We have this information available from United Church of Christ leaders preparing for Hurricane Ike:
The UCC South Central Conference (SCC) is prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Ike. Douglas Anders, Conference Minister, in the weekly local church e-newsletter has provided web links and phone numbers for pastors and members who may need immediate relief following the hurricane. Additionally, several conference members have agreed to be points of contact for pastors in the path of Hurricane Ike.
UCC members in Texas and other locations that will feel the effects of this hurricane are encouraged to follow the advice of county emergency management officers – if advised to evacuate, leave the area. The SCC e-newsletter included a link to evacuation routes.
National Disaster Ministries staff in Cleveland have been in contact with the Conference Minister and contact persons in the conference and are ready to respond as appropriate.
Please keep all people on the Gulf Coast who are being impacted by hurricanes this season in your prayers. To assist with UCC recovery efforts, please give generously to the OGHS, 2008 Hurricane Recovery Appeal.
Click here to donate.
Disaster News Network reports that Ike will bring catastrophic damage to the Gulf Coast:
Hurricane Ike is expected to be a major hurricane more than 600-miles wide when it hits the Texas Gulf Coast Friday night or Saturday morning. A storm surge of 20 to 25-feet and 50-foot waves are predicted.
Those residents who have decided to shelter in place near where the storm comes ashore face “almost certain death” if their community is not protected by a seawall, a National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist has warned.
A storm surge of 25-feet or higher may occur at the heads of bays along the coast, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center has warned. Rainfall amounts of five to 10 inches, with some areas receiving as much as 15-inches is possible.
"You can imagine what a 20-foot wall of water can do to a community,” Patrick Blood, a NWS meteorologist said Thursday. Waves along the coast could be as high as 50-feet, forecasters have warned.
Coastal flooding was being reported in Alabama and Mississippi Thursday, far in advance of the storm. Early Friday morning, Ike had hurricane force winds extending 120-miles from the center and tropical force winds extending 275-miles wide.
In anticipation of the storm, Texas has issued mandatory evacuation notices for nearly 1 million residents, but it is unclear how many have actually left. Highways away from the coast, while busy Thursday, were moving.
Church World Service has issued an emergency appeal for donations to support nations in the Caribbean already impacted by Ike and other storms this season.
Please remember to keep all those impacted by Ike in your prayers.
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