MIAMI, Fla.,  Global humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) reports its domestic aid workers are following first emergency response teams and are in Florida, assessing immediate and long term needs of vulnerable populations affected by Hurricane Charley's devastation.
One of the first aid agencies called by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) along with the Red Cross in times of national disaster, Church World Service has issued a $100,000 fundraising appeal for victims of Hurricane Charley and is also prepared to expedite shipment of material resources such as lightweight blankets, personal care kits and clean up supplies as needed.
Responding to natural and human-caused disasters internationally and domestically, New York-headquartered CWS focuses in the U.S. on working with local faith communities, social service agencies and emergency management partners to assist populations who are vulnerable even before a disaster such as Charley strikes.
As of Aug. 16, official reports indicated 19 people died as a result of the Category 4 hurricane, one of the most powerful storms in U.S. history. An estimated 17,961 households will ultimately be displaced and an estimated 4,000 people are homeless. According to the Associated Press, Florida has requested catastrophic housing for 10,000 people.
FEMA has received 23,500 applications for relief to date, 13,000 of those on Monday.
"Damage to homes, businesses and communities is massive and extensive across the state," said CWS emergency response program director, Rick Augsburger.
Miami resident and CWS Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison Lesli Remaly says the agency "will be looking to the long-term needs of people who may be un-insured or under-insured.
"We will focus on those who are particularly vulnerable," she said, "such as the elderly, disabled, those who live alone, migrant farm workers, immigrants, the homeless, people whose first language isn't English, the Seminole, Miccousukee and other native groups living in the impacted areas."
Augsburger added that because Charley wreaked such widespread havoc, "those in Florida who traditionally are called on to offer help and comfort for disaster victims  that is, community church leaders  may be experiencing the same losses themselves."
