Overall picture of Gulf Coast disaster
I was searching the internet to see if anyone has been able to put together the magnitude of the damage from Hurricane Katrina in the gulf coast region. I have the latest statistics that are available and it is shocking. Consider the numbers and what they mean.
900,000 people displaced
285,000 homes destroyed
20,700 businesses destroyed
1,100 schools destroyed
12 hospitals destroyed
286,000 people lost their jobs
almost 1,400 people lost their lives
3,200 people are still considered missing
I want to focus on the families. Can you comprehend what the implications of this is? Many people lost everything, homes, jobs, and families are seperated. Children are trying to adapt to new surroundings, have to go to new schools, make new friends, try to understand how they have lost all they had.
I am frequently asked how many homes have been rebuilt? My best guess would be less than 1%. Lets speculate and be optimistic and say that 10% are rebuilt which is unlikely. If 10% were rebuilt and lived in, that would mean that there are still 256,500 homes that need assistance. The numbers are staggering.
Yesterday I talked with a pastor who asked me the following question: "Why are there so many people waiting for help to arrive? Why are they not doing something themselves?" The pastors question was not a negative question, he was seeking some understanding as to the mindset of the people.
Here is my response: "Many people are in a state of shock to some extent. For those who still remain in the area they are surrounded by destruction. Every street is lined with garbage and debris. People are overwhelmed by the situation/destruction all around them. There is another issue for the people. If they see their homes in the condition they are in and begin to strip there home down to the studs, how will they rebuild? Many do not have jobs anymore. Many have not received money from insurance companies. The only hope they have is for people coming to help them and for people to get involved in rebuilding their lives."
Hurricane Katrina has been and still is a problem for so many. The end to their tragedy is no where in sight. The reality remains , the quickest resolution to the situation is for more people to get involved by going.
900,000 people displaced
285,000 homes destroyed
20,700 businesses destroyed
1,100 schools destroyed
12 hospitals destroyed
286,000 people lost their jobs
almost 1,400 people lost their lives
3,200 people are still considered missing
I want to focus on the families. Can you comprehend what the implications of this is? Many people lost everything, homes, jobs, and families are seperated. Children are trying to adapt to new surroundings, have to go to new schools, make new friends, try to understand how they have lost all they had.
I am frequently asked how many homes have been rebuilt? My best guess would be less than 1%. Lets speculate and be optimistic and say that 10% are rebuilt which is unlikely. If 10% were rebuilt and lived in, that would mean that there are still 256,500 homes that need assistance. The numbers are staggering.
Yesterday I talked with a pastor who asked me the following question: "Why are there so many people waiting for help to arrive? Why are they not doing something themselves?" The pastors question was not a negative question, he was seeking some understanding as to the mindset of the people.
Here is my response: "Many people are in a state of shock to some extent. For those who still remain in the area they are surrounded by destruction. Every street is lined with garbage and debris. People are overwhelmed by the situation/destruction all around them. There is another issue for the people. If they see their homes in the condition they are in and begin to strip there home down to the studs, how will they rebuild? Many do not have jobs anymore. Many have not received money from insurance companies. The only hope they have is for people coming to help them and for people to get involved in rebuilding their lives."
Hurricane Katrina has been and still is a problem for so many. The end to their tragedy is no where in sight. The reality remains , the quickest resolution to the situation is for more people to get involved by going.
posted by s.d.w. at 8:11 AM
3 Comments:
I'm coming to Mississippi!!!! My church is bringing a group from March 20-25 and we'll be working with a pastor that we know there. Woohoo!! Maybe I could see you? I will be in touch.
It's tragic. Truly. And what's unbelievable is the reality for so many: out of site, out of mind ... praying for you. Thanks for your prayers.
i can't wait to expose our kids and adults to the reality down there... i am really looking forward to seeing how God works this trip out for us as a group scott... for individuals as well... i kind of can't wait to see where my money is coming from too... He is able... i believe it even when i don't see it... yikes...
by the way... i feel like we have some skilled hands in our group and some hard working kids that if we had the resources and supplies we could get a real good start on the pastor's church in biloxi... pray about it and i may speak to some of our men to see what kind of experience we have in this regard...
bless you scott... look forward to seeing you again...
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