Hurricane Harvey forces thousands of Gulf Coast residents from homes

Harvey submerged Interstate highway 45 in Houston with record, widespread flooding on August 27 (Reuters photo).

Over the weekend, Hurricane Harvey slammed into the coast of Texas as a category-4 storm. Unprecedented flooding, caused by 25 inches of rainfall, has forced approximately 30,000 people from their homes.

Harvey, now a slow-moving tropical storm, is still dumping rain. Although most of the damage is in the Houston area, there are 13 million people are under flood warnings and watching across the Gulf Coast from Corpus Christi, Texas, to New Orleans, Louisiana. Some areas are expected to receive as much as 50 inches of rain.

Church leaders are still assessing needs as the most-affected areas are currently under water.

“We do have several churches with storm or flooding damage,” said Jeffrey Johnson, district superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene in South Texas. “Many of our brothers and sisters have flooded homes.”

At least two churches were seriously affected. The Clear Lake, Texas, Church of the Nazarene is completely flooded and the Portland, Texas, Church of the Nazarene sustained significant damage.

Bob Broadbooks, director of the USA/Canada Region, has requested prayer for families and individuals in the affected communities.

“We encourage the church to join with others in prayer for those affected and first responders,” he said. “This flood is of historic proportions. As soon as we know how best to serve we will keep our church informed.”

How to help

Pray

Please pray for families and individuals affected by the storm. Pray especially for those who are trapped in flooded homes. Pray for those who are most vulnerable, especially people with disabilities and seniors. Pray for church leaders and churches responding to the needs around them.

Give

Churches and individuals around the world can provide support through the Hurricane Harvey Fund.