News at ABWE
Katrina Relief Update on Project Help the Shepherds
ABWE surveys possible house-building projects
March 8, 2006
Bill Hanson traveled to the Gulf Coast to evaluate the possibility of rebuilding the homes of a few needy families. He met with two victims of Katrina who were recommended by their pastors. Both are potential participants for ABWE rebuilding projects.
An elderly couple from Slidell, Louisianna, is one of the potential participants. The wife is a long-time, active member of Faith Bible Church pastored by Keith Boyer. Their home of 57 years was located four miles from a lake and never had any water problems before Katrina, when the storm surge pushed seven feet of water into their single-story home. The structure of the house remained upright, but the contents were destroyed. After four months of waiting, FEMA provided a trailer for them on their property. Two days after installation, the house caught fire and both the house and trailer were destroyed. It appeared that the fire was caused by a power line improperly installed by the power company. FEMA gave them another trailer and installed it about thirty feet away from their flooded and now burned home.
The couple has no flood or homeowner’s insurance. They have had no income since Katrina and have been living off of their personal savings, which is now almost depleted. Selling scrap automobiles located on their property will help finance their portion of the proposed rebuilding project.
Another possible participant is a middle-aged woman who is an active member of Berean Bible Church and the mother of the church’s youth pastor, Doug Daspit. Her home of 30 years was paid off last year, not long before the storm surge pushed water over the banks of an industrial canal and into the home. Four feet of water was trapped in the house and remained there for three weeks. The owner escaped from New Orleans, and upon her return six weeks later, she found mold growing six feet up the walls and all of her furniture destroyed. FEMA provided her with a trailer, but she has been waiting 14 weeks for its installation. Meanwhile, she is living with family members. Though her home never flooded before, she has minimal flood and homeowner’s insurance, which will pay her about $40K from the policies.
The churches of these homeowners, Faith Bible Church and Berean Bible Church, have been working to repair their church buildings. Without help, they cannot meet the needs of their church members who were victims of the storm. Both churches are willing to host and coordinate work teams.
If rebuilding plans are approved, the participants will be responsible to obtain all permits, prepare the site, and complete all interior finishing including electric, plumbing, HVAC, and insulation. ABWE and its volunteers will construct the panelized portion of the structure, install all windows, doors, roof covering, and exterior siding.
The ABWE survey team made no commitments to these Katrina victims. They will discuss their findings with the ABWE Katrina Committee and make a decision after costs and funds available are determined.
If you would like to help financially or could send a work team, please contact Project Manager, Bill Hanson at billh@abwe.org, or call his cell at (810) 813-5828.
Needed:
funds are needed for the missionary budgets of various churches. These churches have lost many members due to relocation; other members have lost jobs and are presently unable to give.
Also needed:
charcoal masks at $40 each, for mold abatement. (May be purchased at home supply stores such as Lowes. Refill canisters are also available, for $15 each.) Send to Associate Pastor John Kinchen, 3232 Kentucky Avenue, Kenner, LA 70065-4635.