Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development

Blitz Build Starts in Mississippi

2011-07-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

In Mississippi, one community plans two-week blitz build to replace one family's home destroyed in an April tornado. Work begins Saturday, July 9 in Smithville, MS. Interested volunteers should email the Rev. Russ Oechsel, Archdeacon, at roechsel@sbcglobal.net. Donors for this and ongoing tornado relief can donate here or make checks payable to the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Write "MS/AL Tornado Relief" in the memo line and send to 1225 Texas Ave Houston, TX 77002.

Below is a letter from the Rev. Paul Stephens, rector of All Saints, Tupelo, MS:

We have been touched by the suffering that Wade Morris and his family have endured these past months. (Wade is the nephew of the Rev. Judy Morris, associate at St. Peter’s by the Lake, Brandon, MS). Wade suffered severe burns to his hands, arms, chest and face in a grease fire which occurred several weeks before the tornado hit Smithville, MS.

Because he had been laid off from his job and didn’t have health insurance when the accident occurred, Morris had to be separated from his family (pregnant wife Jennifer and two children) and taken to the burn center in Memphis for treatment. His treatment in Memphis was grueling and included multiple skin grafts. He was discharged about two weeks before the Smithville tornado hit so he could be home for the birth of his third child (a beautiful and healthy baby girl born 10 days before the tornado) provided he agreed to make at least two trips a week to Memphis for burn care and physical therapy. Those trips are anticipated to continue for several months into the future. The Morrises were at home in downtown Smithville when the tornado hit.

That April afternoon, the house they were renting and all their possessions, including vehicles, were totally destroyed. Fortunately and providentially, Wade and his immediate family escaped injury. Since the tornado, Wade and his family first lived with family members and then in a hunting cabin in the woods. As I write this note, they are preparing to move into a FEMA trailer which has been located in downtown Smithville.

Texas and FEMA Begin Joint Recovery Efforts

2011-07-11T08:25:00.001-07:00

A team of emergency management experts from the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are working side by side, following a presidential disaster declaration, to help eligible state and local government entities, and certain nonprofit organizations receive federal aid for their eligible wildfire costs.

The federal disaster declaration, announced on July 1, triggered FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) program for 45 Texas counties. Applicants in these counties are now eligible to receive reimbursement funding for Emergency Protective Measures that supported firefighting activities for wildfires that occurred between April 6 and May 3, 2011.

"Together we will work to ensure state agencies, local jurisdictions and eligible nonprofit groups are reimbursed for their firefighting efforts," said State Coordinating Officer Shari Ramirez-MacKay. "This assistance will help as our communities continue to recover from these historic fires."

"The FEMA team is on the ground in Austin and will remain in Texas working with our state and local partners until recovery efforts are complete," said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes. "We will also be visiting the declared counties as quickly as possible to explain the funding program and assist in the reimbursement process."

The 45 eligible counties include Andrews, Archer, Armstrong, Bailey, Baylor, Brewster, Callahan, Carson, Castro, Clay, Coleman, Concho, Cottle, Crockett, Dawson, Duval, Eastland, Garza, Glasscock, Hall, Hemphill, Hockley, Irion, Kent, King, Lynn, Martin, Mason, Mitchell, Moore, Motley, Pecos, Presidio, Scurry, Stephens, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Terry, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Trinity, Tyler, Val Verde, and Young. FEMA will reimburse 75 percent of eligible wildfire costs.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Farewell From Galveston

2011-03-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

Dearest Volunteers, Donors, Friends and Family,

I'm sitting here alone in the empty office, all packed up and ready to ship out, thinking back on all of the good work and good times we here at TEDRD have had since 2008. I find myself overwhelmed by all of you, the incredible people who made it all possible. Without your early and overwhelming response to Hurricane Ike, this program would never have made it off the ground, and you have supported us ever since.

In the last 2 years, 5 months and 10 days we have had more than 2800 people travel from within Texas and beyond to volunteer with us. You are Episcopalian and Lutherans and Catholics and Atheists, experienced carpenters and people who have never picked up a paint brush, young and young at heart, but you all were always ready to put everything you had into the task at hand. Because of you, we have been able to do repairs to 60 homes and muck out more than 125 others. You, the volunteers and donors, made it possible for us to more than double the over $1 million in donations and grants we have received. That is an incredible feat, and one that I am so proud of.

There is so much to be thankful for, not the least of which is two very quiet hurricane seasons since 2008. But that doesn't mean the work here is over. Even as we finish this ministry in Galveston, churches within the Diocese of Texas are taking the next steps in preparing themselves for the next emergency, whether it is a hurricane or something else, and I would encourage all of you to do the same. Episcopal Relief and Development is hard at work creating resources and educating Diocese in disaster preparedness and response. I highly encourage you to look at their website, http://www.er-d.org/USDisasterProgram/, and sign up for their "Ready to Serve" database (http://www.er-d.org/VolunteerForm/).

This database gives Episcopal Relief and Development permission to contact you in the future about volunteer opportunities of all kinds as well as gets you on their newsletter list, and I hope every last one of you signs up.

There aren't the words to adequately thank all of you for your prayers, love and support throughout this mission, just know that we could never have done any of it without you. Please look us up on Facebook and keep in touch!

Reaching the Finish Line

2011-02-09T12:47:00.000-08:00

We're approaching the finish line after 2.5 years in Galveston. What a blessing it has been to see the transformation in the community!

Look for us at Council this weekend! And check out www.facebook.com/ikerelief to view pictures!

TEDRD Farewell Potluck

2011-01-26T13:10:00.000-08:00

Come out and have a party with us one last time! TEDRD is throwing a farewell potluck Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at the William Temple Episcopal Center.

Bring your favorite dish to share and say goodbye. We'd love to see you.

Contact Luke with any questions at 713.252.9693.

Presiding Bishop Blesses Home!

2011-01-18T08:13:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of the Galveston Daily News:

By Rick Cousins

Contributor

Published January 16, 2011

GALVESTON — Melvin Brooks gathered with his family at his small frame home just off Broadway in Galveston on Saturday.

Displaced by Hurricane Ike, the homeowners waited as dusk fell to welcome a distinguished visitor and benefactor, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States.

The bishop was on the island to conduct a formal blessing of the Brooks family home and to encourage representatives of the many volunteers who have spent the past months restoring it.

As darkness fell outside, the interior space was lit only by a few scattered industrial lights. As volunteers and leaders arrived and the bishop’s entourage made its way from the island’s William Temple Episcopal Center, members of the Brooks family reviewed what life had been like since the storm.

“It was a mess with water damage and rain from the windows,” Rena Brooks, Melvin’s wife, said. “We stayed in a hotel, all together in just one room — then had to find a place to rent. We couldn’t get any help from FEMA.”

Help finally came after a co-worker told them of a grant program from the Episcopal Church. The family, narrowly avoiding foreclosure, was able to hold on to the property.

“With the help of the Lord, we were able to keep going,” Rena Brooks said.

Click here for more

PB on the way

2011-01-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

My goodness, it has been a crazy start to this year. TEDRD is definitely going out with a bang as we gear up for the end. We have had lots of volunteers coming through and getting a TON of work done. Now, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church is visiting on Saturday to bless one of our homes. What a great way to finish our project! More information to come soon!

Where has the time gone?

2010-12-16T08:55:00.001-08:00

Bishop Doyle

December 16? Really? Its been a great year, but does it have to end so soon?

2010 offered TEDRD lots of surprises and good times. To close out the year, we'll be posting about some of the memorable moments of 2010.

We started off with a bang in January with groups from Grapevine Presbyterian and Franklin & Marshall. Both had come to help before and both will be coming back in 2011. What a great group. It got a little crowded, but we managed.

But the big event came when Bishop Doyle visited Galveston to tour some churches as well as the homes were were working on. After visiting Ms. Marsha's house as F&M worked away, Bishop Doyle volunteered to offer the house blessing at the completion of the project.

That first week in January also marked Nikki's first day as an intern. She stuck around for a record 7 straight months. We also started the very successful partnership with Disney's Give a Day, Get a Day program.

January 2011 looks to be even more exciting as we entertain the Presiding Bishop and celebrate our final month of volunteer labor. We hope you're ready!

Presiding Bishop to Visit Galveston!

2010-12-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

So, the BIG news of the week in Galveston is that Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Katherine Jefferts Schori will be visiting in January!

The exact details are not known right now, but we wanted to share this exciting news with all of you! Check back for updates on her visit.

Holiday Season

2010-11-30T09:31:00.001-08:00

We're back from Thanksgiving and working hard again. Our jobs feel even more important during this time of the year as our homeowners long to be home with family during the holidays.

We have just a couple more months left in our project which has been so instrumental in helping over 150 homeowners. We want to help as many people as possible before our grand exit at the end of January. Can you donate today to help us finish strong?

Donate here

Hurricane Season Ending, But...

2010-11-18T06:18:00.000-08:00

By Carolyn Jo Gibbs

Residents of the Gulf Coast can certainly be grateful for one thing this Thanksgiving: the end of another hurricane season. And while the 2010 Atlantic storm season lived up to the foreboding predictions of experts, with 19 named storms and12 hurricanes (five of which were classified as “major”), most of us never got a chance to utilize the plans and preparations we put into place last spring.

Yet as we breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to the holidays, our opportunity to prepare for emergencies presses on. The end of hurricane season marks the beginning of winter in Texas, with its occasional freezing temperatures, ice storms, and even a snowflake or two. These events, standard procedure for other areas of the country, can be devastating here, where many communities lack the systems and knowledge to adequately respond.

Additionally, as furnaces burst to life to ward off the chill and as we gather together indoors to enjoy their warmth, the likelihood of fires and illness increase. Not to mention those events that can affect communities at any time of the year: technological outages, transportation disasters, and chemical spills, to name a few.

With all this to consider, it seems that the work of a prepared person is never really done. As one threat passes behind us, others stand ready to take its place, each requiring unique action. No matter what the season, the beginning steps to becoming prepared are the same: examine your risks, find out how to prepare for them, create a plan, and review it often.

We can even use these varying risks to our advantage. To prepare for everything, all at once, would prove a daunting and expensive task; when we turn preparedness into a year-round activity, it becomes more manageable.

Preparing for winter weather, for example, might involve keeping our fuel tanks more than 25% full, having adequate food and medicine stored at home in case we are unable to travel for necessities, keeping flashlights, candles, and warm blankets ready for power outages, and testing fire alarms throughout your home and church.

Many of these tasks might have already been completed as we considered other risks such as hurricanes or chemical disasters, though food, bottled water, and other items with expiration dates should be checked regularly to ensure that they are usable.

Whether your goal is to build an emergency kit from scratch or to restock, consider making a list, and then picking up a couple of items each time you make a regular trip to the store. Test fire and emergency exits each time you clean, and gather flashlights and candles in locations easy to find without the aid of electricity.

Preparedness requires thinking ahead, not only to our immediate threats, but those that could happen even months down the road. Yet when we make preparedness part of our regular routine, we won’t be caught off guard. And that’s just one more thing to be thankful for.

Can You Help?

2010-10-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

TEDRD has now worked on 175 homes in Galveston and La Porte, TX. 50 homeowners have received partial or total repairs.

With the exit of other rebuild organizations from Galveston, TEDRD will be the last full service rebuild organization left in Galveston in 2011. We want to make sure we are able to help as many homeowners before we are finished.

Can you donate today?

These homeowners are people like Mr. Keyes, an 83-year-old WWII veteran who takes care of his 59-year-old daughter who has brain damage.

Or Mr. Rodgers, who lost his leg to infection after the storm in addition to losing his wife to alzheimer's disease. He now builds cabinets for our projects.

Or Ms. Marsha, who helped others return home after the storm while her own house was in disrepair.

Can you help people like them?

Our homeowners are nurses, teachers, tradesmen, retirees, veterans, librarians, and writers. Many of them lost everything in the storm.

They are people that keep this community moving. They are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. And although most of them are reluctant to ask for help, we want to be there to give them some peace.

Can you donate for the displaced Galvestonians?

Please donate today or plan a volunteer trip in November or December. We'd love to have your help!

Peace be with you,

Luke

Luke Blount
Volunteer Coordinator
713.252.9693
volunteer@epicenter.org

$15 For the Finish

2010-10-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your continued support of Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development. We are approaching the end of our journey in Galveston, and we need your help now more than ever!

Can you spare $15 or more to help us finish strong? Just $15 from everyone would pay for all the materials to move two more homeowners back home! Click Here to Donate or send checks to 427 Market St. Galveston, Tx 77550. Make checks payable to the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, and write "Hurricane Ike Relief" in the memo line. Or send us Home Depot gift cards!

It looks as if we will be the last full service relief organization working in Galveston, and we want to help as many homeowners as possible before we begin our wrap up in February 2011.

Also, please consider volunteering with us this November and December. Our schedule is almost empty! Help us get as many families home as possible!

Email or call Luke at volunteer@epicenter.org and 713.252.9693 if you're interested in making a trip!

Volunteer Spotlight: LTC

2010-10-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

Beginning in January of this year, Larry Hagan of Texas City has visited TEDRD every week to lend a hand and help us rebuild homes in Galveston.

Larry, or LTC as we call him, has been essential to the success of TEDRD. He is skilled in many areas of construction, but most importantly he offers our staff and volunteers his wisdom and positive attitude on the jobsite.

Every Wednesday, we plan special projects for Larry. Most of the time it is not glamorous work, but Larry takes it in stride.

Larry is a caretaker at heart. Outside of TEDRD, Larry spends much of his time caring for his family members. But we're glad he finds some time to take care of us and our homeowners as well.

Thanks, Larry! You're an inspiration to us all.

Back Again

2010-10-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

St. Matthew's - Austin has returned for what we think is the 5th time! Its always great to have these guys around. Not only do they help us out on site, but they usually fix a few things in our office too.

This week, they should be finishing up Henry's house and starting a couple new projects. The group arrived around noon on Monday and were ready to start working. They will be here through Friday morning and then head back to Austin.

Thanks St. Matt's! Always a pleasure to see you in Galveston!

We Need Your Photos!

2010-09-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

Do you have pictures from your trip to Galveston?

You know, the ones with your team standing around for the proverbial group shot. Or just a few of you and your friends having fun.

Send them to us at volunteer@epicenter.org.

We are in the process of making a video and we want your photos to add to our collection.

Thanks!

Gerald Officially Moves Home

2010-09-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

After his home blessing last week, and a few final touches, Gerald is now officially home. Maggie gave him his keys this afternoon.

Gerald is extremely grateful for all the work done by volunteers and staff. And he is especially thankful that someone found his "Joy of Cooking" cookbook. Now, he says, his son can come down and cook with him, which is something he has been unable to do for two years. His daughter is also very excited about her bright green room.

Below are a couple before and after shots. Visit www.facebook.com/ikerelief to view more.

Where has the time gone?

2010-09-22T07:13:00.001-07:00

We're approaching the end of September. Can you believe it? It seems like we just started summer!

At least October will bring some great weather. Locals in Galveston claim it is the best month of the year. So why don't you come down and visit us? Take a break, sit on the beach... and work hard all day helping move a displaced homeowner back home! Its so rewarding.

Come to Galveston soon!

A Pair of Blessings

2010-09-14T12:13:00.001-07:00

Monday, in recognition of the anniversary of Hurricane Ike, TEDRD held 2 house blessings for homeowners Henry and Gerald.
After a hard days work by volunteers, everyone gathered to bless the homes that are almost completed.

First, Henry's home was blessed by Father Paul Wehner of Grace Episcopal, Galveston. Then everyone headed over to Gerald's house to offer his home a blessing as well.

Both homeowners were very thankful to all of the volunteers and staff that worked to get their homes finished. It has been over 2 years since either of these men have been able to return home, but their time has finally come.

More photos can be seen on Facebook!

Working Away

2010-09-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

After a short break, TEDRD has been back in force for 2 weeks now, working on several homes in Galveston. Last week, ALERT Academy joined us for a solid week of work. And this week, St. Mary's - Cypress has been working hard. Thanks guys!

Don't forget about our September 13th Ike Anniversary Celebration of Progress. We'll be working from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Then we will start 2 house blessings!

Hope you can make it!

Come Celebrate Our Progress!

2010-08-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

September 13, 2010 will mark the 2nd anniversary of Hurricane Ike's impact in Galveston. Though the memories are horrendous for Galvestonians, we want to take time to remember the progress that has been made.

This year, we want to celebrate the rebirth of Galveston by volunteering for a day and blessing 2 homes! The staff of The Episcopal Diocese of Texas is invited to take a day off from regular work to participate! TEDRD's board of directors and staff will also be working. Everyone else is also welcome to come as well. And bring family and friends!

Just be sure to contact Luke to let him know you are coming!

We will be starting the third year of recovery by repairing even more homes on the island. Come join us and celebrate the progress we have made!

Luke's contact info: 713.252.9693 or volunteer@epicenter.org.

WHEN: September 13, 2010

WHERE: Galveston, meet at the William Temple Episcopal Center located at 427 Market St. Galveston, Tx 77550

TIME: Show up to volunteer at 8:30 a.m. House blessings to begin at 4:00p.m.

A Message From Carolyn

2010-08-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

Friday is my last day as the Preparedness & Planning Coordinator with Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development. As a long-term volunteer through the AmeriCorps* VISTA program, we knew that my work with TEDRD would be completed this fall, though it is hard to believe that the end is now so near.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve with TEDRD, and I have gained an invaluable amount of knowledge and experience over the last year. I’d like to take one last opportunity to share some of that knowledge with you:

1) Preparedness isn’t easy. For churches and families alike, there’s a lot to consider while creating an emergency plan. Not only that, but making preparations is often expensive as we begin to stock up on necessities or take precautions to prevent damage.

However…

2) Preparing for emergencies is still one of the most important things we can do. Every step, every precaution we take is one more thing that could prevent damage or injury. Few people are ever sorry for being prepared; to not be ready is a story tainted with regret that has been told countless times.

To help make preparing your church easier, our Parish Emergency Planning guide is available for download at www.epicenter.org/preparedness. Print this useful workbook, and utilize it for your own benefit.

Though we are already well into hurricane season, and even in the midst of the two historically most active months, it is not too late to begin. Everything you do today will make a difference when that storm, flood, or fire comes.

Thank you for a great year; I hope that my work here will continue to benefit your churches for years to come.

For families that want to prepare visit: http://www.texasprepares.org/

Finishing Summer, Finishing Projects

2010-08-09T08:40:00.001-07:00

We're working hard in the next couple weeks to finish some projects before a brief vacation.

Saturday we had a great crew from Smith International in Houston help us out along with a youth group from Webster Presbyterian. The Smith crew was filled with engineers that were of great help and the youth worked their tails off in the hot sun.

This week we have the May family visiting from the Chicago area helping us out. We hope to get a couple more people back home in the next month!

Thanks everyone for your help!

New England Lends a Hand

2010-08-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

This week, we have a group from Christ Church of Needham, Massachusetts. They have already done a ton of work and will continue throughout the week.

Although they are from a much cooler part of the country, they aren't backing away from the heat. It may be one of the hottest weeks of the year, but they are working through it!

Also, we had the Chafizadeh family visit us this week. They heard about us through the Hewlett family that visited earlier this summer. Thanks Hewletts for spreading the word! And thanks Chafizadehs for making the trip!

Ms. Williams' Room Just About Done

2010-07-30T08:07:00.001-07:00

Ms. Williams bedroom was in incredible disrepair when we started working on it at the beginning of this summer. But after some love and care, blood and sweat (literally) from our volunteers and staff, she has a beautful new room.

Below are before and after shots of her room. Thanks to everyone for your help! It looks spectacular!

Garcias and Camposes Moving Home!

2010-07-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to some incredible work from many, many volunteers, the Garcias and Camposes will soon move home.

The homes were both flooded when Offats Bayou topped its banks, and in just a few weeks time, volunteers have restored the damage.

Photos can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ikerelief. Both families hopefully should move in this week!

Thanks to everyone who helped out! You guys really made a difference.

Summer Crews Getting It Done!

2010-07-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

Last week, we enjoyed the services of three different youth groups. We had the help of St. Matt's - Austin, Emmanuel - San Angelo, and of course, the Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp.

These guys were terrific, and helped us on several sites. Thanks to their help, we are getting very close to moving the Campos and Garcia families home. And its exciting!

All three of these groups have made visits to Galveston before, so it was great to see familiar faces. Thanks guys! You all did a great job!

Help Us This Fall!

2010-07-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

Our volunteer load looks like it is going to drop off significantly this Fall, but we still need YOU. If you can help us this Fall, and especially in September, contact Luke at volunteer@epicenter.org or 713.252.9693.

If you can't help, call a friend to spread the word, or put out a tweet or facebook update about TEDRD. We really need more volunteers to make the most of our time left in Galveston.

We're relying on YOU to spread the word! Let everyone know they can come enjoy the beaches of Galveston and help some hurricane victims in the process!

Woodlands Community Church Helps Out All Week

2010-07-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

A group from the Woodlands Community Church came down last week, and stayed all week helping us finish up the Garcia home. They learned many new things in an effort to get the Garcias a home that they could live in.

The group of five people was great to work with, and we hope to see them again in the future.

Thanks, WCC!

Rainbow Trail makes first trip of the summer

2010-07-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp made their first trip of many to Galveston this past week and it was a blast!

The group from Colorado worked hard on a few different projects over the week and got a ton of work done. Thanks to some diligent work and good attitudes, we may be able to finish the Garcia home this week.

It was great to work with these folks, and we look forward to seeing more groups come through over the summer!

Thanks Rainbow Trail!

Alex Soaks Texas

2010-07-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Alex narrowly missed making the first U.S. landfall this season. Still, the affects of the storm can be felt through the Gulf Coast as Texas and Louisiana see flood conditions and south Texas even suffered from tropical storm force winds.

TEDRD was prepared to react to this storm both with pastoral care and gutting of damaged homes. Thankfully, it doesn't look like our services are needed in Texas.

However, this storm helped us all get prepared even further for this hurricane season. This was just the first named storm of any kind in the Atlantic, and it was a hurricane! Make sure your family and your parish has a disaster plan. It will save you a lot of grief.

Anxiety levels are high along the coast as the hurricane season continues to fold out. As for now, we'll work through the rain and hope for enough clear skies for a few fireworks on Sunday!

Happy 4th of July weekend to all of you out there!

2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Alex

2010-06-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

Early this weekend, Tropical Depression One, then located south of Cuba, developed into the first named storm of the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Tropical Storm Alex.

Now moving across the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico, it has weakened back into a tropical depression, but is expected to strengthen as it moves away from land and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Yesterday, most forecasters predicted the storm would make landfall somewhere along Mexico's more northern coastline. Today, expectations are shifting. Below is a screenshot from a tracking map at Weather Underground:

(Click the image to view it larger.)

The lines protruding from the storm's current location are computer models predicting possible paths the storm may take. Even ignoring the lines associated with Hurricane Darby in the lower left-hand corner, it is clear that we have absolutely no idea what this storm is going to do.

It is too early to make accurate predictions; the map has completely shifted in the past 48 hours. Depending on where it hits, the storm should make landfall again in the next 3-7 days, but we don't know yet what strength it will be.

Thus, those living on the Gulf Coast should take the appropriate precautions. Stock up on food and water, keep at least half a tank of gasoline in your car, and move or secure loose objects, such as lawn chairs and plants, outside your home. It is better to assume we'll be affected than to be caught off guard by an approaching storm.

Track the storm's movements and stay up-to-date on forecasted activity by visiting The National Hurricane Center's website at www.nhc.noaa.gov. There you will find public advisories, maps, and other information regarding this and other developments in the Atlantic (and the Pacific).

Cooler People Trained

2010-06-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development held the first training of Emergency Spiritual Care Teams on June 11-12.

The training, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the Episcopal Church, marked a significant step in The Episcopal Diocese of Texas' commitment to emergency preparedness and response.

Teams of spiritual care workers are now on call across The Episcopal Diocese of Texas. In the event of a disaster, these specially trained individuals will respond and offer spiritual care to those affected. The spiritual care teams are nicknamed “Cooler People” because they will be equipped with coolers in order to offer cold drinks to disaster survivors.

Episcopal Relief & Development sponsored the training held at Camp Allen, and they plan to use the training as pilot program for future endeavors across the country.

“The disaster response training was a milestone for Episcopal Relief & Development’s Disaster Preparedness Initiative,” said Katie Mears, manager of USA Disaster Preparedness and Response for Episcopal Relief and Development. “By holding the first regional response training, the Diocese of Texas has piloted for us how this process can work—from bringing together leaders to create a response plan, identifying local leaders to be trained and bringing together neighboring dioceses to share their experiences and learn together.”

Participants learned strategies and plans that will allow them to serve affected communities in the event of a disaster. Archdeacon Russ Oechsel and Rev. Gill Keyworth will act as the Diocesan Emergency Response Coordinators in the event of a deployment of the “Cooler People”.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am that we have this aspect of preparedness nailed down with a great beginning,” said Oechsel.

The formation of the Emergency Spiritual Care Teams comes after months of planning among TEDRD’s board. Carolyn Gibbs, Preparedness and Planning Coordinator, organized the original training and Oechsel and Keyworth will direct the program.

“This training was essential to be truly prepared in the event of a disaster,” said Gibbs. “Of course, we hope we don’t have to deploy the ‘Cooler People’, but I’m glad that we are ready to respond.”

These “Cooler People” will help to support local parishes in their response to their community. By bringing in outside spiritual care assistance, local affected clergy and lay persons can focus on their parish and personal recovery without ignoring the larger community.

In addition to having new and stable repair and rebuild model with TEDRD, The Episcopal Diocese of Texas can now respond conscientiously to the spiritual needs of those affected by a disaster.

Representatives from Fort Worth, Louisiana, and Mississippi also attended the training with the intent of sharing the new spiritual care approach in their own diocese.

“I hope the skills the leaders learned at this training will enable the Episcopal Church in Texas, as well as in Louisiana, Mississippi, to serve their neighbors during this hurricane season,” said Mears.

Leaders in The Episcopal Diocese of Texas offered support from the inception of the “Cooler People” concept, and they were instrumental in the execution of the first training.

“Thanks to the direction and support of Bishop Doyle, the management and service of our deacons, and the dedication of our coordinators, and ERD, we now have trained Spiritual Care teams and a plan for deployment,” said TEDRD board member, Rev. Lillian Hyde. “I am more than pleased. Many thanks to everyone who made it possible.”

Tyler and Mt. Pleasant Make Impact

2010-06-24T06:35:00.000-07:00

Presbyterians from FPC Tyler and FPC Mt. Pleasant came to Galveston this week to help out in the relief effort. Group leader Neil McKown brought 35 youth and adults to work on several projects for us.

We're so thankful for all of the work that they put in over the past 4 days. From sheetrocking and mudding to painting and staining, this group helped us out in a variety of ways.

Thanks guys! We hope to see you again in the future! Check out our Facebook page for more photos of this group working hard.

Summer Youth Trips Begin

2010-06-15T07:01:00.001-07:00

The summer of youth has begun as TEDRD moves into what should be the most productive three months in our history. Operating with 7 crew chiefs, along with Gary, the construction manager, TEDRD has an increased capacity for volunteers this summer.

This week we have groups from First Presbyterian -Grapevine, St. Thomas - Houston, and St. Stephen's - Beaumont. There are a total of 40 volunteers working on several projects this week, and the volunteers will continue to come in throughout the summer.

Cooler People Training at Camp Allen

2010-06-11T12:49:00.001-07:00

I'm typing this from Camp Allen, where "Cooler People" training is currently going on. "Cooler People" refers to a group of volunteers that will respond to natural and man-made disasters with pastoral care.

This is a huge step for TEDRD, The Episcopal Diocese of Texas, and the Episcopal Church in general. Episcopalians in Texas are venturing into new territory as we prepare for future disasters.

The reason these folks are called "Cooler People" is because they will travel with drinks in a cooler to offer to people in communities and open lines of communication for pastoral care.

So far the training is going great, and great ideas are being offered by everyone!

2010 Hurricane Season: 10 Steps for Survival

2010-06-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

HoumaToday.com, a website for the daily newspaper of Houma, LA, posted an excellent article detailing ten essential steps to help you survive the next hurricane.

The list includes:

1. Create a plan and practice.
2. Buy flood insurance and review.
3. Make a supply kit now.
4. Leave early and monitor media.
5. Plan for special-needs family members.
6. Plan for pets.
7. Protect your valuables, keepsakes, and documents.
8. Start saving money for storm-related expenses.
9. Prepare your home and property now.
10. Plan for communication.

Read more at www.HoumaToday.com

Diocesan Emergency Preparedness Month: Hurricanes

2010-05-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

In a little over an hour, Diocesan Preparedness Month will come to a close, and the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season will begin. If you haven't already seen them, the predictions for this year are ominous, with experts at Colorado State University calling it "a hell of a year." Even more, with the oil that is pouring into the Gulf at a rate of 12,000 to 19,000 barrels each day, even greater disaster could be looming.

Whether you live on the coast and are forced to evacuate, or you live in a town that welcomes and shelters these evacuees, you must be ready for hurricane season. No area of Texas remains untouched by these devastating storms, as was proven in 2005, with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and again in 2008, with Dolly, Ike, and Gustav.

As we've been saying all month long, preparations save lives, maybe even yours. Preparing for hurricanes on the coast means stocking up on essential foods and water, keeping your vehicle gas tank more than a quarter full at all times, cutting boards to protect your windows, and even simply keeping your insurance up to date. For those further inland, it may mean stocking up on food and water so that you have it when local stores sell out, and being ready to welcome strangers into your community.

Based on the predictions of experts, we at TEDRD believe that there will be at least one evacuation affecting the Texas Gulf Coast within the Episcopal Diocese of Texas this year. At least. We can't afford to be unprepared; let's get ready today.

Links to help you prepare:

Texas Extension Disaster Education Network
Texas Department of Emergency Management
Texas Department of Transportation

Diocesan Preparedness Month: Church Preparedness

2010-05-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks, TEDRD has sponsored Parish Emergency Planning Workshops in three areas across the Diocese. These events were an opportunity to learn about preparing our churches for disasters and to share suggestions and experiences.

We'd like to offer a big "Thank You!" to the churches that participated in the workshops held in Austin, Houston, and Lufkin:

Christ Church, Nacogdoches

Church of the Redeemer, Houston

Emmanuel, Houston

Epiphany, Burnet

Epiphany, Houston

Good Shepherd, Friendswood

Good Shepherd, Kingwood

Grace, Houston

Holy Comforter, Angleton

Holy Spirit, Waco

St. Andrew's, Pearland

St. Barnabas, Houston

St. Bartholomew's, Hempstead

St. Christopher's, Houston

St. Cyprian's, Lufkin

St. John's, Houston

St. Luke's, Livingston

St. Mark's Richmond

St. Matthew's, Austin

St. Matthew's, Henderson

St. Paul's, Woodville

St. Philip's, Palestine

St. Richard's, Round Rock

St. Thomas, Houston

Trinity, Anahuac

Trinity, Marshall

We are very grateful also for the congregations of St. Michael's, Austin; Emmanuel, Houston; and St. Cyprian's, Lufkin, who allowed us to use their facilities and equipment, and even provided snacks/meals for our participants!

Even if you were unable to attend these workshops, resources are available to assist you in building an emergency plan to fit your congregation.

Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development has published a guide called "Parish Emergency Planning," created specifically for Episcopal churches of the Diocese of Texas, though the information could be easily translated to fit any church of any denomination.

Available for download at www.epicenter.org/preparedness, the guide presents emergency planning in a simple, easy-to-use workbook format.

Download the guide and start planning today; you never know when disaster may strike.

More Houses Finishing Up

2010-05-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

May has been a little bit slower with volunteers as we ramp up for a very busy summer. However, we will still be finishing up a few projects in the next couple weeks.

Ms. Sharon's home on Sealy St. will be finished soon. Crew Chief Alison is working hard to put the finishing touches on the home asap. It is already looking like a beautiful place to live. Our volunteers and staff have really done an incredible job

Additionally, Ms. Brenda's home on Ave. T will also be finished soon as well as Ms. Sybil's home on Austin Dr.

Relief Coordinator Maggie has been picking up new projects to get started this summer and it looks like we have plenty of work for many months. Let us know if you'd like to help!

Diocesan Preparedness Month: How To Prepare for Special Needs

2010-05-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

By definition, crises are events outside of the normal human experience. Interrupting the established routines of our lives, they often remove the systems we typically rely on to get through our day.

For many of us, the loss is inconvenient, but not insurmountable. For persons with special needs, it could prove devastating and even life-threatening.

In the disaster world, a special need is any limitation on a person's ability to effectively handle and survive a crisis situation.

Special needs include, but are not limited to:

Physical restrictions.
Medical concerns.
Communication abilities.
Lack of transportation.
Limited financial ability to evacuate or prepare for emergencies.

Special needs may be as simple as needing daily medications (which may not be available for refill in an emergency) or as complex as being bound to a wheelchair while living in a top-floor apartment (how will you evacuate in a fire, or if the electricity is out?).

The Emergency Management Ontario and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, Canada have developed an excellent resource for persons with special needs to begin planning for and considering their unique situation in emergencies. The guide is available for download in seven (yes, seven!) languages (English, French, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, Punjabi, and Spanish), and offers excellent tips and instructions for persons with special needs.

Download the guide here: http://www.emergencymanagementontario.ca/english/prepare/specialneeds/specialneeds.html

Additional Note: While full of excellent information, the resources listed in the guide are specific to residents of Ontario. For transportation and other special needs assistance in Texas, dial 2-1-1 from any touch-tone phone. This free phone call can help connect you to local services and organizations. In addition, download information from the Texas Department of Emergency Management at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/e-prep_public.shtm

Diocesan Preparedness Month: Turn Around, Don't Drown

2010-05-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

If you're not a Texas native, you may have only heard stories about the floods that have wreaked havoc on some of our biggest cities over the years. Type "Austin flood" or "Houston flood" into any websearch, and you're bound to find a wealth of news stories, photos, and even tall tales about these watery events.

About a year ago, I got a small taste of Houston's floods. Traveling into the city from Albuquerque, New Mexico, our plane circled the city several times before landing at Bush Intercontinental Airport. We were headed for Hobby Airport, but rain and flood waters prevented us from landing there. Of course, we didn't get off the plane at Bush, and I might be one of the very few people in the world who have traveled from one Houston airport to another via a commercial flight. Leaving the airport that night, I drove through as much as six inches of moving water. I knew very little about floods at the time, and just plowed through, sticking to the shallowest areas, and praying that I'd be safe.

I do not recommend that you do likewise.

A common phrase in flood-prone areas of Texas is "Turn around, don't drown." According to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes ("FLASH"), the majority of flood deaths occur when people become trapped in cars stalled in flood waters.

Turn around, don't drown means to never drive through standing or moving water.

Water is amazingly deceptive. Even the clearest blue ocean throws our normal depth perception askew. Floods are no different; they hide the dips and ditches of the road, the depths of which may surprise us and put us in danger of stalling, damaging our cars, or drowning.

Low levels of moving water can damage roads; a couple of feet is enough to float your vehicle away, with you in it.

Always find alternate routes around flooded areas, or (better yet) avoid driving in floods at all. If you are in your vehicle and are caught in a flash flood, seek shelter in or on a stable structure immediately. Move to high ground, or to the highest point in a building that you can get to.

Turn around; don't drown. It truly could save your life.

For more information, visit the National Weather Service's "Turn Around Don't Drown" webpage.

Diocesan Preparedness Month: Creating Safe Spaces

2010-05-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

In the house I grew up in, there were three trees in our front yard. They were old and not extremely healthy, often dropping large, dead branches in thunderstorms, but my dad refused to cut them down. Our house sat on a busy local highway, and those trees created a barrier between the road and our front door.

The trees served other purposes as well, including being a meeting point for my family in the case of a house fire. My mother, ever cautious about what tragedies could befall her home, taught us at early ages how to break a window properly to ensure a safe escape, and where to meet for a head count.

Every family should identify a similar meeting place in their neighborhood. In addition, two other meeting places can prove helpful in an emergency: 1) Outside the neighborhood, but in town; and 2) Outside of town.

A location in the neighborhood gives your family a place to go in a fire or other emergency isolated to your house or building. It should be close to the home, but far enough away from potential flames and other dangers to keep the members of your family out of harm's way. Locate this safe spot as a family, and practice going there regularly.

For a tornado, flood, or other disaster that compromises your home and your neighborhood, find a second meeting place in or near your town. Emergency shelters can serve as a good point for these types of emergencies, as they are often determined well in advance of a disaster by your local emergency management agency, and will be the place you are directed or taken to in these events. If there is more than one shelter, pick one to go to, know how to identify it to rescuers, and travel to it as a family so that you become familiar with the location and how to get there.

Finally, find an out-of-town friend or family member to call or go to if a disaster forces you out of your home and your community. Teach their phone number to all family numbers (don't just put it in your cell phone and forget it!), and memorize their address as well. Even if you can't get there, teach your family members how to check in with this friend, identifying each family member's location and status, in order to ensure that everyone is accounted for in an large-scale disaster.

Not only will these steps ease your mind in an emergency, but they will also prevent needless endangerment to rescue workers. If we don't know our family is safe, we may request action of these public servants, sending them into dangerous situations to rescue a person they won't find. Building the trust that our family will follow protocol in an emergency allows us to accurately sound the alarm if someone is missing, helping to ensure a swift rescue.

Diocesan Preparedness Month: How to Make an Emergency Kit

2010-05-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

(If Jamie Lee Curtis isn't your style, check out a similar video featuring Wyclef Jean.)

The American Red Cross, a renowned member of the disaster preparedness and response community, recommends that you include a minimum of the following items in your disaster supply kit:

Water—one gallon per person, per day (3day supply for evacuation, 2week supply for home)
Food—nonperishable, easytoprepare items (3day supply for evacuation, 2week supply for home)
Flashlight
Batterypowered or handcrank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
Extra batteries
First aid kit
Medications (7day supply) and medical items
Multipurpose tool
Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
Cell phone with chargers
Family and emergency contact information
Extra cash
Emergency blanket
Map(s) of the area

Each family should examine their daily needs and the risks affecting their communities, and pack appropriately. These extra items may include:

Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
Games and activities for children
Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
Twoway radios
Extra set of car keys and house keys
Manual can opener
Whistle
N95 or surgical masks
Matches
Rain gear
Towels
Work gloves
Tools/supplies for securing your home
Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
Plastic sheeting
Duct tape
Scissors
Household liquid bleach
Entertainment items
Blankets or sleeping bags

For more on completing a disaster kit and preparing your home, family, or business for emergencies, visit www.redcross.org/domore!

Reprinted From: Episcopal Relief & Development

2010-05-05T21:33:00.000-07:00

Torrential rains in the Tennessee area over the weekend have resulted in flooding of Nashville and many other parts of the state. Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes and hundreds were rescued by boat. The flooding has claimed at least 21 lives in Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky, with Tennessee being the hardest hit.

In the wake of this disaster, Episcopal Relief & Development has reached out to the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee to offer assistance. The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt, Bishop of Tennessee, has confirmed the death of two parishoners from St. George’s Church in Nashville and reported that significant damage has been caused at St. George’s, All Saints’ Church in Smyrna and other diocesan institutions. Diocesan offices are currently closed.

Episcopal Relief & Development will work closely with the diocese to provide assistance in the aftermath of the flooding. Please keep all those affected in your prayers. If you would like to make a donation, click here and select the Disaster Response Fund.

For updates on the situation in Tennessee from Bishop Bauerschmidt, please visit the Bishop’s Forum section of the diocese’s website.

For more information on Episcopal Relief & Development's response to this and other disasters, including the January 12th earthquake in Haiti, visit www.er-d.org.

Diocesan Preparedness Month: Stock Up on the Basics (Lessons from Toto's Home State)

2010-05-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

So says Dorothy to her little dog, stepping out of her transported house and into the magical land of Oz. And while twisters don't typically move whole houses into alternate realities, there is one thing the Wizard of Oz got right: there are a lot of tornadoes in Kansas.

Spring is a particularly vulnerable time for the prairie state, and the Kansas City Star recently published an article to remind residents about the importance of preparedness.

While it may be the last thing you want to think about, a little preparation before the dark storm clouds roll in can make it much easier to pick up the pieces if disaster strikes.

“People know that emergency preparedness is necessary, but many are not taking action,” said Almitra Buzan, public relations manager for the American Red Cross in Kansas City. “We encourage people to become prepared.”

Tom Morgan, community preparedness and national incident management system coordinator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Kansas City, offers the same advice.

“Emergency preparedness is incredibly important,” he said. “If a disaster hits, you can be financially destroyed, and you also can lose personal items that can’t be replaced. Some people assume that if there is a disaster, the government will help them out, but that’s not always the case. The first response is from local government, and only a small percentage of incidents ever receive federal assistance.”

One key to preparedness is to assume that after a disaster strikes, you may be left to take care of yourself. Local government agencies and other first responders can't always act right away, if at all, and it takes time to assess the community's needs and transport goods into an area.

People at least should be prepared to get by without food, water and basic services for at least three days, Morgan said.

“Although local governments usually are able to provide assistance during that time, they may not be able to respond as quickly now because of budget cutbacks,” he said. “It also may take longer to get assistance if you live in a rural area.”

Water, food, and shelter are three of the top concerns for every disaster survivor. Each family should store one gallon of water for each person per day, counting on three to five days without aid. In addition, stock up on nonperishable foods such as crackers, peanut butter, and canned vegetables that can be eaten with little to no preparation. A tarp or poncho can provide shelter if building safety is compromised in the disaster.

Read the full article, which includes a list of important basic disaster supplies here.

Diocesan Preparedness Month: Disasters Across the Nation

2010-05-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

Right now, oil is pouring into the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of more than 200,000 gallons per day. The slick, now visible from space, is 130 miles long and 70 miles across and growing. This unprecedented environmental catastrophe threatens not only the creatures that call the Gulf home, but also the fishing and tourism industries that depend on beautiful, clean waters. Read more from Reuters.

Photo Credit: Reuters

At the same time, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee are mourning the loss of at least 19 people, killed in a devastating rash of storms that included tornadoes and rising waters. A large portion of Central Tennessee is underwater, including the city of Nashville. Thousands have sought refuge in shelters, and many more are still being rescued. Read more from CNN.

Photo Credit: CNN

In addition, the city of New York is reeling from a failed terrorist attempt in Times Square. Three NYPD officers and a street vendor found the device, cleared the area, and called the bomb squad, preventing the devastating consequences of its detonation. Read more from the New York Daily News.

Photo Credit: NY Daily News

Please keep the people and leaders of these affected communities in your thoughts and prayers.

Diocesan Preparedness Month: Why Prepare?

2010-05-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

Here at TEDRD, I'm sometimes referred to as the "preparedness diva." And for good reason. Preparedness isn't just my job; it's my mission.

Of course, I understand that not everyone is as passionate about preparedness as I am. Some don't see the need in preparing for things that "probably won't happen anyway." Unfortunately, disasters typically come when we least expect them, and they don't strike only the prepared.

So why prepare? Here are a few reasons:

We live in Texas. There might be a handful of low-risk states in the U.S., but Texas is definitely not one of them. In 2008 alone, three hurricanes hit our coast. Two of our major cities (Austin and Houston) are prone to flooding, sometimes to devastating levels. And that's just a start; we haven't even begun to talk about tornadoes, fires, chemicals leaks or explosions, and even the occasional earthquake. Disasters can be regional (like tornadoes) or local (like fires). We may have warning (as with hurricanes) or they may occur suddenly (as with chemical explosions).

Preparedness reduces fear and anxiety. Sure, there's no way to be fully prepared for every event; things will always happen that we don't expect. However, having a plan in place gives us a solid starting point, direction and the peace of mind of knowing we've done everything we can. Plus, in many situations, we may find that our advance preparation is enough. Those food stores set aside will come in handy for sheltering-in-place. And the evacuation kit we stash in a closet by the door will save valuable time, possibly getting us on the road ahead of the crowd. Anybody who has been through an evacuation knows that getting caught in a flood of evacuees is a disaster in itself.

Preparedness can reduce damage or losses to your person or your belongings. Knowing each escape route in your home, for example, can help us to get away from a fire safely. Keeping trees and shrubs pruned prevents dead branches from becoming missiles in a tornado or other windstorm. Preparedness can be as simple as building or buying a home outside a flood zone, or as detailed as storing plastic cut to fit each window in our homes. The steps each of us take will depend on the risks specific to our communities.

For more information, visit "Why Prepare?" a resource of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

You may have other reasons to prepare for emergencies, depending on your family or situation. Check back with us all month long for resources, information, and tips to get you there.

Plus, if you have a story of how being prepared worked for you, we want to hear about it. Email me at cjgibbs@epicenter.org!

Cummins Family Gets C.O.!

2010-04-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we received the Certificate of Occupancy for the Cummins house. They will move home at the end of this week!

The family again expressed their sincere gratitude to all of the volunteers and donors that have helped them in their journey home. And two of the Cummins children have expressed interest in volunteering with TEDRD to help our other homeowners and pay it forward.

Thanks again to everyone who helped. Below is a before and after. Check out Facebook for more photos.

St. Matt's Back Again

2010-04-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

This week, we have St. Matthew's Austin here to help again. This particular group from St. Matt's, led by Jim Fryer is making their 4th trip!

And as a special treat, they will put the finishing touches on a house that they gutted on their 3rd trip down. They will be the bookends for the Cummins' home.

Its such a blessing for us to build relationships with wonderful people like the St. Matt's crew who continue to put in time for our homeowners.

Additionally, our friends Larry and Stuart continue to help us every week in Galveston. Those two have been a tremendous help for us.

The month of May looks to slow down a little bit as far as volunteers go, so we could use a little help if you are interested. Just contact Luke at volunteer@epicenter.org or by phone at 713.252.9693.

More Families Moving Home

2010-04-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

We've alread moved 3 families home this month, but it looks like we might have a couple more.

The Cummins family (Ave. M 1/2) will be moving home within the next week. Ms. Sharon (Sealy St.) and Ms. Brenda (Ave. T) will move home soon as well.

Mr. and Mrs. Cummins have both been in and out of the hospital since we started working on their home, and Mr. Cummins is looking to come home from the hospital at the end of this week. It will be a wonderful sight to see him return to a new home.

Ms. Sharon is a single mother and school teacher who is looking to get her family back home, and Ms. Brenda works at the San Luis Hotel and is living with a friend until our work is complete.

If we stay on track, we will move 6 families homes this month, which is an incredible feat that we could only have accomplished with the help of our wonderful volunteers. We are so grateful for all of the work you do!

Check back for more updates here, and on Facebook

Mr. Rodgers Moves Home!

2010-04-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

The inside of Mr. Rodgers' home is finished! We still need to do some work on the outside, but the inside is complete. Yesterday, Mr. Rodgers received his Certificate of Occupancy, officially allowing him to move home.

This weekend we plan on moving the rest of his furniture back in. Its so exciting when we have our homeowners move back home! And we're also grateful that we'll still see Mr. Rodgers around as he continues to make cabinets for other homes.

Below is a before and after of his home, to check out more photos, visit our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/ikerelief.

Emergency Preparedness Month is Coming!

2010-04-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Get ready! Here at Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development, we have declared May 2010 Diocesan Emergency Preparedness Month!

As the Preparedness & Planning Coordinator, I (Carolyn) will be updating the blog and twitter with preparedness information for churches and families throughout the month.

We're also holding Parish Preparedness Workshops in three areas around the diocese. For locations and more information, visit www.epicenter.org/tedrd. And if you want more one-on-one help to prepare your church, I'll be available for that as well.

To schedule an appointment for your parish, suggest a preparedness topic, or even ask a question, email me at cjgibbs@epicenter.org. Let's get prepared together!

Finished Product

2010-04-09T08:02:00.001-07:00

We went to install a refridgerator at Ms. Marsha's on Wednesday as one of the final touches to her home repair. It is amazing to see the progress of her home over the past 3 months.

Visit our facebook page and check out the photos. Theres still a couple minor details to touch up, but the house looks great, despite the debris from moving back in.

Before:

After:

Gorgeous Weather

2010-04-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

Its been beautiful weather in Galveston for the past few days as we continue to work on homes.

This week, we have a youth group from Monroe, Washington that is doing some great work. The Henrys are also still helping out along with Stuart and Larry (STC and LTC).

We still have some open dates in May. If you know of anyone who is interested, tell them to contact Luke Blount at volunteer@epicenter.org or by phone at 713.252.9693.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

Its been a great week of work in Galveston as Grinnell students worked hard on several homes. It was great to work with them once again!

March was one of our busiest months we've ever had, and we're thankful for all of the volunteer support.

Our friends, the Henrys, arrived yesterday to start working. One of our favorite couples, Ruth and Len will be on site for a little over a week, helping out.

Also, we just got a new intern, Tyler, who started this week. That makes 4 interns currently working on our projects. We're glad to have an extra pair of hands!

Happy Easter everyone! We pray for safe travels and joyous times.

Grinnell Back in Town

2010-03-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Grinnell College arrived on Sunday for their 4th trip to work in Galveston with TEDRD. Its great to have some familiar faces around. What a wonderful legacy these students are leaving with their ReNew program.

The students from Maggie's alma mater continue to selflessly offer a helping hand to our homeowners as they recover from the devastation of Hurricane Ike.

Yesterday, Rev. Lillian Hyde and St. George's - Texas City made dinner for Grinnell as a show of thanks for the work they have put in. She made red beans and rice, and it was delicious!. Thanks Lillian, and thanks Grinnell for your continued efforts!

Great Week!

2010-03-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

We're finishing up another great week of work in Galveston. Our groups from Dordt College, Immanuel Church of Ft. Collings, and Kenyon College have all been marvelous. They just about ran us out of work by the end of this week.

We will probably be picking up another home or two next week to get started on as we close a few others by the end of the month. Such a great feeling to finish these projects!

400 volunteers have already made it to Galveston. And we will finish at least 5 houses by the end of April. What an accomplishment! Credit goes to our wonderful volunteers who give of their time and resources to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate.

Thanks to all of you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's another great day of rebuilding and repairing homes. We're wearing our green as we try to finish up some projects. Ms. Marsha's house is nearing completion, and Ms. Eleanor and Ms. Charlotte are basically finished!

We've already reached 10,000 hours of volunteer work for this year. What an incredible accomplishment! Our goal was 25,000 hours, and it looks like we'll easily surpass it. Thanks for all you do.

Murphy Says: "Kiss Me I'm Irish"

Volunteers Steadily Working

2010-03-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

Last week we had a couple great groups from ACC schools, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. It was great to have more college students in town to get work done.

Thanks UNC and VT, you guys were great!

Today, we started with 3 new groups. One from Immanuel Church in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Another from Dordt College in Iowa, and one more from Kenyon College in Ohio. Kenyon is making their second trip.

Thanks guys! It looks like its going to be a great week!

St. Aug's Makes Dinner!

2010-03-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

Members of St. Augustine's Episcopal in Galveston made dinner for our volunteers last Thursday as a show of appreciation for their great work. What followed was a great night of food and fellowship.

By all accounts, the food was terrific and the company just as good. Thanks St. Aug's for the amazing supper, and thanks again to our volunteers for all of your wonderful work!

Getting It Done

2010-02-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, our volunteer group held a house blessing for the Cummings house. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings are currently in the hospital, but 3 of their children came to the house to participate.

With an altar made out of scaffolding and a cross built from scraps, the volunteers held a house blessing that was simple and beautiful. Pastor Bob gave a wonderful talk about cherishing our blessings and the house was blessed followed by the taking of communion.

Sometimes we need moments like that to put this work into perspective. Volunteers from around the country came together to help strangers, and it has made such an incredible difference in everyone's life.

The Cummings children were incredibly thankful for all of the volunteer efforts and offered a blessing back "100-fold."

TEDRD is so grateful to be able to work with our incredible and inspirational volunteers and homeowners. Thank you all!

If You Build It, They Will Come

2010-02-22T12:49:00.000-08:00

We're moving along swimmingly in Galveston as our volunteers are doing some great work. We currently have a big group in from all across the country (Montana, Florida, New Jersey) who are really moving and getting some major work done at Ms. Cummings' house. They call themselves the Galveston Mudders.

We've got a steady flow of volunteers from now untill summer, barring a couple open weeks. If you are looking to come help out, let us know ASAP so we can find some space to fit you in.

Below are some pictures of some of our Disney Volunteers as well as the Mudders:

Volunteer Strong

2010-02-16T09:16:00.000-08:00

TEDRD is going through one of our most successful stretches at the moment, with lots of volunteer help, and lots of work getting done. An Iowan CRWRC group has been here for the past week and will be here the rest of the week, trying to finish up a couple projects.

Also, we have another group called the Galveston Mudders or the "Over the Hill Group" as one member called them. This group led by Dave Reynolds and Brian Piggot will be here for the next 3 weeks! Its exciting to have such dedicated long term volunteers here, making an impact on homeowners' lives.

Thanks, Zion

2010-02-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

Members of Zion Lutheran Church of Fremont, Wisconsin has been down this week helping us repair homes.

We have loved their company and hard work. Their efforts in Galveston are greatly appreciated by everyone. Its such a blessing to meet and work with such amazing and selfless people on a daily basis.

Thanks again, Zion. We hope to see you again in the future!

Mr. Rodgers

2010-02-02T08:19:00.001-08:00

Saturday, I visited with one of our homeowners, Mr. Rodgers. He's 58-year-old and lost his left leg during the storm. As he explained it, Mr. Rodgers cut his toe a few days before Hurricane Ike hit, and when the water started to rise, his open wound became infected by the sewage other harmful substances floating around in the flood waters.

He survived the storm, but by the next day, his foot was black, then his calf and then up to his knee. He sat out on his front lawn, holding a sign that said he needed EMS, hoping a helicopter or passerby might help him. A cop came by at one point and said he would get help, but no one came.

Finally, a neighbor put Mr. Rodgers into his brand new cadillac as Mr. Rodgers protested about ruining the interior of his vehicle. "Your life is more important than this car," said the neighbor.

Terry was eventually placed in an ambulance that drove him to Dallas for a leg amputation. On the ride up, another injured man died right next to him. "I was thinking its not looking to good for me right now," he said.

After the amputation, Mr. Rodgers returned to Galveston in a wheelchair, unable to perform most of the tasks that he used to do as a master cabinetmaker. His home was destroyed, his business failing, his leg gone, and his wife was in a nursing home, suffering from alzheimer's.

But Mr. Rodgers pushed on, eventually got a prosthetic leg, and now walks pretty well. The doctors told him he probably would need to wait before using his new leg, but Mr. Rodger's stood up right there and walked out of the office. "I still have times when I stumble," he said. "I'll wake up in the morning, thinking I have 2 legs and fall right on my face."

When I commented that he was a very resilient man, Mr. Rodgers said, "Its not being resilient, I was just doing what I had to."

After more than a year of sitting in disrepair, we started working on Mr. Rodger's home last week, and we're excited to continue work. Its hard to imagine that horror stories like Mr. Rodgers' happen in America, but we hear them every day, and it's devastating.

When Maggie went to tell Mr. Rodgers we would be working on his home, he pulled out his wallet and told her he had no money to help the process. Maggie responded that he didn't need any because we would take care of it. Mr. Rodgers was overcome with emotion at the thought of his home being repaired for free

Many of our homeowners gave up any hope of normalcy months ago, but to see the hope return to the eyes of the hopeless is an incredible experience.

Friendly Reminder

2010-01-25T12:23:00.000-08:00

After nearly a year of working as the Volunteer Coordinator for TEDRD, my perspective on life has changed in many ways. But today I was reminded of the reality of the work we are doing.

Sometimes I think we get caught up in the routines of work. After all, this is our job. We are
always trying to do better, help more people, prepare the surrounding community for disasters.

We are constantly working our little behinds off trying to do better. But sometimes I think we forget why. Its not to just be better or streamline our processes. Its to help those who are less fortunate.

We hear new stories of terrible situations every day, and those stories have become an odd sort of normalcy for Galveston. Nothing really shocks us anymore.

Today, I was reminded of how abnormal most of this is, and how most people can so easily ignore the tragedy that exists all around us. And I was reminded how happy it makes me to be doing this job and how proud I am of our organization.

With the help of our incredible volunteers and donors, we have created a superb rebuild organization in addition to helping establish a national emergency response focus and preparedness strategies. Hundreds of people have been helped by our work, and thousands of others have been able to experience the joy of helping others.

Every once in while we get reminded of our impact like I did today, and I think thats what keeps us going.

-Luke Blount

Still Plenty of Work

2010-01-22T08:12:00.001-08:00

Our wonderful Relief Coordinator, Maggie, is picking up a couple new sites for us to work on today. One of them is a neighbor of a home we previously worked on. Its still so heart-wrenching to think of the despair that many Galvestonians have been in.

These people worked their entire lives to secure a livable home for themselves, and it just a few hours, it was all wiped away by wind and water. Most of our homeowners prefer to be self sufficient, and it kills them to ask for help. They pride themselves on their ability to scrape by and provide for themselves and their family. But after this storm, it was too much for them to overcome. Many of them have disabilities, many are elderly, and many are on a fixed income.

Its a shame that they have been living in substandard conditions, and that many of them have lost whatever independence they once retained. We wish we could do more, but we're proud of the work our incredible volunteers and donors have contributed.

Thanks for all of your support!

Working Along

2010-01-20T11:04:00.001-08:00

This week, we had Presbyterians from the Chicago area and Mennonites from Kentucky working on a couple homes. Elmhurst Prebyterian was a repeat group from last January and left yesterday afternoon after contributing great work.

Thanks Elmurst! You guys did a wonderful job. We hope to see you again in the future.

Photos below:

Ms. Sharon's House Under Way

2010-01-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

We started a new home this week. Ms. Sharon's house currently has about a dozen workers starting the rebuild process.

Volunteers from Grinnell College and Holy Comforter Episcopal in Maryland have teamed up to get the first stages of rebuild under way. They've all been wonderful volunteers and are excited to be making a difference in someone's life.

Today, Ms. Sharon's new porch is getting installed and sheet rock is being installed in several rooms. The volunteers are moving steadily along.

Pictures Below (More can be found on our Facebook page):

F&M works through the weekend, more in town this week

2010-01-11T08:54:00.001-08:00

Franklin and Marshall College worked this weekend on a couple homes, hanging sheet rock and laying floors in addition to some painting.

Ms. Marsha's house is looking incredibly different after just a few days of hard work. What a great group of workers we have!

This week we have 2 more groups in addition to F&M. Holy Comforter Episcopal Church of Baltimore, Maryland arrived yesterday to help out, and Grinnell College (Maggie's alma mater) came down for their third trip to Galveston. Thanks everyone!

Below are some photos from Franklin & Marshall:

2010 Looking Good

2010-01-06T12:41:00.001-08:00

Our Presbyterian friends from Webster and Grapevine have done a wonderful job this week. They've painted, laid floors, created a closet, installed insulation and even started with Sheet Rock Prep.

Its been a wonderful way to start off the new year. Thanks to everyone in those groups. You have been a marvelous crew!

We look forward to seeing a few of you again this summer.

Back to Work

2010-01-04T09:06:00.001-08:00

We're back from our holiday break, and back to work on homes in Galveston. A group of Presbyterian college students from around Texas are here for the next few days.

The next few months looks pretty busy. We're excited to get some major work accomplished.

Merry Christmas From TEDRD!

2009-12-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

We would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday this Christmas. Many of our homeowners will also be able to enjoy their holidays in newly refinished homes thanks to your volunteer efforts.

We will be taking a break over the holidays in order for our diverse staff to spend time with their families around the country. We will resume work on Jan. 4th and continue through the rest of 2010 repairing homes in Galveston so that next Christmas, more families can enjoy the holidays.

We hope to see you again in the future. Volunteers are our greatest commodity.

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Internships Available for Spring

2009-12-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

Job Description

Crew Chief Interns are compassionate, respectful, flexible, organized, responsible and committed to helping those in need of our assistance. They are responsible for supervising daily rebuild work with volunteers, making sure that necessary materials and tools are on site each day. Though building experience is a plus, construction skills training is provided, and more important is the ability to interact with and teach volunteers those skills. Not only will they need to be able to work with volunteers, but they will also need to work with and respect the homeowners we serve, acting as an intermediary between them and the volunteers and making sure their wishes are carried out.

Length and start date for internship is flexible, with a minimum of 2 months starting no earlier than January 1, 2010.

Salary and Benefits
Housing plus a flexible stipend, and worker's compensation insurance.

Qualifications
Must be 18 years or older, able to commit to at least 2 months of service, and preferably have personal transportation while in Galveston.

To apply
Send resume and cover letter including desired start date and length of service to maggie.immler@gmail.com. We will contact you to complete an additional application form.

Hurricane Season Over

2009-11-30T06:30:00.001-08:00

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. It was great for our staff to take a much needed break.

The big news today however is that we have reached the end of another hurricane season. Thanks to El Nino, we had a very light storm season featuring only a couple threatening hurricanes.

But there is always next year to prepare for, in addition to all kinds of other catastrophes like floods, fires, and tornadoes. You should take this time to review or create your disaster plan for your home of workplace.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-24T07:45:00.000-08:00

We have a lot to be thankful for this year as things are turning around in Galveston. Thanks to volunteer efforts people are moving home and many have a home for Thanksgiving to host their families.

TEDRD will be closing down for the rest of the week.

Thanks to everyone who continues to help out and we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Home for the Holidays

2009-11-16T11:34:00.000-08:00

On Christmas night, 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson walked from their FEMA trailer to their dismantled home in Galveston and set up their make-shift dinner table. The walls were bare around them, and the floor was dirty from the remnants of Hurricane Ike.Mr. Stevenson lit a candle and the family proceeded to pray for the better part of an hour. They didn’t know how they would ever fix the home they had lived in for much of their life together. They could only pray for help.

A few weeks later, a volunteer caseworker with Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development, Kathy Hill, found the Stevensons and offered assistance. Soon after, their home was gutted by volunteers, and a few months later in June, volunteers began repairs on the home.

Mr. Stevenson’s home is located just a few blocks from Offatts Bayou, and as the water rose, it flooded his home to just beneath his ceiling during Hurricane Ike’s tremendous storm surge. His entire home needed to be repaired.

Over the course of the summer, youth groups, college students, local workers, and volunteers from as far away as San Francisco worked on Mr. Stevenson’s home. Every Monday, Mr. Stevenson would greet the volunteers and thank them.

A very large man, Mr. Stevenson is an imposing presence. At the time, he sported a long gray beard and even longer gray hair pulled back into a pony-tail. Usually sweaty from his own repair work on his home and fixing old motors that fill his backyard, Mr. Stevenson looked like man that few would like to cross paths with. But in truth, Mr. Stevenson is a gentle man who has been sober for over 25 years. He walks with a cane and grows his hair out every year to donate to Locks of Love.

One Monday in July, I was visiting with the most recent volunteers, a youth group from Waco, and Mr. Stevenson began telling us about the storm and his home. He said he came back after the storm to see all of his possessions destroyed, and only the shell of a home. He told us the story of his Christmas prayers, and how desperate he was for anyone to help him piece his life back together.

Then he looked directly at those high-schoolers and said, “You are God-sends.” He paused as tears welled up in his eyes and repeated as his voice choked up, “You are God-sends.” His gruff exterior melted into the graciousness of a survivor of tragedy. Without another word, Mr. Stevenson turned around walked slowly back to his FEMA trailer.

The youth group was left in a state of profound silence. It was obvious how important and meaningful this work was. They realized, as I did, that lives were being changed, and perhaps saved through the simple sacrifice of time and a little hard labor.

Throughout the summer, Mr. Stevenson told his stories to every group and came to the brink of tears almost every time. He put a face to devastation that occurred across the Texas coast, and he forced everyone to realize that the pain and troubles don’t stop when the flood waters recede. The desperation continues until help is found, until survivors find their God-sends.

Mr. Stevenson’s home is now complete, and this Christmas he will celebrate the holidays in a newly repaired and refurbished home. He will say prayers of joy and thanks and look forward to a new chapter in his life.

Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development has helped more than 130 people and families like Mr. Stevenson, and will continue to do so throughout the next year. If you would like to schedule a trip to Galveston to help repair and rebuild homes, contact Luke Blount, Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@epicenter.org or 713.252.9693.

Mr. Stevenson Moves Home

2009-11-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

After many months of living in a FEMA trailer, Mr. Stevenson moved back home this week. Hundreds of volunteers worked on his home, gutting and then repairing the structure.

There are still a few minor touches to do, but Mr. Stevenson and his wife were incredibly happy to be home. Below are a couple photos. More can be found on our facebook page.

Keep on Chugging

2009-11-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

Last week Church of the Redeemer - Irving spend time with us in Galveston to repair homes. They also provided some of our staff with an incredible meal, for which we are extremely thankful. We are also thankful for Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale's efforts and willingness to spend the week here.

This weekend, we also had Christ the King - Atascocita helping out in Galveston in addition to Christ Church Cathedral - Houston, and Trinity - The Woodlands helping out in La Porte. So much work was done, and there was spectacular fellowship.

Thanks to everyone for your help!

Pictures below:

Church of the Redeemer - Irving with Eric

Church of the Redeemer Irving at Manor Way

Church of the Redeemer - Irving at Avenue M

Christ the King - Atascocita

Church of the Incarnation - Dallas Spends Halloween in Galveston

2009-11-02T12:25:00.001-08:00

Happy Halloween From Murphy

Church of the Incarnation - Dallas came to Galveston for Halloween weekend. They worked along side local islander, Cory as well. In addition to repairing houses, the group of around 20 got to enjoy Halloween Galveston-style in addition to the Lonestar Motorcycle Rally that attracted tens of thousands of bikers.

It was a very interesting and productive weekend for the COTI Crew. Thanks to all of them for their time and efforts. Pictures below:

Grinnell College Back for More

2009-10-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

Students from Grinnell College came down from Iowa this week to help in the relief efforts. This is their second trip. Grinnell is Relief Coordinator, Maggie Immler's alma mater.

Additionally, former intern and current Grinnellian, Josie, came with them to put in some more time. We're happy to see her as well as all of her fellow students!

Helping Neighbors

2009-10-16T08:47:00.001-07:00

Several Residents from Grace Episcopal - Galveston took time this week to help out their neighbors. Its great to see members of the community lend a helping hand.

They also spent some time in La Porte trying to finish up the work there. Hopefully I'll be posting some pictures soon of their work. Thanks, Grace for everything!

Pirates Lend a Hand

2009-10-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

Several college students from Southwestern University spent their 3-day weekend in Galveston to help in our rebuilding efforts.

Amidst midterms and papers, these students used their holiday to better the lives of those around them.

Thanks Southwestern!

Several students helped put up a tent for St. Augustine's church before heading over to one of our repair projects.

St. Matt's - Austin Back for More!

2009-10-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

St. Matthew's - Austin is back for their 3rd trip to help out Galveston homeowners. Crew leader Jim Fryer continues to bring groups of incredible individuals with caring hearts.

The crew of mostly retired folks is here for several days this week, and always ready to get their hands dirty. This time they even brought a trailer full of donations for hurricane survivors, including a pristine washer and dryer.

Thanks St. Matt's! You guys are amazing!

Gutting in Galveston

2009-10-06T13:14:00.001-07:00

Thanks St. Mark's for your help this past Saturday. It was great to see some familiar faces and some new ones as well!

Mr. Stevenson's house is inching closer to completion and Ms. Cummings home is about ready to begin repairs thanks to your efforts.

Find more photos at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Episcopal-Disaster-Relief-and-Development/135769573374.

ERD Names Katie Mears New National Disaster Response Leader

2009-09-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

Catherine (Katie) Mears has been named program manager for USA disaster preparedness and response for Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD).

"We're delighted to have Katie Mears on board," said Abagail Nelson, ERD's senior vice president for programs. "Katie has been working with the Diocese of Louisiana, our program partner in post-Katrina community rehabilitation. On her first day in the office, she jumped right in to support the Diocese of Atlanta through last week's flooding in the Southeast."

The Diocese of Atlanta has been assisting churches such as Good Shepherd Episcopal in Austell, which opened its doors to people whose trailers were destroyed by floodwater.

"Since the first hours of the growing disaster, [ERD] has been on the phone and in constant touch with us," said the Rev. Canon Debra Shew, canon for community ministries in the Diocese of Atlanta. "Katie has been a constant partner, sharing practical ideas and information."

Originally from Iowa, Mears is relocating to New York from New Orleans, where she has been working with the Diocese of Louisiana's community rebuilding efforts. "Partnering with people left homeless by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, she directed a program that has trained thousands of Episcopal volunteers in basic building skills, gutted and rebuilt destroyed homes, and created an environment of pastoral care, respect and empowerment," according to an ERD release.

Mears also has supported the dioceses of Iowa and Texas in developing responses to recent disasters: the flooding of the Mississippi tributaries in spring 2008 and Hurricane Ike's destruction of Galveston in September 2008. Prior to her time in disaster response, she was a community organizer and journalist. Mears holds a bachelor's degree in history from Grinnell College in Iowa. In 2008, Grinnell College honored Mears with the Pioneer Award "for her efforts to help rebuild a city and for her ability to encourage others to do the same."

"We have approved our strategic plan through 2012 with a high priority on domestic disaster response and preparedness," said ERD President Rob Radtke. "Katie's hiring is a major step toward our goal of helping U.S. dioceses prepare their congregations and communities to effectively respond to and recover from disasters."

ERD's domestic disaster relief efforts may be supported online here or by calling 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

Palmer And Trinity Pitch In!

2009-09-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

Saturday, groups from Palmer Episcopal - Houston and Trinity Episcopal - The Woodlands lended a hand in the relief efforts in Galveston.

Most of the group members were making repeat trips, which we are so thankful for. But some were newcomers who we know gained a lot of insight into the plight of homeowners in Galveston. One volunteer tagging along with Trinity was from as far away as Newfoundland, Canada.

Below are some photos:

The Palmer Group at Mr. Stevenson's House

A note dated March 28, 1901 that the Palmer group found on the walls of one of the homes. This note was scribbled down when Galvestonians were rebuilding from the deadly 1900 Hurricane. Amazing circle of events.

Galveston Daily News Profiles TEDRD

2009-09-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

From the Galveston County Daily News:

http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=0c47333cbdbd4636

Some volunteers, students from a military-style boot camp for first responders, sang “Amazing Grace” as they welcomed a home-owner back into the repaired house.Another group was greeted regularly with hugs by the homeowner.

“He’d come out, first thing, and he hugged everyone, and nine times out of 10, he’d burst into tears,” Maggie Immler, Galveston relief coordinator for Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development, said. “He called us all his angels.”

Immler has a slew of such stories. She started work in Galveston last fall, fresh from coordinating Hurricane Katrina relief projects. In Galveston, she found similar hurricane damage but a stronger groundswell of support and old-fashioned grit.

“My background is working in New Orleans, where everything took four times longer than it should,” she said, speaking by cell phone as she traveled to Houston for a diocese meeting.“I haven’t seen the level and depths of hopelessness that we saw in New Orleans. So when I sit back and look objectively at recovery in Galveston, the county and surrounding areas, everything is happening remarkably fast and in a remarkably organized way. That’s so exciting to me because there’s nothing we can’t do when we all work together.”

Episcopal Disaster Relief, part of the long-term recovery collaboration called Galveston County Restore and Rebuild, is headquartered at the William Temple Episcopal Center, 427 Market St., in Galveston.Some 1,500 volunteers from across the country have been processed and trained there, then placed in crews. About 23,000 hours of volunteer labor have been tallied thus far.

The Rev. Kyle Stillings, executive director at the William Temple Episcopal Center, has had a front-row seat on the flood of ministry to Galveston.

“I love the opportunity to listen to the stories volunteers share after a hard day of work, to hear how their lives are being shaped and transformed by the experience of service work,” Stillings said. “It’s a blessing to be surrounded by joyful and spirit-filled people willing to give so much of themselves for the sake of others.”

Similar stories have been reported time and again within the collaboration of faith-based organizations and nonprofit agencies making up Galveston County Restore and Rebuild. Their roundup and dispersal of volunteers and building crews across the island probably will continue through next summer, as long as residents need help.

“In the grand scheme of things, Galveston is tiny compared to what we experienced in New Orleans, but it’s happening so quickly here and with so much organizational power,” Immler said.At age 23, she is already a veteran of hurricane relief work.“As off guard as everyone was caught, it’s just been amazing to see everybody say, ‘We’ve got to keep pressing on,’” she said.

“They say, ‘It’s happened, but it’s not going to dominate our lives,’ and that’s been incredibly hopeful to me.“I feel like I’m working with Galvestonians not for Galvestonians, and that’s been a real cool thing.”

Precious Treasure

2009-09-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

On September 13, 2008, a retired nurse named Precious Treasure Bacheller fell victim to the ravages of Hurricane Ike. Several feet of water destroyed most everything she owned.

“I didn’t know what a storm surge was,” said Bacheller. “But it came in from every direction.”

During the storm, Bacheller stayed in her Shore Acres home as she watched the water rise to her ankles, then her knees, and finally just above her waist.

Several months later, Bacheller had settled into her FEMA trailer on her property, but didn’t know how she would be able to repair her home until she encountered Rev. Mike Besson of St. John’s – La Porte.

“I walked into his freshly painted purple office, and I thought ‘this is different,” she said. “But then Father Mike started saying things that I felt. It’s hard to describe, but I felt like I was home.”

Bacheller said from that day on, she knew that she wanted to be a part of the church and mission of St. John’s.

“I just wanted to be a part of the community,” she said. “I told Father Mike that I would take all the help I could get, but if they couldn’t help me I wanted to volunteer.”

Bacheller spent much of her life caring for others as a hospice nurse. An incredibly caring heart led her to request AIDS patients when everyone else was afraid to do so. Outside of her FEMA trailer, more than a dozen cats gather for food as she can’t stand to let one go hungry. Every day for much of her life, she prayed and cared for the needy, but after Ike, she was the one in need.

Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development was there to step in and support the repair of her home through volunteer labor and donations for materials. And in April St. John’s began working with TEDRD to repair damaged homes in the La Porte and Shore Acres communities in an effort they dubbed “Mission on the Bay.”

Construction Foreman, Sam Glass, led the relief work with the help of more than 100 volunteers from St. John’s alone. Over the summer, youth groups from around the country and weekend crews from Houston helped repair more than 40 homes, including Bacheller’s.

“I’ve been so blessed seeing the young adults work together and be so selfless,” she said. “I have sheets of paper with everyone’s name and email addresses so that I can thank and update them.”

Groups of volunteers left notes of encouragement all around her house as they steadily made repairs. One youth group of volunteers wrote “We love you Precious” on a piece of sheet rock and presented it to her. She plans on framing all of her keepsakes when she gets a chance.

“When they would leave, I would read all of it and cry,” she said. “But I think it was a good cry.”

Despite the fact that her home and belongings were destroyed and vandalized, Bacheller says all of it has changed her life for the better.

“Material stuff doesn’t really matter to me anymore,” she said. “My values have changed. You realize what is really important.”

As repairs on her home began, Bacheller started to attend services at St. John’s, and then she started confirmation classes. Just a few days before the anniversary of Hurricane Ike, Bacheller was officially confirmed in the church.

“My experience has been a wonderful one,” she said. “Sometimes I’m in awe. I’m so very proud to be a part of the church and say this is my family.”

Through the efforts of TEDRD and St. John’s, countless individuals have been touched by the caring hearts of volunteers and the enduring spirit of the La Porte and Shore Acres communities.

“Precious has been a true light to our church and her testimony of survival has inspired us all,” said Besson. “She truly is a "precious treasure" here; one of the good things that happened to us after Ike.”

ABC13 News in Galveston for Volunteer Celebration

2009-09-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

Check out the video here:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=7004252

Volunteer Celebration in Galveston!

2009-09-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

The United Way of Galveston is hosting a luncheon to celebrate the efforts of volunteers in Galveston today, and our own Maggie Immler will be on hand to talk about how volunteers have impacted the lives of our homeowners.

Ike Anniversary Coming Up!

2009-09-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

September 13, 2009 marks the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Ike. St. John's - La Porte will be holding a celebration at their church following the 10:30 a.m. service. Everyone is invited! We will be celebrating the great work and recovery that we have made in La Porte as we are on the verge of finishing up our projects there.

Also, check out our new Facebook fan page at http://tinyurl.com/mr2xfp. Become a fan to keep up with photos and stories!

ALERT Working

2009-08-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Air Land Emergency Resource Team is currently working away at our house on Manor Way. We're excited to have them back again.

Please pass along our information to anyone you think would be interested in helping in Galveston. We've helped more than 125 homeowners, but there are still hundreds of homes in the area that need assistance, and we can't do it without you.

Finishing Up the Summer

2009-08-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

We have another ALERT team back with us this week, and we're happy to have them back! I can't believe it is already August 26th. Our summer has flown by so quickly, and we have some much to show for it.

In the next few weeks we are going to try to finish up work in La Porte, Tx. If you can help or know someone who can, especially on Saturdays, please let us know!

Thanks for all you do

TEDRD Takes a Break

2009-08-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

Josie, Omar, Andy, and Chris have all finished their internships and the rest of Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development is taking a much needed break as the summer comes to a close.

However, we're still looking to schedule groups in September and beyond. Let Luke know if you can make a trip to help rebuild homes.

713.252.9693 or volunteer@epicenter.org

Ms. Sallie turns 100 and moves home!

2009-08-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated Ms. Sallie's 100th birthday. Her home was the first rebuild that we started. She had hired a contractor who took her money and left town. But we came in to clean up his mess, and after tons of sweat from volunteers around the country, Ms. Sallie is back in her home to celebrate a century of life.

Thank you to everyone who was involved, Ms. Sally could not stop saying "Thank you" for the few minutes we spent with her, and I know her family is very grateful for your efforts as well.

Below are the final shots of her home. If you would like to see more photos, visit www.flickr.com/photos/ikerelief.

Thanks ALERT!

2009-08-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

The Air Land Emergency Resource Team left this morning, but we hope to have them back soon. They were probably our most skilled and most productive group we have had! Not to mention how well mannered and clean this group of young men was.

We had a hard time even keeping up with them as they moved three projects to edge of completion.

Thanks ALERT, come back soon!

William Temple Center Gets New Floor!

2009-08-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

The William Temple Episcopal Center finally has a new floor. After work from several groups to tear up the old carpet, sand the floors, and lay down the new laminate (in addition to repairing the support beams under the building), WTEC has a beautiful new floor.

Thanks to everyone who helped and donated to this cause. WTEC now has a much needed face lift to start the new school year.

To check out more photos of WTEC go to www.flickr.com/photos/ikerelief.

Here to Help

2009-08-06T07:36:00.001-07:00

Just a couple days ago, an elderly woman named Ms. Viola walked into our office looking for help. She has been living in her flood damaged home since the storm without any money or any idea of how to fix her home.

Her husband has cancer, and her two children are both in cramped temporary housing on the island with her grandchildren. She has been in touch with a couple organizations before she came to TEDRD, but the process is slow and requires lots of paperwork.

Walking with a limp and complaining of hip pain, Ms. Viola has tired eyes. More than 10 months after Hurricane Ike, her life is stilll spinning with the chaos of the storm.

Ms. Viola tells us that another one of our homeowners referred her to us. Maggie takes down her information, schedules an appointment to view her home, and we begin to work on her case.

But as she hobbles out of our office, I can't help but wonder how many more people like her are waiting for help.

Who else is still breathing in the mold every day and night? Who else had worked their entire lives to own a home, only to have it wiped away at a time when they can no longer work? Who else is walking around with those tired, tear-filled eyes? Who else needs help?

We're certain that Ms. Viola will see her home repaired soon, but its the forgotten people out there that keep us going.

Its easy for us to enjoy the beach life on an island sometimes, but its when you look into the eyes of someone so helpless that you realize we don't exist independently of each other in this world. It takes a helping hand and the sacrifice of a few hours of your life to change someone else's in a profound way.

And that's why we're here to help.