We just got this report from Athol Barnes, an AIM staff member who was investigating the damage caused by Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas:
The
damage is very similar to Katrina and the New Orleans Gulf coast area.
We went through houses and neighborhoods today that had 4 to 5 feet of
water in them. There will be hundreds, if not thousands, of homes that
need gutting, something our teams do really well.
The
area of damage is very widespread; the storm was 600 miles across. Many
of the areas between Houston and the Louisiana line are economically
depressed and the people might have insurance, but the insurance covers
only current cash value (this was the case with a family we visited
today in Galveston).
area of damage is very widespread; the storm was 600 miles across. Many
of the areas between Houston and the Louisiana line are economically
depressed and the people might have insurance, but the insurance covers
only current cash value (this was the case with a family we visited
today in Galveston).
The
pictures could have been taken anywhere in the Holly grove area of New
Orleans, but they were in Galveston. Bolivar, an area outside Houston
was almost completely destroyed. And it was a very poor area.
The
immediate need is for volunteers, yesterday. We are proposing to have
volunteers come to Houston and stay with our partner church. We will
have a volunteer coordinator in place to facilitate the work crews and
make sure their food and lodging are taken care of. We will charge them
$30 per day that will include, a place to sleep, three meals, a
coordinator, nonspecialized tools (they might want to bring chain saws
etc).
immediate need is for volunteers, yesterday. We are proposing to have
volunteers come to Houston and stay with our partner church. We will
have a volunteer coordinator in place to facilitate the work crews and
make sure their food and lodging are taken care of. We will charge them
$30 per day that will include, a place to sleep, three meals, a
coordinator, nonspecialized tools (they might want to bring chain saws
etc).
Lodging might be varied including trailers, dorm style in a hall, or large tents. However, cots will be provided.
The volunteers will do:
- Gutting and demolition
- Food distribution and ministering to those affected by the storm
- General contractors
- Yard clean up
- Roofers
- Prayer walking and evangelism
We who follow Jesus need to find more ways to give and
bring hope. Here is an obvious way.
Will you help?
Call 800-881-2461 (ext. 212)
or send us an email for more info.
or send us an email for more info.
Here’s a video that our staff just shot of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike…
