wfn.org | CWS Begins Response to Hurricane Floyd

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
E-mail: news@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org

103NCC9/17/99     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CWS RESPONDS TO HURRICANE FLOYD WITH INITIAL $100,000

 NEW YORK, Sept. 17 ---- Church World Service (CWS) is
seeking $100,000 from its member communions to provide
emergency materials, perform initial assessments and plan
long-term interfaith recovery work following Hurricane
Floyd's destructive East Coast path.

 Funds will go to CWS clean-up kits, blankets, tents and
other material resources as needed.  Disaster response
consultants will perform assessments and help organize
interfaith networks to plan long-term recovery work.

 CWS has also been in contact with Habitat for Humanity
about working in partnership on housing reconstruction
through local interfaith groups in devastated areas.

 Initial assessments indicated that among the worst-hit
areas were North Carolina and New Jersey, where heavy
flooding was common, requiring helicopter rooftop rescues.

 At least half the town of Rocky Mount, N.C., was under
water and conditions were expected to worsen in areas near
the Tar River, which will take at least a week to crest.
Also seriously affected was Bound Brook, N.J., where severe
flooding from the Raritan River stranded residents on
rooftops.  Flooding was also reported in and around
Philadelphia and in eastern New York.

EDITORS: When listing organizations receiving funds for
emergency response to Hurricane Floyd, please include:

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. Fall Storms 1999, #976240, P.O.
Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.  Phone pledges or credit card
donations: 1-800-297-1516, ext. 222.  On-line contributions
to: http://www.churchworldservice.org

CWS works in more than 80 countries, including the U.S., in
disaster relief, human development and refugee assistance.
It is a ministry of the National Council of Churches, whose
35 Protestant and Orthodox member communions have a combined
membership of 52 million.

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