June 29, 2006
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
After several days of heavy rain, flood waters continue to rise across
much of the northeastern United States including Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Many of the rising
rivers and streams are predicted to crest later today, and flood levels
may be even higher than those that caused widespread damage in the
region over the past two years.
Six counties in Pennsylvania have made disaster declarations, and
evacuations were declared for residents of several particularly
vulnerable areas. American Red Cross shelters have been established to
take in those that have been evacuated, and officials have pledged to
leave the shelters open until those residents can return to their homes.
The main reports of damage at this point are coming from the counties in
Pennsylvania along the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers. Members of
Lutheran congregations in the region have been evacuated, but the full
extent of the damage to their homes, as well as to church buildings, is
yet to be determined.
The flood waters are expected to crest later today or tomorrow. After
the waters have begun receding, volunteer efforts are being organized by
LDR in Bucks County and in Montgomery County. If you are interested in
volunteering, you can contact Sandy Mellekin at 215-736-2324, but
volunteer efforts will most likely not begin in full until Saturday
morning.
Outside of Pennsylvania, reports from Maryland and Delaware are that
most of the flooding is along the Atlantic coast, but, as with other
locations, the full extent of the damages will not be determined until
later today at the earliest.
Officials from Pennsylvania Emergency Management, in cooperation with
FEMA, are composing a letter to appeal to President Bush for a federal
disaster declaration in the most impacted areas.
Until the last several years, many of these affected regions had not
flood damage of this magnitude for almost 100 years. Now, many of our
sisters and brothers will start back over again for the third-straight
year. The grief caused by yet another major flood in this region is
immense. Many of those being helped by Lutheran Disaster Response
through long-term case management will be starting all over once again,
and we lift them up in our thoughts and prayers.
In service,
Heather L. Feltman
Executive Director, Lutheran Disaster Response
Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
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