As the loss of life appears to be increasing into the thousands, Churches and their affiliated relief groups are mounting efforts to help ease the grief, suffering, and frustration of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In New Orleans alone, the death toll was surely hundreds and most likely thousands, news agencies quoted Mayor Ray Nagin as saying. City officials have called for a full evacuation because the municipality won't function completely for weeks over even months.
Meanwhile, frustration among poor flood victims who couldn't escape the city in time has grown as some aid is slow in making its way to the hardest hit areas because of impassable roads. Fresh drinking water and food are the most urgent needs.
"The people who have resources can get out of harm's way," said Robert Radke, president of Episcopal Relief Development according to the Episcopal News Service. Many residents began to evacuate potential trouble spots days before the hurricane arrived. Others without the means had to stay behind.
Bishop Charles Jenkins of Louisiana, who is temporarily at offices in Baton Rouge told the ENS about losses and looting.
"We've lost at least 18 churches. The diocesan offices didn't flood until today, but I understand they had already been looted. New Orleans is a city with many poor people, and there's a lot of civic unrest."
"But we've had calls from dioceses all over the country offering help, and ERD has been a tremendous aid to us," he added. "This is the church at its best – pulling together and helping each other through hard times."
Episcopal leader Frank T. Griswold called on members of his church to unite and work together by donating to relief efforts of the ERD, which is working in various dioceses in the Central Gulf coast, Mississippi and Louisiana.
"At this time let us be exceedingly mindful that bearing one another's burdens and sharing one another's suffering is integral to being members of Christ's body," he said according to ENS.
For Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief teams arriving in Pascagoula, Miss., on Tuesday, about 30 miles east of hard hit Gulfport, Miss. it had been a struggle against misfortunes which included arriving late to First Baptist Church there.
When teams were not able to immediately provide food and water, residents in need became impatient, storming the church where the teams were stationed. Local church members had to request security from the National Guard, according to the Baptist Press.
