
Last week we saw the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene across the American southeast. YECA is heartbroken over the people living directly in or nearby the disaster zones where homes, possessions, and lives were taken. Hurricane Helene now has the highest death toll since 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit the US. With the rapid intensification of Helene we witnessed spinoff tornadoes, flash floods, and extreme storm surges that wreaked havoc on families and communities.
We are praying for the communities affected, especially our Appalchian neighbors. Helene was formed over “unusually warm” waters and quickly moved far more inland than expected, affecting communities who are unequipped to handle such drastic rainfall. We also pray specifically for those in Florida, who were hardest hit by Helene and will face the impacts of Hurricane Milton in the coming days. Lord, be with everyone recovering from Helene and give them a blanket of protection from Milton as it makes landfall. . Jesus, reside with us in our collective suffering, and comfort those who have experienced loss and injury from the storm.
These regularly occurring hurricanes are exacerbated by global warming, bringing deadlier outcomes to a wider region. Warm ocean surface temperatures breed tropical storms with 50% more destructive winds. And these disasters are happening now, they're not faraway future problems. More inland states like South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia currently see an increase in heat and intensity of rainfall. YECA is concerned about the frequency and severity of future hurricanes that will stem from climate change. If you share this concern, we encourage you to take the following actions to love on our neighbors.
PRAY
- YECA has a multitude of worship resources on our website, we want to highlight this Prayer for Those Impacted by the Climate Crisis
- You can also reach out to us directly with your prayer requests at communications@yecaction.org.
GIVE
- Give your time to National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster or donate to those FEMA approved organizations
SHARE
- Read and share this Extreme Weather Toolkit by the Evangelical Environmental Network.
- Read and share about common FEMA questions on Appalachian Voices
LEARN
- Learn about how to best prepare for storms here with NOAA.