Disaster Response

A message from the Rev. Paul McCabe
Diocesan Coordinator for Disaster Preparedness

Regarding recovery efforts in the Southeast

I have spoken with Katie Mears with the Disaster Preparedness Office for Episcopal Relief and Development and received the following information:

For now most of the territories are being served by local volunteers, and there have been any requests for more hands-on volunteerism. The common perception is that in the next couple of weeks the food of volunteers will soon disappear and they will still need help. Katie said if individuals could go to the ER-D website and sign up in the “Ready to Serve” section, it would help with coordinating the needs to individuals abilities and gifts. With the flooding in Memphis there will be no shortage of volunteer help that will be needed.

I know that it is difficult to feel as if we are standing by and not doing anything, but we are truly trying to best coordinate with what the needs are and how we can best help. The most common complaint about disasters is that too many people arrive in the area wanting to help, but instead get in the way and are not helpful because they are sitting around waiting to help. I am waiting to hear back from Tennessee and Alabama as to how we can help, I will let you know as soon as I can.

Blessings and peace,
Paul McCabe
Rector, Church of the Annunciation, Marietta

pcm09@bellsouth.net

Note: The Episcopal Relief and Development website has a variety of resources on this topic.

As our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti and their friends and families around the world, there is much we can do here at home. Click here for more information about Haiti, the Episcopal Church's presence there, and some resources for you and your parish. But first: 

How to help

• Check the Haiti page on Episcopal Relief & Development website.   Episcopal Relief & Development has a four-star rating on Charity Navigator and meets all 20 standards of the Better Business Bureau.
• Episcopal Relief & Development also has a long partnership with The Episcopal Church in Haiti. Click here.
  
• Donate and encourage others to donate to Episcopal Relief & Development giving online, by calling (during business hours) 800-334-7626 ext 5129, or by sending a check payable to Episcopal Relief and Development (notation: Haiti) to P.O. Box 7058 Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. Read more about the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Haiti and find resources for prayer and worship. 

The Episcopal Church:
Facts about the Diocese of Haiti and the aftermath of the earthquake
 
Updated February 18, 2010
 
The world continues to watch after a devastating 7.0 earthquake destroyed much of Haiti.  The Episcopal Church and Episcopal Relief & Development responded immediately.  The following is a fact sheet about the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti.
 
Please continue to check the special Haiti landing page for updated and additional information. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/haiti.php
 
Facts:
Haiti is the largest and fastest-growing diocese in The Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church has been an active, integral partner in Haiti for over 150+ years.
 
The Rt. Rev. Jean Zache Duracin is Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti.  He is unharmed and remains in Haiti helping with the relief effort; his wife suffered an injury to her leg and is recovering from surgery in Florida.
 
Bishop Duracin reports that there are 200,000 members of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti.
 
The Rev. Lauren Stanley, liaison to Bishop Duracin in the United States, reports that almost all the Episcopal facilities in the Diocese of Haiti sustained damage: the 200 parishes, congregations, missions and preaching stations including the cathedral which was destroyed; the 254 nursery, primary and secondary schools; the university; the seminary; the community college; the three trade schools; the hospital and numerous medical missions; St. Vincent’s Center for the Handicapped; and a Jubilee Center.
 
The Episcopal Church’s three missionaries who were in Haiti are all accounted for. Oge Beauvoir, who is the dean of the Theological Seminary, along with his wife Serette, remain in Haiti.

Episcopal Relief & Development is working closely with the Diocese of Haiti to help meet critical needs such as food, water and shelter and to develop a plan for long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. www.er-d.org/HaitiCrisis. Donations can be made to Episcopal Relief & Development by calling 800-334-7626 ext 5129.  https://www.er-d.org/donate-select.php .Episcopal Relief & Development has a four star rating on Charity Navigator and meets all 20 standards of the Better Business Bureau.
 
Volunteers discouraged from traveling to Haiti
Written on January 19, 2010, re-posted February 17, 2010
 
There have been a number of inquiries about volunteering.  Please note:
 
The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and Episcopal Relief & Development discourages all volunteer travel to Haiti for the foreseeable future.  The situation is very unstable and safety and security cannot be guaranteed.
 
The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is fully occupied with ministering to its members and is not in a position to host volunteers at this time.
 
At some point in the future, Episcopal Relief & Development may consider organizing volunteers to go to Haiti.  We will announce those opportunities when and if it becomes appropriate.
 
In the meantime, please collect names of those who may be interested and hold on to them so that when the time is right and a call goes out, you can be in touch with people.
     
 
Resources
 
Bulletin inserts are available in both Spanish and English.
- From Episcopal News Service Weekly Bulletin Inserts:   http://www.episcopalchurch.org/95270_ENG_HTM.htm
- From Episcopal Relief & Development: http://www.er-d.org/BulletinInsertsCT/
 
 
Books:
All Souls’ Rising by Madison Smartt Bell
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder.  A biography of Paul Farmer, one of the founders of Partners in Health
In the Parish of the Poor (Writings from Haiti) by Jean Bertrand Aristide     Aristide’s writings as a Catholic priest, advocate of the poor and liberation theologian before he became president of Haiti.
Walking on Fire by Beverly Bell.   Haitian women’s stories of survival and resistance
Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat
 
Episcopal Books and Resources www.episcopalbookstore.org
 
Center for Applied linguistics website and their culture profile on Haitians.   http://www.cal.org/resources/pubs/haitians.html
 
For more information
For more information from The Episcopal Church:
Financial Donations and Immediate Relief and Development: Episcopal Relief & Development
Mission Personnel: the Rev. David Copley
Refugee Issues: Deborah Stein, Episcopal Migration Ministries
Church's Role in US Government Response: Alex Baumgarten
Donations for future church rebuilding in Haiti: Finance office
Clergy Support: Church Pension Group