Gulf Coast Catholics prepare for Hurricane Isaac impact

As the U.S. Gulf Coast braces itself for Hurricane Isaac to make landfall, the Catholic community is preparing to offer aid to survivors in the wake of the storm.

John Wilson, who heads disaster preparation and response efforts for the Archdiocese of Mobile, said the archdiocese is taking a “proactive posture.”

“In this phase, we are essentially on standby,” he told CNA on Aug. 27.

He explained that it is “still difficult to tell how much rain and how much wind we’re going to get,” so efforts are focused on preparing parishes and archdiocesan facilities for the storm and getting ready to offer whatever type of aid is necessary in its aftermath.

Wilson has been working to keep archdiocesan staff and administration informed about weather conditions and official reports.

In addition, he said, the archdiocese has been “communicating with sister dioceses” to determine what levels of resources are available, in order to “share the burden” depending on the need after the storm hits.

Seven years after the Gulf Coast was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, which came ashore as a strong Category 3 storm, the region is preparing for Hurricane Isaac, which could bring up to 36 straight hours of heavy winds and rain.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina and the resulting floods left more than 1,800 dead and caused an estimated $81 billion in damage. While Hurricane Isaac is significantly weaker, it could still result in serious water and wind damages when it hits the U.S. as early as Tuesday evening. [More]

SOURCE

CNA/EWTN News