Katrina Devastation

The past few days my family has received calls from concerned friends and family concerning the horrendous damage done by Hurricane Katrina. Thankfully, we are in the northwest part of the state and did not receive any severe weather from Katrina.

However, the people in southern Louisiana and Mississippi, in particular, are suffering greatly. Pray for the people in the New Orleans and Biloxi areas.

Our city is doing what it can to help in this situation. We are continuing to experience an influx of evacuees from southern Louisiana. Shelters continue to fill up with thousands of people who have been displaced and who have lost so much from Katrina. It is true that New Orleans was spared the full force of Katrina's wrath, however, the aftermath has sunk the city. For those of you unfamiliar with New Orleans, the city is below sea-level. It is bordered on one side by the Mississippi River and on the other side by Lake Pontchatrain. The levee holding back Lake Pontchartrain broke yesterday, sending more rushing water into the city. It is no exaggeration to say that New Orleans is underwater.

The church where I attend is actively involved with relief efforts. We are on the phone with the Red Cross several times each day. We have already taken a load of supplies to one of the shelters. We have contacted a major relief organization that has trucks loaded to head down to New Orleans and Biloxi. We are also set up as a second-tier shelter and prepared to house evacuees.

The people from the hardest hit areas are looking at months before being able to return to their homes. The schools here are admitting children affected by the disaster, and numerous businesses, from restaurants to children's amusements, are donating their services.

There are two things that those of you outside Louisiana can do. 1) Pray ... and pray hard. 2) Donate money. One good agency is Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort. The website is www.disasterreliefeffort.org This organization will begin taking supplies into the hardest hit areas when it is given the green light to do so.

What has happened to the Gulf Coast along Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama is catastrophic. Our response as Christians will forever impact this part of the country -- for better or for worse.