Church of God Division of Care Alerts Disaster Teams
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Jamaica damage |
A few days ago, the National Weather Service confirmed that it was only a matter of time before the hurricane season would begin producing moderate to severe storms in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. After a season and a half of little production, two storms developed wrecking havoc.
The first of these storms was Tropical Storm Erin that made landfall overnight north of Corpus Christ, TX. It quickly diminished to a tropical depression but continues to dump huge amounts of rainfall as it moves east across the northern tier of states. As the deluge continues to fall, flooding has occurred from the Texas Gulf coast to northern Ohio. Scores of towns have been flooded as the tropical depression met a low pressure system coming from Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Dean, a category 2 hurricane slammed into St. Lucia and the eastern Caribbean before developing into a strong category 4 storm before strafing Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. On its way out of the Caribbean, Dean became a category 5 hurricane and set its sights on the Yucatan Peninsula. Afterwards, Dean slammed into Mexico as a category 2 storm. While Dean left death and destruction in the Caribbean, the Yucatan only reported damage as Dean made landfall in a sparsely populated area.
Regardless of the storms and where they make landfall, Church of God Division of Care Ministries (www.churchofgod.org/careministries) are prepared and ready to respond. Under the direction of Dr. Donnie W. Smith, the Division was alerted to implement their strategic plans for disaster relief throughout the Caribbean and Mexico.
Each critical component of the Care team has a strategic disaster plan that is being utilized where needed. Dr. Robert Crick, director of the Chaplain’s Commission (www.cogchaplains.com) and Tom Offutt, disaster coordinator for the Commission, are prepared to dispatch teams of chaplains to assist with a number of relief efforts.
David Lorency, president of Operation Compassion (www.operationcompassion.org), has also implemented their disaster plan, alerting his team of specialists.
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Yucatan landfall |
Disaster relief products are being shipped to many disaster sites nationally and internationally.
Bishop Blair, Overseer of Jamaica reported that there was food staged in the warehouses, ready for distribution as needed. Operation Compassion partner, Frank Allen and Hope Charitable Services are procuring roofing materials to be shipped. Other international partners are working to supply the Cayman Islands, the Yucatan and other areas of Mexico.
During extreme disaster situations, the Disaster Relief Command Center at the Church of God International Offices can be implemented to help coordinate inter-departmental disaster relief efforts. The command center was last operational during the first critical weeks of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Thankfully, while Erin and Dean were destructive, the command center was not utilized.
Operation Compassion
Donnie Smith, Director of Care Ministries
David Lorency, President
Tim Burdashaw, Int’l. Operations Coordinator
Lisa Boen, Int’l. Logistics Coordinator
114 Stuart Road, NE Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 Office
423.728.3958 Fax
www.operationcompassion.org
