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Disaster Response Committee Report September 26, 2005
Dear fellow Chaplains: One of the untold stories of the Katrina/Rita saga is how many of our ICPC Chaplains throughout the Gulf Coast area continue to respond to needs in their own communities by providing spiritual care to the thousands of displaced evacuees in shelters, churches, hotels, and private homes. These citizens who have had their lives torn apart by these events continue to benefit from this seemingly endless reservoir of human compassion and generosity. We need to keep all the caregivers as well as the causalities in our prayers. In other venues the needs are more specific and specialized. Members of the law enforcement community have been just as hard hit, personally and as organizations. But they continue to serve and protect, leaving little time for comfort or rest. It is into this specialized ministry of service to the law enforcement community that the disaster response resources are now being sent. In Baton Rouge we are continuing the work based at the Louisiana State Police Training Facility, in conjunction with the Louisiana State Police. At this facility, which is being used as an assignment clearinghouse for visiting state police officers from all over the country, as well as a coordinating point for Louisiana State Police officers, we are providing spiritual care on an on-going basis. In New Orleans additional teams have been deployed to support the New Orleans Police Department, by providing a “ministry of presence and prayer” as they renew their recovery efforts. We are also continuing to work with multiple local Police Departments in both the Gulf Port and the Port Arthur, Lake Charles areas. These deployments over the past weeks have taken a heavy toll on our disaster personnel resources, and although many have offered to return again, they need time to recuperate and recover their energies before going back. Also, we are seeing the effects of this environment on many of our chaplains. The heat, humidity, and lack of sanitary accommodations in some areas have surfaced unrealized health issues. Chaplains with asthma, bronchial sensitivities, heart or circulatory deficiencies, or compromised immune systems or open wounds are asked to self-deselect. If you have not checked with your personal doctor about inoculations, backup medications, and a general check up lately, please do so before volunteering. We can not jeopardize the well being of any of our Chaplains by exposing them to environments and conditions they are not medical able to handle. That said, if you are medically fit, emotionally able, trained, and available please let the Destin office know when and where you are willing to serve. I will continue to keep you updated. Please keep all our Chaplains in your prayers. Pray for the Chaplains we have deployed and for the victims. Peace Dr. Wayne Whitelock, CMC |