Responding to Winter Storms

Web Statement

March 26, 2021

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth in response to the record-breaking winter storms and power outages that impacted much of the South in February. The diocese is providing emergency relief to marginalized communities in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas.

“The Diocese of Fort Worth is partnering with local communities to identify both the gifts and the needs present in their communities in order to creatively provide assistance where it is most helpful,” said Katie Mears, Senior Director, US Disaster Program, Episcopal Relief & Development. “I am encouraged by their commitment to be present, meeting needs that have not been met by other organizations.”

The diocese is leveraging relationships with established local food banks to distribute food to marginalized individuals and families in Stephenville, Texas and surrounding rural areas. Many in these communities lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and again due to the storms and power outages. Volunteers are taking appropriate safety precautions to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 during food distribution.

In vulnerable neighborhoods of Fort Worth, the diocese is coordinating with other organizations to connect individuals and families with assistance. Diocesan staff and volunteers are also providing food, water, housing, home repair, transportation and other basic necessities to individuals and families in need, while following COVID-19 safety precautions.

Please consider making a donation to Episcopal Relief & Development’s US Disaster Response Fund to support the agency’s continued response to the winter storms and other disasters. Learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development’s US Disaster Program.

For 80 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate.

Supporting Partners in Kentucky and Western Louisiana in Response to Storms and Flooding

Web Statement

March 11, 2021

Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with the Episcopal dioceses of Western Louisiana and Lexington in response to the flooding caused by storms in February, providing emergency assistance to vulnerable communities.

The intense February snowstorms and sub-freezing temperatures caused power outages, water service interruptions and frozen pipes across much of the southern United States. For western and central Louisiana, these storms were the third major catastrophic weather event in the past twelve months after an unusually active hurricane season. In eastern Kentucky, some low-lying areas lost power for as much as a week and now are underwater from heavy rains and spring snowmelt. Additionally, many in these communities are dealing with a loss of income due to the storms and COVID-19.

The Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana has organized a program to meet basic needs such as clean laundry, diapers, cleaning supplies and food for people who have been impacted by the lack of power and burst pipes. Building on the success of a previous Loads of Love event after Hurricane Laura in 2020, volunteers and staff are providing laundry detergent and supplies as well as financial assistance for laundromat use in Shreveport, Bossier City and Natchitoches. The diocese is also providing gift cards towards the purchase of food, diapers and cleaning supplies for families in need in central Louisiana.

The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington is targeting aid to individuals and families in Appalachia, particularly in Estill, Lee and Perry counties of Kentucky. Volunteers are distributing food and cleaning supplies as well as gift cards to help with other emergency supplies. The diocese is also developing a disaster response plan based on what it has learned through this crisis to improve future disaster resiliency.

“With the dramatic rise of expenses caused by the storms and flooding, combined with reduced income due to interrupted work schedules, many people are facing challenges in making ends meet,” said Katie Mears, Senior Director, US Disaster Program, Episcopal Relief & Development. “The dioceses of Western Louisiana and Lexington are taking steps to meet tangible needs while building relationships to help communities prepare for future weather events.”

Please continue to pray for individuals and communities affected by the February storms and power outages. Donations to Episcopal Relief & Development’s US Disaster Response Fund will support the organization’s continued response to the winter storms and other disasters.

For 80 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate.

Photo Courtesy of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Outreach Center, Irvine, KY

The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Austin is distributing meals to vulnerable communities impacted by the storms and power outages. 

Episcopal Relief & Development Supports Local Partners in Response to Winter Storms in Texas

Press Release

February 24, 2021

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the Episcopal dioceses of Dallas, Texas and West Texas as they provide emergency relief to individuals and families impacted by the unprecedented ice storm, low temperatures and power outages last week.

Episcopal Relief & Development’s US Disaster Program partners with local churches and other organizations to provide emergency relief and long-term support as vulnerable communities respond to and rebuild from disasters such as hurricanes, winter storms and wildfires. Most disasters have three phases: Rescue, Relief and Recovery.

“We are early on in the life-cycle of this disaster,” said Katie Mears, Senior Director, US Disaster Program, Episcopal Relief & Development. “Our partners in Texas leveraged their experience in responding to hurricanes and COVID-19 to immediately provide aid in their communities. They are skilled at figuring out how to quickly use the churches’ gifts to meet community needs, and I continue to be inspired by their creativity and tenacity under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.”

The Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, with Episcopal Relief & Development’s support, is targeting relief efforts to reach refugee and underserved communities with food, bottled water and gift cards for utility bills. Many in these communities are day laborers who, in addition to experiencing damage to their homes, lost income due to the lack of work and power outages. To address immediate needs during the power outages, the diocese opened a warming center and shelter at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Dallas. Now that temperatures have warmed, the Cathedral’s food pantry remains open. All relief efforts are being carried out while following strict protocols to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

Similarly, The Episcopal Diocese of Texas, with Episcopal Relief & Development’s support, initially opened emergency shelters and warming centers and distributed food, gasoline and generators to address immediate needs in under-resourced communities in the greater Houston, Waco and Austin areas. In the Austin area, volunteers and staff are continuing to distribute meals for individuals and families in need. Congregations in the greater Houston area have begun assisting with plumbing repairs, while continuing to provide food, clothing and other personal goods to help replace what was damaged.

The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas mobilized its hurricane response team to begin to identify opportunities to provide support to people living in the 19 counties in southern Texas that have been declared disaster areas. In partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development, the diocese will work through its network of churches and food banks to deliver food, water, direct financial assistance, household and other supplies.

“As this disaster evolves, our partners will continue to identify innovative ways to meet needs that are not being met by other organizations,” continued Mears.

Please pray for all those impacted by the winter storms and power outages. Donations to the US Disaster Response Fund will enable Episcopal Relief & Development to continue to respond to the winter storms and other disasters. Learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development’s US Disaster Program.

For 80 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate.

Photo courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

Responding to Winter Storms

Web Statement

February 18, 2021

Episcopal Relief & Development is in close contact with Episcopal dioceses in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana as they assess needs created by winter storms that are producing widespread power outages across the south.

Winter storms and ongoing freezing temperatures knocked out power in much of Texas on February 14. Over 3 million homes lacked electricity as of Wednesday morning. Without power and heat, many water pipes and water mains froze and burst, leaving people without water and causing damage to their homes. The storms have also interrupted the food supply chain, compounding the challenges for people who lost food due to lack of refrigeration. Food banks have been similarly affected, making it difficult for them to serve vulnerable communities that rely on their services. People without homes have been especially impacted as sleeping outdoors is extremely dangerous in these conditions but shelter space is already limited due to COVID-19 precautions.

The organization’s US Disaster Program team has been in communication with staff at the Episcopal dioceses of Dallas, East Carolina, Fort Worth, Oklahoma, Northwest Texas, Rio Grande, Texas, Western Louisiana and West Texas, many of whom have been personally affected by the water and power outages all week. Partners are in the process of assessing the needs of vulnerable communities such as those without housing.

The Episcopal Diocese of Texas, with Episcopal Relief & Development’s support, is supplying emergency shelter, warming centers, food, generators and gasoline to under-resourced communities in the greater Houston, Waco and Austin areas. The diocese is leveraging its long-term Hurricane Harvey recovery team, which was already responding to COVID-19, to meet these immediate needs and will continue to assess how it can provide support as the crisis evolves.

“Our partners in southern states are experienced in responding to hurricanes and are adapting emergency response plans in light of the cold weather and power crisis,” said Katie Mears, Senior Director, US Disaster, Episcopal Relief & Development. “As temperatures begin to rise, we expect to see more reports of water damage, and we stand ready to support our partners as they respond.”

Please pray for all those impacted by the winter storms and freezing temperatures. Donations to the US Disaster Response Fund will enable Episcopal Relief & Development to continue to respond to this crisis and other disasters, whether natural or human-made.

For 80 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate.

Photo Courtesy of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Waco, TX