On August 29, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Port Fouchon, La., as a category 4 hurricane, according to The Weather Channel. Ida weakened to a tropical storm and then a tropical depression as it moved northeast, causing severe flooding and tornados across New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Read more about the effects of this storm from The Weather Channel here.
Encompass World Partners Crisis Response released this statement on Hurricane Ida:
Hurricane Ida: We have mobilized teams with dozens of churches to help with natural disasters and crises. Right now, we have several churches ready to send out teams to deal with the destruction caused by Hurricane Ida. Pray for those impacted. And keep an eye on our website for ways your church can help us send these teams.
The Charis Fellowship has three districts in that region — Chesapeake, Mid-Atlantic, and Northern Atlantic — encompassing churches in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Many communities in these areas were impacted as the aftereffects of Ida hit them on September 1 and 2.
Gateway Church, a Charis Fellowship congregation in Parkesburg, Pa. (E. Scott Feather, lead pastor), shared this photo on September 2 of the neighboring town of Coatesville. They have begun working with local authorities and organizations to provide necessities and assist in cleanup efforts.
Encompass and GraceConnect are working to connect with churches in the affected areas for practical ways the Fellowship can serve those communities. Continue to pray for those impacted as well as those responding. More details will be posted as they become available.