I have just returned from the Texas Gulf Coast after preparing to mobilize outreach groups to serve there.
Overall, it was a very rewarding week. I was struck by how much damage had actually been done by this storm, but yet there was not much going on to relieve the catastrophe. Financially, Ike is the third costliest in damage behind Katrina and Andrew, in US history.
This storm is being called the "Silent Storm" because very few everyday Americans, even in nearby Houston, really know anything about what happened, the people effected and the enormity of the damage and destruction. When you drive down the main drag in Galveston and look at the tourist hotels, everything looks eerily normal, while, 75% of Galveston’s homes (population of 60,000) are totally uninhabitable, and the historic downtown is already been decided not to rebuild. Businesses, schools, etc were lost. Most locals are evacuees, lost all they had, and will most likely never return.
There is a barrier island off the coast of Galveston that was just open to the outside last week, and bodies where still being pulled out of the rubble there. The storm was in the last day’s of August, when the Republican convention and the economic troubles were making headlines. The media never really covered the story. I was told that the airspace was banned from planes with cameras, and still is. The American public is not hearing about this storm, or everything around it.
There was very little evidence of FEMA, Red Cross or other government agencies at work. Most of the workers were from faith-based organizations, or private contractors. The locals don’t have a sense of "entitlement" to aid and relief, and quietly work hard at trying to make sense of what is left.
It felt like the whole event was under a secret veil and an unknown force was hiding this catastrophe from everyone..thus "the silent storm". Makes me wonder if the economic crisis is worse than we are being told, and there is no money left to help in time of need.
We spent our time partnering with another faith based group that relocated to Texas after three years of superior service in Mississippi. Their specialty is feeding, meeting local needs, and filling work orders for locals. We bonded with them in a special way, and had a great time serving and preparing 300-400 meals a day. We prayed with several families and one of our staff led two bikers to Christ. We also spent time with the staff there as they were ready for some ministry after working so hard without many breaks in the last 10 weeks.
The immediate relief organizations are pulling out of the area and heading to help in the California fires. It is an important time there on the Texas Gulf as workers are desparately needed.
My prayer is that Christian Outreach International will be able to moblize dozens of workers to the area. We specialize in mobilizing unskilled volunteers and providing spiritual and pastoral care in crisis zones. There is work for any age of skilled and unskilled laborers. Any help would be desparately needed and have a huge impact. Remember, "a true witness rescues lives". (Proverbs 14:25). Thank you for contacting us if you can be involved in any way, especially by bringing a group of 10 or more.
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