Harvey made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday, August 25 as a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mile per hour winds. The storm is causing widespread flooding and significant damage across southern Texas and Louisiana as the slow moving storm drops several feet of water throughout the region. UCC Disaster Ministries continues to monitor the situation and maintain contact with the South Central Conference and partners as well as federal and state agencies.
By the Numbers:
– Category 4 hurricane at landfall (first since 2004)
– 130 mph winds
– 8 million people within area of impact
– 786,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders
– Nearly 200,000 without power
– More than 50 inches of rain in some areas and it’s still raining
– 32,134 currently in shelters as evacuations, search and rescue continue
– 500,000 homes estimated to be affected
– 87,000 FEMA registrations so far; expecting 450,000+
– Media reporting up to 30 storm-related fatalities
– 73 oil/HAZMAT incidents reported
The UCC is part of response networks you see on the news and those you don’t see. UCC Disaster Ministries is already gearing up for our long-term recovery work in the region and your contributions for Harvey survivors means providing community support for holistic recovery, repairing house and home for families and children and restoring dignity for the most vulnerable who have lost everything in the wake of this catastrophic event.
GIVE generously to support Harvey relief and recovery efforts by clicking on the link to make a secure online donation. Gifts may also be made at your local UCC congregation marked for “Hurricane Harvey” with the request they be sent through your Conference office or to Wider Church Ministries. Donations may also be sent directly to Wider Church Ministries, Financial Services – 6th Floor, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.
You will be meeting the unique needs of vulnerable individuals and families by filling gaps in services through the following provisions:
– Spiritual care
– Community organizing
– Repair and reconstruction of homes
– Tools
– Building materials
– Volunteer coordination
VOLUNTEER Sign up to have your name included for future volunteer opportunities. Right now, prospective volunteers from outside the affected area actually are being asked to stay away. Meanwhile, why not send a work team to Volusia County, Fla., to help families recover from the tremendous wind and water damage Hurricane Matthew caused in 2016?
ASSEMBLE CLEANUP BUCKETS. UCC Disaster Ministries is offering $250 matching grants to congregations assembling CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets. In an emergency like Harvey with widespread, severe flooding, the demand for buckets will be high – CWS distributed 8,000 buckets after Hurricane Matthew – but CWS has only 1,800 buckets currently in stock! CWS will be announcing some special drop-off points for buckets, Hygiene Kits and School Kits soon.
HOLD A YARD SALE, BARBEQUE OR BAKE SALE and contribute the money raised to Harvey recovery. We know of no need for in-kind donations, especially clothes. Certainly if there are specific in-kind needs that we come across we will post them here.
PREPARE Use this time of attention to disaster to prepare your family, your congregation, your community. Use UCC Disaster Ministries’ brand-new Preparedness Toolkit!