LONG TERM RECOVERY PROGRAMS

TEXAS

Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas to support communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. As part of its long-term plans, the diocese hired Jennifer Wickham to serve as Bishop’s Deputy for Disaster Recovery. In this role, she is developing a long-term disaster recovery strategy with a focus on meeting unmet needs including financial support for rebuilding supplies and assistance with child care.

Episcopal Relief & Development and the Episcopal Diocese of Texas continue to meet the urgent needs of people across the impacted region. Episcopal Relief & Development works with the diocese to support the work of congregations and church partners. To help lead recovery efforts, The Rev. Stacy Stringer, the rector of Holy Trinity Church in Dickinson, was named Director of Hurricane Recovery for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. During Hurricane Harvey, she coordinated relief efforts and provided a strong pastoral presence for vulnerable members of her congregation and the Dickinson community. The needs are still great in affected communities.

PUERTO RICO

After Hurricane Maria, long-term needs assessments continue, Episcopal Relief & Development is providing support to the Diocese of Puerto Rico for food, water, medical and pastoral care, communications equipment, transportation, fuel and generators to affected residents throughout the island. Two warehouses in Ponce and Trujillo Alto serve as relief supply depots where clergy and lay leaders gather relief supplies and transport them in trucks and other vehicles to remote areas.

Episcopal Relief & Development is focusing on long-term recovery, with a specific focus on rebuilding housing without insurance, emotional care for caregivers and ongoing help with volunteer management, networking and advocacy. Episcopal Relief & Development is underwriting three new staff positions in the diocese to handle disaster preparedness, relief and recovery, including a Long-Term Recovery Director.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

On the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Episcopal Relief & Development and the Episcopal Diocese of the Virgin Islands initially provided cash and cash vouchers for food, water and critical supplies for several hundred people in the aftermath of the hurricanes. On Tortola and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, Episcopal Relief & Development targeted support for drinking water, tarps, plywood and nails.

NORTH CAROLINA

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the joint effort of the Dioceses of East Carolina and North Carolina who are working together to provide migrant and seasonal farmworkers after being displaced by Hurricane Florence in September 2018. Immediately following the storm, the Episcopal Farmworkers’ Ministry was able to identify families and camps in need and effectively distributed assistance. The community stepped up to the challenge and supported their efforts by donating money, volunteering and collecting food and other items. The Episcopal Farmworkers’ Ministry continues to work with the affected migrant communities.

EMERGENCY PROGRAMS

This list is comprised of current programs Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting. For questions about past responses, please email usdisaster@episcopalrelief.org.

CALIFORNIA

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is responding to the Sandalwood Fire with the support of Episcopal Relief & Development. The diocese will be providing gift cards to survivors. Furthermore, the Diocese of Northern California is responding to the Kincade Fire, impacting areas surrounding Nevada City and Healdsburg.

FLORIDA

The Diocese of Central Florida is offering financial support, referrals to services and mental health counseling in Orlando in response to an influx of displaced persons from Puerto Rico after a series of major earthquakes and aftershocks.

NORTH CAROLINA

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the Diocese of East Carolina in providing food, gift cards, and temporary storage for residents on the Ocracoke island who were impacted by Hurricane Dorian this fall.

OREGON

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting employees of a flooded plant in Pendleton, OR who will be without work for the next 4-6 months while their plant is being repaired. Through partnership with the Diocese of Eastern Oregon, the Church of the Redeemer in Pendleton will serve as a drop-in center 6 days a week, providing food, providing financial support to purchase goods, referrals to temporary housing and making counseling services available.

TENESSEE

Episcopal Relief & Development is working with the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee to support families impacted by the early March tornadoes in the Nashville area. The response includes providing temporary housing and utilities support, food and water, medicines and medical care, child care and local transportation to places of work.