Churches at Heart of Hurricane Katrina Disaster Response

Janet Chismar/Davin Dahlgren Reporting : Aug 30, 2005
Crosswalk.com

Churches and other Faith-based organizations are always to be found providing comfort and relief in the wake of all types of natural and man-made disasters. The same is true in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But perhaps more remarkable is the fact that many of the charitable groups began preparing to help before the Hurricane hit so that aid could be delivered as quickly as possible to those who suffered the ravages of the massive storm.

The Salvation Army had 38 Mobile Feeding Units (capable of serving 5,000 meals per day) and two fully-equipped mobile kitchens (capable of serving 20,000 meals per day) on alert and are now delivering support to victims, volunteers, and emergency personnel in the affected states. The Salvation Army also had drinking water, shower units, and first aid supplies ready and in-place on Sunday afternoon, far enough from the expected storm path to remain safe, yet close enough to be delivered quickly to those who most needed it.

Dennis Jacobs, a minister at the First Baptist Church in New Orleans used experience gained last year when he helped open a Red Cross shelter at the church in response to Hurricane Ivan to get a shelter ready for its opening this year at 1 PM on Sunday.

Baptist churches all over the region are being opened as shelters. The Southern Baptist disaster unit is working with the American Red Cross to provide meals.

Operation Blessing has six tractor trailer trucks already dispatched and picking up food, cleaning kits and relief supplies, in order to provide up to 310,000 meals a day by the end of the week.

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee is raising funds to help assess the needs of the affected communities, recruit volunteers for reconstruction efforts, and provide building materials and transportation during the reconstruction.