UPDATE ON PUERTO RICO EARTHQUAKES--
I just connected with our partners in Puerto Rico who are working at the epicenter of the earthquake strike. The situation is BAD.
Many homes and structures have been destroyed including some historic churches. Damage and loss estimates continue to escalate into the billions.
Hundreds of thousands are still without power and many of the grocery stores have already been emptied. There have been so many quakes and aftershocks (80 or more) that people are still sleeping in tents because they fear returning to their homes. Gas for vehicles is hard to come by and the government is asking people not to travel. And drinking water is quickly becoming a real problem.
Mercy Chefs already dispatched emergency funding to help our church partners launch immediate relief efforts to help provide food and other essentials to those in need. TODAY the first member of our team is deploying to Puerto Rico with one of the large, high-capacity water purification units that will make a huge difference immediately. The first location scouted to set up a kitchen was destroyed and cannot be used for us to serve meals. I plan to visit the island this weekend to further assess the need and hopefully solidify plans to provide hot meals to those in need.
The situation on the ground in Puerto Rico appears FAR WORSE than what most people are hearing. I want to do everything in our power to help right away, but to do so, we need friends like you partnering with us!
Again, we are deploying staff TODAY with a high-output water purification unit. I'll be on the ground this weekend. Please pray, and help as the Lord leads!
Gary LeBlanc
P.S. Our partners say that people still haven't recovered from the hurricane, and now this. There is much fear and uncertainty. Please help us help the people of Puerto Rico:
(Photo credits: Holy Sacrament Parish Facebook, @eddiemguerra Twitter)
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