Subject: Hurricane Katrina Update
Date: Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:59:10 -0500
From: Ken Treybig

Dear brethren,

Information continues to trickle in about members who evacuated and about the property of some who have been able to head back to less "hard hit" areas to
check on things. Our elder in Houma, Mr. Maurice Ledet, is back home now and all the brethren there have been accounted for and miraculously most have little if
any damage to their homes. I also found out today that the Burnetts home apparently sustained no damage at all. A neighbor said water came within "an inch" of
their patio, but apparently did not get into the house. So once basic services are restored (power, water, sewer) they can return home. The deacon and deaconess
that stayed in Covington were able to make it over to Slidell and found the older couple who stayed safe, but with some damage to their home. Other friends have
told me of other church of God group members and so far I have not heard of anyone who sustained personal injury in the storm--and very few with property
damage. That's an incredible miracle in itself, so thank you very much for your prayers!

A lot happened today. I sent in a list of items that friends in the community emailed me about services available to those displaced by Katrina.

I will include both of those messages here for your information, as well as an email message from Andy Burnett that was sent from the Home Office. Those of you
on the weekly announcement list will receive them again from the Trotters, but I wanted to get the information out to those on my "congregational lists" as soon as
possible.

That's all for this update. This will probably be my last message on this subject this week as I'll plan to see you this Sabbath and can give you any further updates at
that time.

Here are the messages I mentioned...

--KT

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Good Works Program "Katrina Disaster Relief Project" Established

CINCINNATI, Ohio-The United Church of God is announcing a new Good Works Program project-the "Katrina Disaster Relief Project"-to help with the many needs of members of the United Church of God who were impacted by Hurricane Katrina. We encourage as many congregations and members as are able to involve themselves in fund-raising projects, some or all of the proceeds of which they can dedicate to this disaster relief project.

Though we usually ask that special fund-raising projects be the means of funding the Good Works Program, and not direct cash donations, we believe that the magnitude and scope of the damage and dislocation caused by this hurricane is so great that we are opening up this project also to direct cash donations. Though at this time we do not know all the needs of affected brethren, we anticipate that the funds will be used to assist members in ways including, but not limited to, the following:

In order to help with the administration of this project, we ask that any individuals or congregations who contribute to this special relief project include a note with their contribution stating the following:

This contribution is for use by the Good Works Program in funding the "Katrina Disaster Relief Project." In the event that at some point the total contributions to this project exceed the total that can appropriately be disbursed in helping to alleviate these needs, the director of the Good Works Program is authorized to use any of the excess, including this donation, to help fund other Good Works Program projects that are then active.

Thank you in advance for all who are able to assist our displaced and suffering brethren in this time of real need.

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Email message from Andy Burnett:

From: Andrew Burnett
Pastor: Covington & New Orleans, Louisiana; and Laurel, Mississippi

Dear Mr. Pinelli and the ministry,

On behalf of the New Orleans and Covington, Louisiana, and Laurel, Mississippi, congregations, I'd like to thank you for the flood of e-mails we have received from the ministry and membership offering to help in any way they can-be it housing, food, money or temporary jobs for displaced brethren. We've been inspired by everyone's eagerness to come to the aid of God's people.

On Saturday evening our family left our home in Slidell, Louisiana, and evacuated to Little Rock, Arkansas, where my wife Lisa's sister and her family reside. On Sunday, prior to Katrina making landfall, we began calling brethren in the New Orleans congregation as well as those in the Gulfport-Biloxi area who attend our Covington congregation. Thankfully, we only connected with answering machines which leads us to believe that most if not all of the brethren in New Orleans made it out.

Unfortunately, since power and phone lines are not operational, we're only now receiving bits of information from those who left. They've evacuated to places all over the southeast (Houston, Jackson, Atlanta, Birmingham) and some even to Cincinnati. One of our families in Houma, Louisiana, evacuated to a shelter in Houma, since one of them was not healthy enough to travel. We haven't heard from them, but we've since heard reports that some of the towns southwest of New Orleans have had power restored.

One of our members was called into work at one of New Orleans' hospitals and remained there through the hurricane. We're hopeful that she was able to evacuate.

Several of the brethren on the north shore (Slidell, Mandeville, Covington) decided to stay and ride it out. We've heard from nearly all of them that they're okay, even though many of their homes received damage. There are three members who live in the countryside just north of where Katrina made landfall in Mississippi that we have been unable to contact.

To date, we still haven't heard from about 65 of our members. Thankfully, we haven't heard of any injuries either. The damage in rural Mississippi and southeast Louisiana is extensive. Our members who are as much as 110 miles inland still are without power, and they've been told not to anticipate power returning for at least three weeks.

Please discourage brethren from attempting to come down to assist our brethren at this point. There is no power, no water, in most places no phone service, and just as importantly, no fuel. If brethren came down, there is a good chance they couldn't purchase fuel to get back out. We have been told by authorities not to return to our home in Slidell until it becomes safer.

At this point, our first objective is simply to locate all of our brethren to make sure everyone is okay. Mr. Ken Giese, from Houston, has been appointed by Mr. Kilough to act as "point man" to coordinate temporary housing for displaced brethren, and coordinate financial assistance and donations offered by the Church. So, presently at least, until we're in a position to get back to Slidell to assess our own housing situation we appreciate people contacting Mr. Giese if they're in a position to offer assistance in some manner.

Thank you for your continued prayers. We'll update you as we gain more information.

Best regards,
Andy & Lisa Burnett

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Letter from the President
September 1, 2005

Dear Fellow Elders and Members,

I know you and all the members around the world have been deeply concerned about the unfortunate people who were in the path of Hurricane Katrina. The
images and news reports are continually conveying an unimaginable scene of devastation and human suffering, and the news seems to worsen every day.

Information has slowly been trickling in from several elders along the Gulf Coast, and we are relieved that at this point we have heard no reports of harm
coming to any of our own Church members. However, due to the state of poor communications, not all of the affected members have been contacted, so we
cannot make any kind of summary statement. Nor do we have more than sketchy reports about what kind of property damage they may have sustained.

Naturally, many members are inquiring as to what they can do to help. In the coming days a clearer picture will emerge concerning the specific needs of our
brethren, and we are committed to help them as soon and effectively as we can. I’m sure we have Paul’s words in the forefront of our minds at this time:
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

Our advice at this time from the home office is that members who want to “do good to all” should contribute to the organizations that are best equipped and
experienced to provide the food, clothing, shelter and medical attention needed. We recommend reputable groups the government is endorsing, such as the
Red Cross.

For those who want to reach out particularly to “the household of faith,” you can send a check to the home office, payable to the United Church of God,
noting in the memo section that it is for the “Assistance Fund.” We will likely be helping a number of our brethren in these affected areas using our “Assistance
Fund”—beyond what was anticipated in the budget. We will draw on these funds in consultation with the local ministers to make sure we can effectively help
members in their need.

Thank you for your prayers, empathy and generosity. As more information comes in, we will certainly share it with you.

On behalf of the home office staff,
Clyde Kilough