Disaster Relief: Hurricane Fiona: Puerto Rico & Atlantic Canda

DISASTER RELIEF:

Hurricane Fiona: Puerto Rico & Atlantic Canda

Here’s what’s happening: Hurricane Fiona Aftermath in Puerto Rico

Even as other parts of North America deal with the effects of Hurricane Ian, in the wake of Hurricane Fiona, communities in Puerto Rico slowly emerging from being underwater, with bridges and roads destroyed, and many residents' homes left unlivable. A tough road lies ahead as residents attempt to recover.

Playa Salinas is flooded after the passing of Hurricane Fiona in Salinas, Puerto Rico, on Monday.

It will be some time before experts get a full handle on the scale of the damage caused

by Fiona. At one point last week, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority reported more than 760,000 customers had no water service or were dealing with significant interruptions.

Here’s what’s happening: Hurricane Fiona Aftermath in Atlantic Canada

The same storm meant that hundreds of thousands of Canadians were without power last week after Fiona slammed into the country’s Atlantic provinces, causing what officials called a shocking and devastating amount of damage.

A worker begins the process of cleaning up after post-tropical storm Fiona, in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. BRIAN MCINNIS / THE CANADIAN PRESS At least three Canadians are dead and thousands of people remain without power as Ottawa and Atlantic Canadian governments continue their disaster relief and recovery efforts in the regions pummelled by posttropical storm Fiona over the weekend.

Here’s what NABF is doing.

NABF Disaster Relief Coordinator

James Barbour has connected with NABF leaders in Atlantic Canada as well as churches who are actively helping with cleanup and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.

In Puerto Rico

Rvd. Marta González, who is District Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in Puerto Rico West has 27 congregations where most of the damage has occurred.

Currently, we have established centres to collect supplies in 3 churches that are doing well, and tomorrow we have a drive to Cabo Rojo to deliver much-needed drinking water, food, bed linens, towels, cleaning supplies and hot food to the communities there. Pastors and leaders have come together to make this possible.

Our church Nueva Vida in Parcelas El Tuque in the southern town of Ponce was one of the most affected. The water came inside the church and damaged all the equipment. Also, it caused flooding in the communities nearby, and many people ended up in shelters in the area of Ponce.

Another church that didn’t suffer much damage but is doing the most to help others

is Semillas de Amor in sector Corcovado in the town of Hatillo in the north of the island. Pastor Rvd. Freddy Galan is actually Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Coordinator for the District. Pastor Freddy is the contact person for emergency and disaster relief throughout our district. He works as part of my leadership team, coordinating and distributing aid where it is needed, be it within the churches or in the surrounding communities.

Rev González offered to serve as a contact in the event that people would like to offer their help.

In Atlantic Canada

We were grateful to receive this summary of how the storm has affected the east coast of Canada from Dr. Greg Jones, Associate Executive Minister of Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada.

Atlantic Canada consists of the four eastern-most provinces of Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. When you look on a map of North America, these four provinces (with a combined population of app. 2.4 million) are located to the east of Maine sticking out into the north Atlantic.

All of these provinces are still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Fiona – one of the worst post-tropical storms to ever impact the region – as its eye traversed north to south intersecting and devastating large swaths of land and coastline.

While thankfully loss of life has reportedly been minimal compared to the storm’s severity, hundreds if not thousands of homes have either been washed into the sea or flooded; countless others have sustained substantial wind-damage by being blown off their foundation or having their roofs, siding, or decks torn off; thousands upon thousands of trees have been toppled; miles of roads have been made impassable or have disappeared altogether, and a large number of residents are still waiting nearly a week later for their power to be restored.

The Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (CBAC), a part of the Canadian Baptist family as well as the North American Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance, are a network of approximately 400 churches – many small and rural – with a large number of them scattered through many of the regions so adversely affected by Fiona’s scourge. These churches are needing to repair their own facilities while also offering support and care to individuals and families throughout their neighbourhoods and beyond. Prayer and financial support to the CBAC for distribution to local churches in assisting them in these endeavours would be much appreciated.

Here’s what YOU can do.

Please pray:

• pray for US and Canadian Citizens affected by this hurricane • pray for the many victims that have lost homes • pray for the first responders and National Guard

• pray for the willing hearts and hands that are coming to give relief in this disaster

Practical and Financial Assistance:

To contribute financially to the recovery efforts of churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada, visit their donate page (select ‘Other’ and enter ‘Fiona Recovery’).

To contribute to the relief and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, donate online via Global Giving, or you can mail cheques directly to the Church of the Nazarene at the address below:

GENERAL BOARD OF THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE CARE OF THE TREASURER-MR. JAVIER GARCIA PO Box 9241 ARECIBO, PR 00613 We are grateful for your partnership and solidarity in this important disaster relief work. To donate to the work of the NABF in coordinating and supporting these important disaster relief efforts across our continent, use the link below to donate by credit card or Zelle.

Donate to NABF Disaster Relief Coordination

Thank you, and may God bless you,

James R. Barbour Disaster Relief Coordinator North American Baptist Fellowship

Toll Free: 1-888-615-6223

Reprinted with permission from North American Baptist Fellowship.