Lake Charles Response

EFCA ReachGlobal Crisis Response had already organized long-term efforts and scheduled short-term teams in Lake Charles, but now financial resources are needed more than ever.

UPDATE: May 18, 2021

The response in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is being coordinated through Lake Charles Bible Church. Their facility houses short-term service teams as well as offices for Crisis Response. Due to 16 inches of rain that fell on May 17, 2021, the main building at the church, the housing for teams, the Crisis Response offices and tool shed and the parsonage have all flooded again, as have many of the homes that were already repaired in the wake of the hurricanes. And just like in Hurricane Delta, this flood damage will not be covered by insurance.

Because this was already an active response site with teams fully booked throughout the summer, it is more crucial to raise financial support for resources and families in the area.

Lake Charles has now been hit directly by two hurricanes, only six weeks apart. Hurricane Laura’s intense winds did tremendous damage: ripping off roofs and bringing many trees down on homes and businesses. A month and a half later, Hurricane Delta caused more damage still. The rain from this storm caused substantial flooding, and since flooding isn’t covered by homeowners' insurance, many of Lake Charles homes don't have what they need to cover the damage.

After Laura, ReachGlobal Crisis Response staff assisted Lake Charles Bible Church as they responded to overwhelming destruction in their church building and in their community. After Delta, LCBC now has six inches of water in the sanctuary. Their only building that didn’t take damage in Laura has now flooded because of Delta. In the words of senior pastor Phil Carpenter, “We have to cover this one on our own.”

Amid this devastation, destruction and pain, ReachGlobal Crisis Response needs your help to bring the service and hope of Christ to the people of Lake Charles.

Pray

• For the families who have lost their homes to the storms and for many displaced and awaiting word on their houses.
• For church leaders to have wisdom in how to lead their churches and communities in response to this tragedy.
• For compassionate outreach by local churches to those finding shelter in their facilities.
• For wisdom in assessing the damage and for the ReachGlobal Crisis Response in determining next steps.

Serve

Organize a team to serve affected families and invest in relationships in Lake Charles and the surrounding areas. With the current flooding and damage to infrastructure, teams of limited size are currently being accepted.

Email respond@efca.org to learn more about these opportunities.

Give

You can also mail a check with "Lake Charles Response - 3969LA" in the memo line to:

EFCA, 901 E 78th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55420