Category Archives: Disasters

Disasters, SKYWARN

Fort Wayne area power outage might extend to noon Wednesday, Nov. 20

I&M logo

Indiana Michigan Power reported on its website at 4:45 p.m. today that parts of Fort Wayne might not have power restored until noon Wednesday. The utility reported that it has identified a large number of broken poles and other damaged equipment, leading to estimated times of restoration later in the week for some areas. More than 150 poles need to replaced throughout I&M’s service area, including about six poles along Tillman Road and dozens more in the Yoder area.

I&M reported that a full contingent of more than 600 I&M employees, many working 16 hours per day, are working to restore power. An additional 600 people from external resources are working or will soon be working on the restoration as well.

In the Fort Wayne area, 5,300 customers (down from an initial post-storm 8,400) remained without power.

Disasters, SKYWARN

Help Indiana officials assess storm damage

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security as created an online form to collect data about damage throughout the state caused by Nov. 17 storms. If your property sustained damage, you can help the state compile valuable statistics by filling out the form. Note, however, that the form is not a way to request assistance. It’s for information gathering only. Find the form here.

Disasters

Associated Churches advises Christians on Philippines disaster

Associated Churches Active in Disaster logo

NOVEMBER 12, 2013 – FORT WAYNE – Associated Churches Active in Disaster (ACAD), a ministry of Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County, today issued a statement about the response to the Typhoon Haiyan.

“We advise local Christians to pray and to provide financial support to carefully chosen organizations,” said Roger Reece, executive pastor, Associated Churches. “Prayer for victims and responders is vitally important. We also recommend that believers donate money, but so many reputable organizations are responding that we are not in a position to endorse one over another.”

Read more…

Disasters

How to help Typhoon Haiyan victims

The devastation and loss of life in the Philippines from Typhoon Haiyan is shocking. An estimated 10,000 people are dead. That’s just  mind-boggling. If you’re like me, you feel called to do something. But what? Check out this clever video from the U.S. National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). I’ll have some more ideas underneath it.

So, you’ve taken the hint and decided to partner with your dollars to help typhoon victims. Where do you send the dollars?

My first recommendation is for members of churches and/or other religious institutions. Look to your own faith organization. For example, I’m a member of a congregation of the Presbyterian Church USA, which has a disaster response ministry called Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). My first step, therefore, is to visit the PDA website to see if it is responding to the Philippines disaster. If you’re a United Methodist, consider the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). If you’re Lutheran, see what Lutheran Disaster Response is up to. If you’re a Jew, there’s NECHAMA. If you are Muslim, check out Islamic Relief USA. Etc., etc., you get the idea. If you don’t know what organization is responding on behalf of your faith, consult your clergy.

If there’s no response organization associated with your faith, or if you are not a member of a faith, another option is to consult the Web page of NVOAD, which produced the video public service announcement above. Nearly every bona fide national organization in the United States that’s involved in disaster response (including the faith-based organizations mentioned above) are members of NVOAD. You can find the member list here. Plus, the NVOAD site has lots of helpful information about coordinated disaster response.

So, choose the organization that best aligns with your personal philosophies and deploy your dollars to do their work. Truly, it’s the best way we can help right now.

See also: Associated Churches advises Christians on Philippines disaster

Disasters

Meeting to help Fort Wayne-area Christians prepare for disasters

Associated Churches Active in Disaster (ACAD), a ministry of Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County, plans an informational meeting to help local congregations and their members learn ways they can prepare for and participate in disaster response:

Wednesday, Sep. 25, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
300 West Wayne Street
Fort Wayne

ACAD logo

At the meeting, people can learn about ACAD and its plans to provide ways for congregations and individuals to engage in first-hand assistance to the victims of future disasters that are within reasonable travel distance of Fort Wayne. Past events that are good examples of the kinds of situations in which ACAD could be involved include:

  • The 2013 flash flood in eastern Fort Wayne.
  • The 2013 tornado in Moore, Okla.
  • The 2012 derecho thunderstorm in Fort Wayne.
  • The 2012 tornado in Henryville, Ind.
  • The 2011 tornado in Joplin, Mo.

“Christians are usually among the first to arrive at a disaster scene and the last to leave,” said Roger Reece, Executive Pastor of Associated Churches. Disaster response is a special form of Christian ministry that serves people who find themselves in great need, suddenly. Some congregations already have disaster ministry teams, with which ACAD hopes to partner. Other congregations might be too small to field teams of their own. For their members, ACAD plans to create its own, multi-congregation teams.

ACAD hopes representatives of many congregations, including those that already have disaster ministries, will attend the Sep. 25 meeting. The ministry is lead by Associated Churches staff members, representatives of local government, including the Allen County Department of Homeland Security and members of member congregations who have experience and/or interest in disaster response.

For more information, see a news release issued by Associated Churches.

Disasters

Associated Churches Active in Disaster Prepares for National Responses

Associated Churches Active in Disaster logo

A Fort Wayne-based Christian disaster ministry will be able to send volunteers to out-of-town disasters, thanks to a new relationship with a national Christian organization. Associated Churches Active in Disaster (ACAD) — the disaster ministry of Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County — announced that it will coordinate such responses with Operation Blessing International, a non-profit humanitarian organization based in Virginia.

“Christians are usually among the first to arrive at a disaster scene and the last to leave,” said Roger Reece, Executive Pastor of Associated Churches. “But well-meaning believers can actually hinder aid by arriving on their own, without coordination. Our relationship with Operation Blessing provides a way for local Christians to pitch in without unintentionally causing problems.”

Read more…

Disasters

Chemical fire in Columbia City causes injuries, triggers evacuations

Hazmat graphic

A chemical fire in Columbia City has reportedly injured some people, forced others to evacuate and led officials to ask some Columbia City residents to turn off their air conditioners. Read more in this report from WANE-TV.

In addition, help from the Fort Wayne Fire Department is on its way to Columbia City as of the time of this post.