SCA brings aid to a battered region as our network of church, ministry, and business partners from across the nation are joining forces in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.
The strongest storm to hit the Louisiana coast in more than a century, Laura left a path of destruction from high wind and flooding, along with 18 deaths related directly or indirectly to the storm. Over 350,000 people are without power and an estimated 17,000 evacuees are staying in hotels. Many families in rural areas are also without potable water as their well pumps need power to operate. Power outages in some area are expected to last weeks.
Somebody Cares was on the ground in Sulphur, Louisiana, on Friday, August 28, the day after the storm passed, and began serving hot meals on Saturday at Celebration Worship Center. Over 2,500 meals were served throughout the weekend to residents and first responders.
Meanwhile, Resurrection Life Church, our SC Picayune facilitator in Mississippi, and Harvest for Lost Souls, one of our SC Southeast Texas partners, sent shipments of food, water, tarps, and other supplies to churches serving their communities in Otis, LA; Lake Charles, LA; and Sulphur, LA. Midwest Food Bank, a long-time relief partner, sent in a truckload of cleaning materials, Powerade, and Vitamin Water.
Women attending Renew Faith Conference in Humble, Texas, collected $1000 for SCA in 24 hours, which was used to buy gift cards for families who have lost so much due to the storm. Cassy Smith, SCA Volunteer Coordinator, was able to connect with Texas Business Theatre to secure a trailer to use for storage at our Point of Distribution in Sulphur.
Pastor James Long from Gateway Church in Hockley, Texas, used the trailer to transport a generator to SC Jasper-Newton Counties in Southeast Texas, an area that sustained heavy wind damage. SCJN has been helping remove trees for the elderly and placing tarps on roofs. But even in their own need, SCJN shipped fans and dehumidifiers to Sulphur to help those with water damage. A company in Baytown, Texas, donated 800 pounds of badly needed ice.
In Houston, Inspire Church partnered with the Harris County Sheriff’s Homeless Division and Kroger’s of Houston to ship in water and other essentials for distribution through churches in Lake Charles.
SCA is also working with Foursquare Relief; Assemblies of God; PRC Compassion; Crisis Response International; Gulf Coast Foursquare Church in Hitchcock, TX; BloodNFire Muncie; Somebody Cares San Antonio; Ally Force; Starlight Relief; Mercury One; and many more churches and organizations.
“This is what we call the NET that WORKS,” says Doug Stringer. “In times like these, we always look to Luke 21:13, which tells, ‘Let it be an occasion for your testimony.’“
Even as relief and recovery efforts begin, it is clear that this will be a long process for hundreds of thousands of people. Some immediate needs include:
• Tarps for damaged roofs
• Gift cards to help with fuel for generators and other essentials
• Water and other drinks
• Hygiene items
• Baby supplies (diapers, diaper rash cream, baby powder, wipes)
• Cleaning supplies
• Paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, paper plates, paper cups)
• Long term, there will be need for building supplies as well
We thank each of our partners and each person who has donated toward these efforts. Thank you for caring!