ERD's Response to the floods...

Episcopal Relief & Development is providing emergency assistance to communities devastated by ongoing flooding in Iowa. So far the flood waters are responsible for the deaths of five people, the displacement of 38,000 others and have inflicted up to $1 billion in damage to Iowa’s agricultural sector.

The damage to infrastructure is severe. Across eastern Iowa, the flooding rivers have washed out railroad lines, halted barge traffic on the Mississippi River and closed major roadways. Twenty-four counties have been declared disaster areas to date. The crisis is far from over. More rain is expected in the region and officials fear that flood waters will breech 27 levees along the Mississippi River in Iowa and Missouri later this week.

Working with its partner the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, Episcopal Relief & Development is providing emergency assistance to people who have been displaced from their homes. Families will be given temporary shelter and provided with food, clothing, first aid and other basic necessities. “The Diocese of Iowa’s extraordinary people have been bringing support to those impacted by recent tornadoes, immigration raids and now these terrible floods,” says Abagail Nelson, Senior Vice President for Programs at Episcopal Relief & Development. “We will continue to support them as they bring critical aid to the people impacted in their communities.”

To help people affected by flooding in Iowa, please make a donation to Episcopal Relief & Development’s “Disaster Response Fund - Midwest” online at www.er-d.org , or call 1.800.334.7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief & Development “Disaster Response Fund – Midwest” P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. As an independent 501(c) (3) organization, Episcopal Relief & Development takes its mandate from Jesus’ words found in Matthew 25. Its programs work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Together with the worldwide Church and ecumenical partners, Episcopal Relief & Development strengthens communities today to meet tomorrow’s challenges. We rebuild after disasters and empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.