Some of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. (Katrina Help photo)
USA (MNN) ― Five years ago, on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina pummeled the U.S. Gulf coast from Florida to Texas, breaching levees in New Orleans and taking almost 2000 lives.
Causing an estimated $81 billion (2005 USD) in damage, Katrina was the sixth-strongest recorded Atlantic hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Before the storm even struck, as it gained force in the Gulf of Mexico, the North American Mission Board assembled team and readied themselves to aid in relief.
NAMB's Mickey Caison explained their response after the storm hit: "For the next sixth months, we were heavily involved in responding in the disaster response capacity: almost 200,000 volunteer days, more than 500 mobile units, 15 million meals prepared, and somewhere around 18,000 homes we actually worked on."
In addition to physical relief, NAMB sent chaplains to partner with local churches and ministries, as they administered spiritual and emotional counseling.
Even after those months, they continued to help with reconstruction and have had teams there up until recently, as they now readjust their efforts and plan on empowering residence to continue the work.
Thus, even five years later, recovery is far from complete. Caison said: "There's still a great many needs: a number of churches closed, a number of schools and businesses closed. Those have not rebuilt because the population is not there to support it at this point... The spiritual needs are still there; great needs of the love and support that comes out of the Gospel."
Though tremendous strides have been made in physical recovery and many trusted in Christ after their world was turned upside down, anniversaries and the threat of other hurricanes once again destroying homes and livelihoods racks the nerves.
Especially in light of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, many emotional wounds have been reopened, reminding victims of "the pain that came in Katrina, when people lost business or lost homes, things like that. There is a high emotional stress that is going on down in that area."
Therefore, the Gulf coast still has a long road of recovery ahead of them.
Caison said, because of this, believers need to continue to diligently pray: "The need for prayer is always. Especially as believers, we do not want that to be our last resort. That needs to be our starting place."
Pray for continued healing in the lives of those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Pray that even in the midst of the uncertainty the oil spill and hurricane season produced, individuals will lean on God and entrust their futures to Him.
Call NAMB at 1 (800)634-2462 if you would like to donate your resources or time to their continued assistance in Louisiana and Mississippi. Or you can visit their Web site at namb.net.
