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Friends, this past week was another one that many won’t forget. Hurricane Helene flooded our area with unprecedented storm surge and continued up the coast and into the south. Many people in our area have just fully gotten back into their homes after rebuilding their lives after Hurricane Ian. While others are still waiting for insurance money and for their roofs to be replaced after Ian. And now, many others experienced flooding on their streets worrying about whether or not the water would come into their homes…others were watching their homes collect water and waited for boat rescues…and others just worried about families and friends not knowing what was fully happening with their loved ones. As this was happening around us, the Weather Channel continued to show the storm as it moved up the coast and the winds, rain, and surge destroying town and community right after the one other. And then as Hurricane Helene moved into Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, and other states, many of us watched with deep concern. As the hours and days passed, we have seen the devastation throughout the south and continue to hear the stories of flooding in our community and throughout our region.
There are going to be different avenues for help. Wendy has been on zoom calls with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and COAD learning more about resources and the conditions of the communities impacted.
Crisis Cleanup is one way for folks to receive help. If you need any help, please call Crisis Cleanup at 844-965-1386. In addition, if you need help, please email Wendy at disasterrelief@wintergardenpres.org or call her cell. You can also reach out to Pastor Devon at pastor@wintergardenpres.org or 941-525-6671. I have already received some calls from folks wanting to help and those needing help. With Crisis Cleanup, the more folks that call to share the damage and assistance needed, the more likely additional help will come to the community.
In the days and weeks to come, let us remember our call to love our neighbors…the ones we meet, those who live across the street, across town, in another city or state. Everyone has experienced this storm differently and everyone will need to experience God’s grace and mercy and love through each of us with this challenging times.
If you are able to help people with clean up their yards or with repairs on their homes, please contact Wendy or me as well.
Friends, I pray you will join me in prayer for our community and all those impacted by Hurricane Helene. It’s a huge prayer. And let’s pray about how we can give back to so many who came to help our community.
Blessings to everyone.
In Christ,
Pastor Devon |
