USA (MNN)–The Federal Emergency Management Agency is just now tallying the costs of the 2005 Hurricane season.
Life is returning slowly to the storms’ footprints. For many, it’s the first time in 60 days they’ve been able to see if they have a home to go back to.
The damage has been astounding, with whole structures being filled with mud and now rotting drywall. Businesses lost most of their inventories and roofs are collapsing.
Mark Lewis is with Evangelical Free Church of America’s Compassion Ministries. He says they’re focusing on care for those who are currently displaced, while simultaneously organizing clean-up and rebuilding efforts. “The stress levels of people are running very high. The backside of the hurricane is coming just on the levels of stress. There’ve been many people that have lost their business, lost incomes, families have been separated.”
Lewis says their teams have a long-term plan of outreach with the help of two of their area churches. “We’ve set up our operations to be here for the long haul, to help through clean up and reconstruction. From a ministry standpoint, we are focusing on brining healing and restoration to the church body, but also have a significant ministry of outreach and evangelism.”
They are centering their operations with two EFCA churches; the Urban Impact / Castle Rock Church and Trinity Church of Covington, LA.
To help, go to: http://www.efca.org/katrina/
