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Lansing area churches are ready and willing to send financial aid to those savaged by Hurricane Katrina, but they must wait for instructions from those higher up the chain of command. They, in turn, must hear from the local, state and federal officials who have devoted an intensive effort, not unlike the triage practiced in armed conflicts, to rescuing those still living. That work will have to be finished before a comprehensive assessment of specific needs can be done. Thus, the denominations represented in the Lansing area report they are "simply waiting for direction or guidance from district". They do expect to be able to announce to their congregations during services on September 4 what that direction or guidance is.
Pastor William Gottschalk-Fielding of the Lansing United Methodist Church directed us to an email from from UMCOR, The United Methodist Committee on Relief, entitled "UMCOR Begins Three-Stage Response to Hurricane Katrina". This email illustrates the type of communication other local churches say they expect to receive.
The UMCOR email sets out the usual disaster response as a three phase process. The first stage is the emergency phase. The "normal" time line of up to ten (10) days may have to be extended a great deal. During this time rescue efforts and infrastructure repairs are carried out by official agencies.
The second phase is called "Relief", and exactly how this can be implemented is in limbo. "Relief" usually involves participation by local churches in mopping up, assessing damage, acting as shelters and support areas for the community. This phase will have to be modified drastically because houses of worship were not spared the widespread destruction experienced by members of their congregations.
The third phase is known as "Long Term Recovery". This includes utilizing donated monies to pay for repairing and rebuilding homes and assisting victims with living expenses. From this vantage point, no end is in sight for this phase.
At press time, the enormity of the rescue tasks and moving people out of affected areas have overshadowed phases two and three. All those contacted by this reporter expect to do their best to help, in accordance with the course of action decided on by their denomination.
The American Red Cross is also well known for its relief efforts. Citing the desperate needs in the several state area affected by Hurricane Katrina for all the things money can buy, Darla VanOstrand of the Tompkins County Red Cross stated "It would be awesome" if churches would take up a Hurricane Katrina collection for the Red Cross.
She also verified media reports that all Red Cross Disaster Relief Funds are being directed now to Hurricane Katrina relief, but the Tompkins Country Red Cross office will not itself put out a call for local donations until the team sent from Ithaca reports back.
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