wfn.org | Disciples assist with Hurricane Fran relief efforts

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

September 13, 1996
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L.Willis
Cliff_Willis.parti@ecunet.org
     

96b-77

         INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) families in North Carolina and Virginia are among
those suffering property losses following Hurricane Fran,
according to reports from the Week of Compassion.

     "Many Disciples, like so many of their neighbors, have
been impacted by Hurricane Fran," said the Rev. Johnny Wray,
administrative director of the Disciples relief and
development ministry.
 
     Home and property damage because of fallen trees,
smashed or flooded vehicles, and crop and livestock losses
are the major outcomes of the recent storm system. 

     More than 500,000 persons remain without electrical
power in North Carolina, alone, according to officials.
Phone service also was disrupted by the hurricane. Property
losses there are approaching $1 billion in the wake of
Hurricane Fran.

     The Disciples' relief and development ministry has sent
$6,000 toward an initial $100,000 appeal from Church World
Service. "That appeal will likely increase as will our
response," Wray added.

     Grants totaling $13,000 also have been sent directly to
the North Carolina regional office and congregations to meet
basic human needs and support Disciples participation in
local interfaith relief efforts. 

     Disciples participating in local emergency assistance
are the Rev. Roland Jones and Terry Wesbrock. Jones, pastor
of Robbins Road Christian Church in Durham, serves on the
North Carolina Council of Churches' Disaster Response
Committee. 

     Wesbrock, an Arizona-based Church World Service
disaster response consultant, was sent to Raleigh, N.C., to
help with interfaith efforts there. As many as 4,000 homes
in Raleigh have been heavily damaged or destroyed.

     Elsewhere, Hurricane Hortense has left thousands of
people homeless in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
The resulting mudslides and high flood waters have hampered
rescue and relief efforts in the Caribbean nations.

     Week of Compassion is attempting to contact
representatives of the Disciples community in Puerto Rico,
along with Disciples member Abigail Rosado, a CWS disaster
resource consultant there. 

     Wray anticipates that WOC will make emergency grants in
response to appeals by Church World Service and the
Disciples of Christ in Puerto Rico.

     A third storm system affecting central and southern
China, Typhoon Sally, destroyed 215,000 homes and killed
more than 100 persons earlier this week, said the WOC
director.

     Week of Compassion sent $3,000 toward a $50,000 appeal
by Church World Service and its partner agency in China, the
Amity Foundation.

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