Cities Propose To Work with Churches in Ernesto Relief Effort

September 29, 2006

The cities of Hampton and Newport News today announced a proposal to work with their faith based communities to meet the needs of Tropical Depression Ernesto victims who temporarily lost their homes to storm surges and may soon be returning home.

A number of residents of subsidized housing in both cities - many of them elderly and infirm, and some living alone - needed to be evacuated to temporary housing following the storm surges on September 1.

"The repair of their apartments could allow these people to return home. However, many of them will find a dwelling that will have little or no furniture, since most of it was ruined by the storm," said Hampton City Councilwoman Angela Leary, who is organizing the relief effort.

"At the recent Newport News and Hampton meetings with the Ernesto flood victims, hosted by Congressman Bobby Scott, it became obvious that there is a great public need to help these people rebuild their lives," she added.

To help facilitate the process, the cities of Hampton and Newport News are working with the apartment managers in the flooded areas to develop a very specific "needs assessment" data base for each family or individual. Meanwhile, a number of faith-based members at the initial relief planning meeting indicated that their congregations may be in a position to "adopt" one or more of these flood victims, to help provide needed furniture and other items.

Leary is asking any Hampton or Peninsula churches who are able to participate to notify her at 727-6315 or aleary@hampton.gov. Newport News churches who are able to participate can notify Theora Rankins at 926-6464 or tmr700@dss.state.va.us.

"Time is of the essence, as some of these residents will be returning home in early October and throughout the early fall," Leary said. "This is an opportunity for citizens to truly come together to help those in need.