wfn.org | CRWRC Responds to Spring Storms across the U.S.

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bill Adams, CRWRC-DRS Director, cell 616-560-2782

Beth DeGraff, CRWRC Media Contact, cell 616-648-7821 or 1-800-55-CRWRC

CRWRC Responds to Spring Storms across the U.S.

April 29, 2010?As 2010 spring storm season heats up in North America, the 
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) is responding to the severe 
weather that recently devastated parts of the eastern and southern  U.S.

Two weeks of rain that deluged coastal areas from Maine to Connecticut in March 
and April resulted in federal disaster declarations in the worst-hit counties. 
Responding to urgent appeals from government personnel for volunteers to help 
work through a backlog of requests for help from local residents, a CRWRC 
Disaster Response Services
(DRS) Rapid Response Team arrived in Providence, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, 
April 27.

The team, staying at local churches, is addressing requests for assistance and 
prioritizing local residents who are most vulnerable to or affected by the 
flooding. Rapid Response volunteer Terry Reimink reported to CRWRC-DRS staff 
yesterday that the group had
?already completed a number of repairs for clients in tough circumstances.? 
Reimink also said that hundreds of homes and businesses were affected and 
residents are continuing to ask for help.

Surveying the rising water on a recent visit to the disaster area, Janet 
Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said that 
flooding from the Pawtuxet River in hard-hit Rhode Island was ??not the type of 
event that people recover from in a day or two. We are going to have to dig in 
our heels, work our way out, and really bring Rhode Island back...?

Likewise, in the Southern U.S., a tornado nearly two miles wide ripped a swath 
of destruction across 100 miles of Mississippi and surrounding states, killing 
10 people and devastating Yazoo City and surrounding areas. CRWRC-DRS regional 
managers Fred and Mary Visser are in contact with state disaster response 
personnel and voluntary organizations (VOADs) to help coordinate emergency 
efforts there.

CRWRC-DRS director Bill Adams said yesterday that in Mississippi, ?CRWRC is 
working with VOAD and government partners to develop response and recovery 
plans in severely affected communities. Our hearts go out to those who are 
picking up the pieces of their lives. We are thankful that we can bring hope 
and help in these difficult days.?

CRWRC seeks funding to respond to these and other disasters in the coming 
months. To help disaster survivors recover from flooding and tornadoes in Rhode 
Island and Mississippi, give online to www.crwrc.org, by phone to 
1-800-55-CRWRC, or by check to CRWRC, designated, ?Spring Storms 2010,? and 
mailed to CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI    49560-0600.

Members of the Press wishing to arrange interview with CRWRC-DRS director Bill 
Adams, call cell 616-560-2782, or call Beth DeGraff, Media Contact at cell 
616-648-7821.

For more information about CRWRC-DRS or to volunteer, go to www.crwrc.org.

CRWRC is a non-profit agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North  America

ministering to people in need around the world with relief, development, and 
justice.

> -         30 -

> -- Beth DeGraff
> CRWRC Media and Justice Contact
> 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE
> Grand Rapids, MI 49560-0600
> 1-800-55-CRWRC
> www.crwrc.org

Note that my email address has changed to bdegraff@crwrc.org.

CRWRC is a registered non-profit agency of the CRC-NA in both the U.S. and 
Canada.