HURRICANE NEWS

Saturday 09/10/2011

• Food service continues in Jean LaFitte, as several teams are sent out to homes for debris removal and to help people clean up. Yesterday one team worked at a cemetery that had gotten damaged up by the flood waters.
• Some of the city residents came and set up a 56 “ TV screen in the Friend Ships dining area so our team could watch the Saints and Green Bay Packers game and some residents are helping us by bringing in big pots of gumbo!
• Our dining area has become a peaceful place for people to relax and talk, just as we wanted it to be. Our team is having an opportunity to talk to and pray with many people.

Pictures of working in Jean LaFitte, LA

Wednesay 09/07/2011

• Wednesday the team set up food service at City Hall in Jean LaFitte. We provided lunch to several hundred residents and sent teams out to help homeowners deal with the water damage they have suffered.
• The Mayor's office has been very gracious and provided us with a wonderful set up site and even a place to stay. The Sea Hawks were able to pack up their tents and port-o-potties and move into a nice facility with beds, restrooms and showers.
• We look forward to another full day tomorrow as the water recedes and more families are able to return to their homes.

Tuesday 09/05/2011

• The team is working in Jean LaFitte, Louisianna area and finding that our help is greatly needed. The work so far has been sandbagging and food services.
• The Mayor has asked us to stay and help with the food services and clean-up work the residents have as the water has started to recede. The water rose as high as seven feet in some places and caused a great deal of damage. Many of the home owners are uninsured and must deal with this situation on their own.
• At this time, because of the critical and immediate needs we see in Jean Lafitte and the vital part we feel we can play in helping and ministering to the people in this community, we have put plans on hold for North Carolina where needs are less immediate and other organizations are already working.

Sunday 09/04/2011

• Flooding brought by Tropical Storm Lee has drenched South Louisiana where our home base, Port Mercy is located. Our area was spared the brunt of the storm but several communities south of New Orleans are having very serious problems with up to 7 feet of water in some areas.
• Friend Ships is deploying tonight to the city of Jean LaFitte, where one team will start sand bagging early Monday morning and another will set up to begin providing food service by lunch. A third team will be operating our rescue boat to help people who are trapped in their homes. Check back here for updates. Click here to see a more extensive list of the supplies needed.

Thursday 09/01/2011

• The Friend Ships advance team has completed their initial assessment of the situation in North Carolina that was created by last weekend's Hurricane Irene. We have decided on a location to provide food service on Hatteras Island in the southern Outer Banks. Some areas there do not yet have power and the road that connects them to the mainland has been extensively damaged.
• A team of 40 Sea Hawks and their leaders will be departing soon from Port Mercy with our supplies and equipment that we will need to deliver to the site by boat. Because of the unique circumstances of this particular response, diesel fuel and gasoline will be our primary needs to operate equipment. We ask for your prayers for a fruitful mission and if you would like to contribute, fuel cards and/or finances would be a great help. Click here to see a more extensive list of the supplies needed.
• Please check back for updates as we hope to post daily video updates and interviews.
• Picture: Hurricane Irene cut several new channels in Hatteras Island, destroying the road that connected them to the mainland.

Monday 08/29/2011

• We are planning to respond to Hurricane Irene by providing food service where power is out and supplies hard to obtain. Our advance team is leaving today with the helicopter to check out possible locations that need our assistance in North Carolina. We are loading trucks and will send the follow up team later today or tomorrow. We'll have more details by late Tuesday.
  
  Thank you for your consideration and for following the leading of the Lord. We can do nothing on our own strength. We must rely on the Lord and pray that He might touch hearts to help.

CURRENT NEEDS:

<<<Click here to make an online donation, call our Port Mercy office, or mail a check/money order to our Port Mercy office.>>>


Friday 08/26/2011

• Friend Ships is standing by for hurricane relief. In the event that Hurricane Irene makes landfall on the US East Coast this weekend, we will keep you informed of what action we are taking. If the storm does cause massive damage as is anticipated and if the Lord touches your heart to help, we would be grateful for finances that will allow us to acquire the fuel and supplies we need to be ready to respond. If you feel led to ask your church to participate in taking up an offering for the hurricane victims, we would be very appreciative, grateful and thankful. We know times are tight, not only for us but for everyone.
  
  Thank you for your consideration and for following the leading of the Lord. We can do nothing on our own strength. We must rely on the Lord and pray that He might touch hearts to help.

Hurricane Disaster Response:

Friend Ships is collecting specific supplies for Hurricane Irene Relief efforts.  Find out our current needs and how you may help touch lives.  Currently we are accepting supplies like Non-Perishable Food, hygienic supplies (new), cleaning products and supplies etc.

You can make a financial donation to go towards disaster response to help those effected by the recent hurricanes and allow us to get supplies and equipment that will be needed.  Specify on your donation to go towards: Disaster Response or Hurricane Relief.

<<<Click here to make an online donation, call our Port Mercy office, or mail a check/money order to our Port Mercy office.>>>

DONATE FINANCES: Because our team is entirely unpaid (including everyone in the entire organization) and because we already have on hand a great deal of equipment, financial gifts go far to providing our needs for maintenance, equipment, fuel and supplies.  If you would like to support this outreach, make a financial gift and indicate that you would like your gift to be designated for “disaster relief” click here to make a contribution.  With funds formaintenance and fuel, we can be ready to roll when we are called into action.

PRAYER: Pray for our success, safety, needs met, lives touched and people encouraged! Signup to receive our Special Forces email letter for current prayer needs.