Orleans by the October 8. "As the city of New Orleans opens back up, our partnership with the diocese is providing clean, purified drinking water in front of the Cathedral for the local community," said Robert W. Radtke, ERD president. "It's just one way that we are helping restore life in an area so devastated by the hurricanes."
"Following the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, we saw at least 50 percent of relief agencies pull out after Phase I of the disaster, but ERD's strength is in its commitment to long-term recovery efforts," commented Nelson. "We especially seek to serve those groups who may be marginalized or underserved by other response efforts."
The third phase of the response will respond to the growing need for economic and long-term housing as well as psychosocial care. ERD's support will enable survivors and evacuees to access direct services. As evacuees transition home, ERD will focus on job training, small businesses recovery, trauma counseling, and health intervention.
The last phase of the response will address long-term development for 18 months up to three to five years. ERD and diocesan partners will continue assessing ongoing or unmet needs of people affected by the disasters and offer necessary psychosocial and health care services. Together with its partners, ERD will support economic redevelopment in affected communities.
"We work with our partners and communities years after a disaster is over. Our partnership with the Diocese of Honduras continues to address housing needs for those left homeless by Hurricane Mitch in 1998," Nelson said. "ERD also continues to support victims of September 11, the earthquakes in El Salvador, civil war in Liberia, and the tsunami."
"ERD is committed to being good stewards-using every donor dollar in the most effective way possible over the many years it will take to rebuild," said Radtke. "These generous, and in some cases sacrificial, donations to the hurricane recovery efforts will enable us to sustain our response program as we build our partnership with dioceses reaching out to devastated individuals and communities in the coming years."
To support ERD's Hurricane Response or other programs, please donate at www.er-d.org.