Hurricane Gustav downed large pine trees onto H.L. Bourgeois High School in Houma. Photo: Jacinta Quesada, FEMA Churches 9/5/2008
PDA has had several inquiries on the status of Presbyterian churches since Hurricane Gustav made landfall on Labor Day. The Presbyterian News Service has published an article that describes the known damage to churches in Mississippi and Louisiana (updated 9/5/08).
Villages 9/11/2008
PDA has also received inquiries on the status of the Presbyterian Volunteer Villages (PVVs). The status is as follows
- Orange Grove – Gulfport, Mississippi
Orange Grove is ready to receive volunteers when it opens after summer break.
- Pearlington – Pearlington, Mississippi
Pearlington will be ready to receive volunteers when it opens after summer break. Diamondhead Presbyterian Church, which did not sustain damage and which is hosting volunteers, sent teams to help with clean-up efforts in the Pearlington PVV.
- Olive Tree – New Orleans, Louisiana
Olive Tree will be ready to receive volunteers when it opens after summer break. This village was unharmed by the storm.
- Luling (Fish Camp) – Luling, Louisiana (east of New Orleans)
Luling sustained minimal damage and will be ready to receive volunteers when it opens after summer break. Volunteers who were scheduled to serve at the Houma village will be housed at the Luling location until Houma is up and running.
- Houma (Good Earth) – Houma, Louisiana
The permanent structure at the Houma village is still intact. The volunteer shelters (PODs) were blown off their platforms and destroyed. Volunteers who were scheduled to serve at the Houma village will be housed at the Luling location until Houma is restored.
Volunteers
Volunteer teams interested in serving in the Gulf Coast, whether in the continuing response to 2005 hurricanes or in response to this year's storms, are encouraged to contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121 to register, or you may register online.
Please pray for those who have been forced to evacuate, those who are anxious to return to their homes, the leaders and those responding to this crisis. |
