Episcopal Relief & Development is continuing to support dioceses and churches as they mobilize to respond to needs of communities impacted by Hurricane Michael.

Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane, the most powerful storm on record to hit the Florida Panhandle, causing widespread destruction and power outages. More than 350,000 are without power as the storm continues to move through Georgia and into the Carolinas. By Thursday morning, the storm had been downgraded to a tropical storm with sustained winds of 50 mph. Tornadoes, dangerous winds and more flooding are possible in many of the same areas of the Carolinas still recovering from Hurricane Florence.

Episcopal Relief & Development’s US Disaster team is holding daily coordination calls with dioceses across the southeast affected by Michael to support their response. Diocesan staff are conducting assessments of the damage caused by the storm. Partners are reaching out to local clergy to see if people in their communities are safe and to determine their needs. The ground was still flood-soaked in some areas due to the lasting impact of Hurricane Florence, intensifying the effects of Michael’s winds.  Some schools had just reopened or were still closed after Florence and will now remain closed for the time being.

“Our partners are just beginning to assess the impact of Hurricane Michael,” said Katie Mears, Senior Director of Episcopal Relief & Development’s US Disaster Program. “We will continue to support church partners to serve and care for affected communities in the weeks and months ahead.”

Please continue to pray for those impacted by Hurricane Michael. Donations to the Hurricane Relief Fund will help Episcopal Relief & Development respond to this crisis. Church bulletin inserts can be found here.