wfn.org | [ENS] ERD plans multi-year response to hurricanes,

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

Thursday, October 6, 2005

ERD plans multi-year response to hurricanes, reaches $10 million in
contributions

ENS 100605-1

[ENS, Source: ERD] Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing
ongoing emergency relief and long-term recovery to people affected by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Through a four-phase, multi-year
rehabilitation
program focusing on human need and outreach ministries, ERD is working
in
partnership with Episcopal dioceses and communities affected by both
disasters. So far, ERD has received close to $10 million in donations
from
individuals, parishes, and dioceses after the hurricanes.

"We are so humbled by the overwhelming generosity and compassion shown
to
help those affected by the hurricanes," said Bishop Harry B. Bainbridge
of
Idaho, chair of ERD's Board. "This outpouring of gifts from
Episcopalians
has come from throughout the country as well as from our brothers and
sisters around the Anglican Communion including El Salvador, Guam,
Taiwan,
Greece, and the Philippines."

"Right now, we are still in the early stages of Phase I as we work with
our
partners to assess and plan a comprehensive rehabilitation program,"
said
Abagail Nelson, ERD's vice president of Program. "Our four-phase
response
will use all the funds received in the following stages: Phase I,
Immediate
Response; Phase II, Assessment; Phase III, Recovery; and Phase IV,
Long-Term
Development. It will take between three and five years to complete our
program."

Phase I is focusing on emergency needs such as food, shelter, and
temporary
housing during the first three months after the hurricanes. ERD's
partnerships with nine Episcopal dioceses in states including Louisiana,
Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama are building local capacity to respond
to
the needs of people affected by the hurricanes.

ERD's assistance is helping transport critical supplies such as food,
water,
baby formula, and first aid supplies to distribution centers. Episcopal
and
ecumenical partnerships are also providing health care services and
medical
supplies at relief centers. ERD's funding is supporting offices to
coordinate disaster response in the dioceses of Louisiana and
Mississippi.

The disaster response offices are helping the dioceses reach survivors,
organize volunteer responses, and manage their involvement with local,
state, and federal officials. ERD's work with dioceses in Tennessee,
Kansas,
Louisiana, and Alabama is helping to resettle people displaced by the
hurricanes. In the second phase of recovery, ERD and diocesan partners
will
continue conducting assessments and performing recovery work in affected
dioceses.

ERD is also working in coordination with national church agencies. In
addition, ERD's partnership with Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is
finding temporary or permanent resettlement for evacuees through a
relocation program with dioceses, congregations, and communities across
the
country. Detailed information on ERD's emergency response after the
hurricanes is available at www.er-d.org.

The Diocese of Louisiana continues its work supporting people impacted
by
the hurricanes as Bishop Charles Jenkins plans to move back to the
Cathedral
in New Orleans by the October 8. "As the city of New Orleans opens back
up,
our partnership with the diocese is providing clean, purified drinking
water
in front of the Cathedral for the local community," said Robert W.
Radtke,
ERD president. "It's just one way that we are helping restore life in an
area so devastated by the hurricanes."

"Following the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, we saw at least 50 percent
of
relief agencies pull out after Phase I of the disaster, but ERD's
strength
is in its commitment to long-term recovery efforts," commented Nelson.
"We
especially seek to serve those groups who may be marginalized or
underserved
by other response efforts."

The third phase of the response will respond to the growing need for
economic and long-term housing as well as psychosocial care. ERD's
support
will enable survivors and evacuees to access direct services. As
evacuees
transition home, ERD will focus on job training, small businesses
recovery,
trauma counseling, and health intervention.

The last phase of the response will address long-term development for 18
months up to three to five years. ERD and diocesan partners will
continue
assessing ongoing or unmet needs of people affected by the disasters and
offer necessary psychosocial and health care services. Together with its
partners, ERD will support economic redevelopment in affected
communities.

"We work with our partners and communities years after a disaster is
over.
Our partnership with the Diocese of Honduras continues to address
housing
needs for those left homeless by Hurricane Mitch in 1998," Nelson said.
"ERD
also continues to support victims of September 11, the earthquakes in El
Salvador, civil war in Liberia, and the tsunami."

"ERD is committed to being good stewards-using every donor dollar in the
most effective way possible over the many years it will take to
rebuild,"
said Radtke. "These generous, and in some cases sacrificial, donations
to
the hurricane recovery efforts will enable us to sustain our response
program as we build our partnership with dioceses reaching out to
devastated
individuals and communities in the coming years."

To support ERD's Hurricane Response or other programs, please donate at
www.er-d.org.

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