Photo Credit: Episcopal Relief and Development
Episcopal Relief & Development is in touch with partners in the south eastern US as they meet the needs of people impacted by Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in southwestern Florida on Wednesday, October 9.
Two weeks following the devastating Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton has caused death and destruciton, leaving over two million people without power.
Episcopal Relief & Development is continuing to accompany diocesan leaders as they assess the impact and respond to the needs of their communities over the coming days.
In a statement on October 10, Katie Mears (the Senior Technical Specialist, Disaster Risk and Resilience for Episcopal Relief & Development) said: “Our hearts go out to the people who have been affected by Helene and Milton... We are continuing to work on responses that were already underway due to Helene, and are adapting and creating new plans in collaboration with dioceses to meet new needs.”
In recent weeks, in partnership with the Diocese of Florida, Episcopal Relief & Development has been providing gift cards to impacted families in the Apalachee and Santa Fe regions of Florida.
With the Diocese of Southwest Florida, Episcopal Relief & Development has been providing gift cards and household items to families in places including St. Petersburg, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice.
Farther north, in partnership with the Diocese of Georgia, Episcopal Relief & Development has been providing gift cards and distributing water, food, clothing and fuel to families in need in the cities of Valdosta, Vidalia, Louisville, Augusta and the surrounding areas.
These partnerships will help during the weeks after impact, before additional support becomes available and longer term needs for debris removal, temporary housing, mental health support and other services can begin.
In a statement on October 2, Katie Mears said: “Our emergency responses are great examples of doing what we can to help people where they currently are... As the stages of this disaster progress, people’s needs will change and we are prepared to accommodate them.”
More information about Episcopal Relief and Development can be found here