Servants Unite volunteers the opportunity to serve in the name of Christ. Specifically, Cedar Rapids, a city of 120,000 and a 9 hour drive from Columbus, will likely need outside assistance in the next couple of months. If you can schedule some time out to serve we will begin organizing teams tentatively to begin leaving in one week, June 21.
Details on the extreme conditions in Iowa as of today are included in this article online this morning. Highlights and statistics from the article include:
- Mandatory evacuations are in place in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines where levies have been breached.
- Flood stage of the Cedar River is 12 feet above the previous recorded flood record from the 1800s
- Only 1 of 8 wells supplying water to Cedar Rapids is usable, protected by sandbags and pumps, and therefore is severely threatened.
- Cedar Rapids total population is 120,000 of which 20,000 are believed to be out of their homes.
- 400 blocks are estimated to be underwater.
- The "wave" of water is continuing downstream in the Mississippi and other smaller rivers feeding it indicating that more flooding is imminent downstream.
- Crew leaders to organize teams from their churches, work, and civic organizations.
- Volunteers with basic tools for mud out and brush cut up and removal.
- Possibly supplies including drinking water, materials for personal care kits, baby kits, and other first response supplies for disaster victims left with nothing.
- Possibly local volunteers to collect and package first response supply kits.
- Financial donations to get volunteers to the area, fed, working, and back home.
- Connections you may have to churches or people in the disaster zone to partner with.
- Local leaders to help manage team prep, supplies, shipping, and other organization tasks.
Servants Unite!
John McGuire
