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UCC response to Hurricane Harvey

September 03, 2017
Written by Zach Wolgemuth, UCC's head of Disaster Ministries

Harvey made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday, August 25 as a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mile per hour winds. The storm caused widespread flooding and significant damage across southern Texas and Louisiana as the slow moving storm dropped several feet of water throughout the region. UCC Disaster Ministries continues to monitor the situation and to coordinate with other faith partners and voluntary, federal and state agencies for long-term recovery.  The South Central Conference Minister and Conference Disaster Coordinator continue to be in contact with local churches and their communities.

By the Numbers:

Category 4 hurricane at landfall (first since 2004)
130 mph winds
8 million people within area of impact
786,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders
Nearly 200,000 without power
More than 50 inches of rain in some areas and it's still raining
39,000 currently in shelters as evacuations, search and rescue continue
500,000 homes estimated to be affected
488,000 FEMA registrations so far; expecting over 1 million
Media reporting up to 30 storm-related fatalities
73 oil/HAZMAT incidents reported
The UCC is part of response networks you see on the news and those you don’t see. UCC Disaster Ministries is already gearing up for our long-term recovery work in the region and your contributions for Harvey survivors means providing community support for holistic recovery, repairing house and home for families and children and restoring dignity for the most vulnerable who have lost everything in the wake of this catastrophic event.

Ways to Help:  Give, Volunteer, Assemble Disaster Buckets