Updates
Hurricane Katrina Update August 31 8:00 AM CST
 Wednesday
morning brought an end to flooding in Mississippi and a general evacuation
order in New Orleans. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco ordered all
non-emergency personnel to be evacuated from New Orleans, including
over 20,000 people stranded in the Superdome, which has also begun
to take on water. Desperate plans are underway to secure boats and
helicopters to move people, who can now be described accurately as
refugees, from the dangers posed by continued flooding.
Two large sections of the levy system around New Orleans broke late
Tuesday resulting in the water level rising to nearly 20 feet in parts
of the city and endangering the water supply. Elsewhere along the
Gulf Coast, the receding storm surge has revealed a debris field stretching
nearly a mile inland. After a helicopter tour early this morning,
Mississippi Governor described the situation as, “not severe
damage, but total destruction.”
Food, water and shelter are desperately needed, but the roads into
Louisiana and Mississippi are still impassable. Local churches have
already been ministering to those affected and Nazarene Disaster Response
has their relief plan established to be implemented as soon as roads
reopen, most likely Thursday morning.
NDR will base its response from the Pearl River Church of the Nazarene,
just north of New Orleans. Staging areas for supplies and shelters
are already being established at the Louisiana District Campground
in Pineville, as well as churches in Memphis, TN; Pahokee, FL and
Pascagoula, MS. Veteran disaster responder Roy Shuck will be coordinating
the first volunteer groups, which plan to bring three truckloads of
supplies to Louisiana on Thursday. Any volunteers wishing to join
them should call 239-285-4215.
Shawn Evans, associate pastor at Valparaiso First Church of the Nazarene
in Indiana will be leading a team of volunteers in two weeks to continue
to relief efforts in the area. If you are interested in working with
this group, please contact him at 219-462-2751.
We encourage you to continue your prayer support for these hurricane
victims and urge you to send support for the relief efforts. Persons
and churches wishing to make a donation for relief efforts can mark
their checks payable to General Treasurer, Church of the Nazarene
with "ACM1801 Hurricane Katrina Relief”
in the memo line.
 On-line
using VISA or MasterCard- OR In the US, make checks payable to: General Treasurer
- and mail to:
General Treasurer
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, MO 64131
- In Canada, make checks payable to: Church of the Nazarene
- and mail to:
Church of the Nazarene Canada
20 Regan Road, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3
All donations remitted through NCM and the General Treasurers Office
will receive 10% Mission Special credit if the local church is identified.
NCM is the liaison between the pressing needs of the world and the
individuals that are committed to making a difference. We understand
that you may not be able to respond to every need. However, we want
to keep you informed of the opportunities for your involvement in
projects such as this. Every project deserves your individual consideration.
(Photo by Associated Press)
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