Simultaneous Disasters
While the international compassion organization Convoy of Hope is busy shipping relief supplies to earthquake-stricken Peru today, staff is closely monitoring Dean as it leaves a trail of destruction throughout the Caribbean.
Convoy of Hope staff is currently staging relief supplies bound for earthquake-stricken Peru, including water, winter clothes, tents, tarps and nonperishable food. Through an ongoing partnership with FedEx, Convoy of Hope will be shipping relief supplies to victims of the 8.0 magnitude earthquake that crippled that nation last week. FedEx will transport the supplies to Miami, where the Peruvian Air Force will then airlift them to the country’s most severely affected areas.
A COH response team is leaving for Peru Tuesday morning, and will help meet immediate needs and provide further assessment. Transportation there has improved and allowing the team to purchase water and other supplies in-country and transport it to the most severely hit areas. “We will be working in Ica, Pisco and Chincha, the two major cities affected by the earthquake, and branching out from there,” said International Director Kenton Moody.
Convoy of Hope staff is also considering its response to Jamaica, Belize, and Mexico though communication is being hindered by the effects of Dean. Hurricane Dean is being closely monitored as it makes its way across the Gulf of Mexico. Dean is threatening to increase in strength to a Category 5 by the time it hits the Yucatan; for comparison, Katrina was a Category 3 Hurricane that carried the power of a 4 or 5.
The U.S. Disaster Response Team is also assessing a response to weekend flooding in Missouri and Oklahoma.
Convoy of Hope needs your help now more than ever. Please help us respond to victims of these tragic situations and make a tax-deductible donation today!
Springfield-area residents are invited to help assemble Personal Hygiene Kits, which will then be made available to disaster victims. Those interested in volunteering should call 417/823-8998 for more information.