wfn.org | [ENS] Out of Deep Waters: Threats of Rita damage force Texas

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

September 23, 2005

Out of Deep Waters: Threats of Rita damage force Texas relocations

By Carol Barnwell

ENS092205-04

[Episcopal News Service] Bishop Don Wimberly has relocated the Diocese
of
Texas offices to Camp Allen, the camp and conference center of the
diocese,
while many of the congregations along the Gulf Coast evacuate in front
of
Hurricane Rita.

"We have a number of offers for places to stay," said Wimberly, "but
have
not had any requests yet."

Marjorie George, communications director in the neighboring Diocese of
West
Texas, said they had 15 homes of parishioners and their camp sites
ready.
St. Christopher's, Killeen, has also offered places to stay.

"We continue to have people coming off the highway here, they find it
like
an oasis in the desert," Wimberly said. One family showed up on Friday
morning after spending the night in a field next to a gridlocked freeway
full of evacuees trying to leave Houston. The family of four had not
eaten
since Thursday at noon and Camp Allen president George Dehan told them
to
have breakfast first and then they would get them situated in a room.
The
relief on their faces spoke volumes, Dehan said.

Forty-seven residents from the diocesan retirement community, St. James'
House in Baytown, arrived at the camp after being on busses for more
than 18
hours. One bus broke down and residents, many on oxygen or in wheel
chairs,
had to be moved to other transportation sent by Good Shepherd, Tomball
and
Camp Allen to complete the trip which should normally take no more than
two
hours. Eighteen staff members and several volunteers traveled with
residents
to help care for them at Camp Allen.

Dehan said residents from Swan nursing home in Baytown are also being
housed
at the conference center.

"The lack of resources, gasoline and water, for those stuck on the
freeway
is contributing to a tense situation," Dehan said. The large chapel will
be
used as contingency space for any emergency needs should people be
forced
off the highway and need a place to stay during the storm, he added.
Rita is
expected to hit early Saturday morning around 1 a.m. and is expected to
carry 90 mile an hour winds even this far in from the coast.

"With the shift in direction of Rita, we are now trying to reach the
clergy
who are now in harm's way," Wimberly said. He has been on the telephone
since early this morning as the skies continue to remain blue and the
Episcopal flag flutters outside the temporary offices in a slight
breeze.

Further bulletins from the Diocese of Texas will be located on the
website
of the Diocese of Washington at http://epicenter.edow.org

-- Carol Barnwell is communication director for the Houston-based
Diocese of
Texas

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