From EDOLA (Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana).
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
Many of us awoke this day to learn of another tragedy in and around New Orleans – several tornados touched down around 2:30AM, causing damage ranging from moderate to severe in the areas of the Westbank, Carrollton, and Gentilly. Many others were awakened in the middle of the night by the storm itself, forced to find shelter and safety where possible. Our prayers go out to all whose lives were touched by this event, and I am sure you join with me, and Bishop Jenkins, in a determined spirit to help those in need.
Let me update you on what we know so far (please keep in mind that these are early reports which may certainly change over the coming hours):
The most serious damage to diocesan locations known so far seems to be at a house on Prytania that the ODR has rented for use by interns who have come to town to do hurricane relief work. Most of the windows blew out, with the shattered glass landing on the sleeping interns. Two of their cars were damaged, but thankfully no one was seriously hurt. The students are emotionally shook up, to be sure. Katie Mears (who supervises the interns and runs our house gutting crews) is in contact with AJ Heine at St. Aug’s, and is going to relocate the interns there and other places.… [Personal names and situations removed for privacy, but no reports of injury.]
May God watch over us and bless us this day.
Peace,
Mark+
The Rev’d Canon E. Mark Stevenson
Canon to the Ordinary
The Diocese of Louisiana
UPDATE: This note is from Bishop Jenkins late yesterday:
“It has been a long day. Our interns who lead our house gutting and house building crews were in their residence on Prytania and had all the windows blown out and several of their cars destroyed. All the young folks are OK but shaken pretty badly. I have spent most of the day around St. Andrew’s Church, New Orleans. Archdeacon Dennis McManis brought the St. Anna’s Mobile Medical Unit and the Mobile Ministry Unit into the neighborhood. After setting up at St. Andrew’s we were asked by the police to move closer to their command center. So the Mobile Ministry Unit is sitting on the neutral ground on Carrollton. St. Anna’s Mobile Medical Unit has gone to Gentilly.”
