September 15, 2008 Note: This appeal builds on the $1 million omnibus U.S. hurricane appeal issued Sept. 4, 2008.

Situation Millions of people throughout Texas lack electricity and sustainable sources of food, water and shelter following Hurricane Ike's landfall (9/13). Flooding along the coast is extensive. Roads are so lined with debris that assessment is impossible in dozens of communities.

As Ike moved inland, the massive storm left flooding and damage behind in eight states. At least 30 deaths are blamed on the storm. Officials estimate damage to be at least $10 billion in Texas.

With as many as 30,000 people displaced from their homes, Texas officials say it could be weeks before residents along Galveston Bay are able to return home.

Vulnerable communities watch The Houston area is home of a sizable presence of refugees resettled by agencies, including CWS. Many refugees in the Houston area are in the beginning of their resettlement process and may be especially vulnerable during this emergent period.

CWS Response CWS expands appeal #627-G to include an initial response to Hurricane Ike. CWS has provided 6,185 CWS Blankets and 180 CWS Hygiene Kits to disaster response partners across Texas, at a value of $32,517. More material resource shipments are anticipated in the coming days.

Following Hurricane Rita in 2005, CWS invested in building the disaster response capacity of communities along the Texas coast. CWS will reach out to these long-term recovery groups as they assess damage and plan to recover, supporting them with Emergency Response Grants and training, if needed.

This appeal will be expanded to accommodate responses to future hurricanes during the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be made online, sent to your denomination or to Church World Service (CWS, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515), or made by phone at 800-297-1516.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding please visit www.churchworldservice.org or call the CWS Hotline, 800-297-1516.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net