Haiti/Dominican Republic/North Bahamas: Church Mourns and Prepares to Rebuild After Hurricane Tragedy

Gonaives, Haiti …. [Libna Stevens/ANN Staff]

“There is such a devastation here; [the] people need everything; people are dying, they need food, water, clothing and medicines,” said Pastor Etzer Obas, president of the Adventist church in Haiti while assessing the aftermath of hurricane Jeanne which flooded and leveled parts of his country.

“Flood waters are still present, and the people are mourning. They cannot bring people in the morgue, they cannot bury their dead, they cannot find their loved ones amidst the dead animals and bodies swept together,” he continued.

As the death toll rises to more than 1,200, and more than 1,500 still missing in the wake of Hurricane-turned-Tropical Storm Jeanne, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Haiti mourns the deaths six members.

The continuous downpour of Jeanne stretched for nearly three days swelling rivers and sweeping entire villages in the northwest region.

Church officials and members are concerned for its more than 64,000 members, as well as the tens of thousands of their neighbors affected by the tragic storm.

Obas and other church officers recently assessed damages to part of the city of Gonaives, one of the worst-hit areas.

“An entire section of Gonaives was burried,” he added. The magistrate

of Gonaives told church officials that there are hundreds of bodies that have not yet been removed from the waters, which is causing much concern for the entire country.

Church leaders are also concerned by what the receding waters will reveal. There are six churches and several schools they have not been able to access.

The recently inaugurated church regional office for northwest Haiti, suffered intense damage as the downpour covered the first floor of the building, soaking computers, furniture and other equipment.

Obas, also spoke on an FM radio station in Gonaives offering sympathy to all who were mourning the loss of family members and friends.

Church leaders in Haiti are committed to provide additional assistance for the flood victims.

In the Dominican Republic, Haiti’s neighboring country on the Isle of Hispaniola, Jeanne left 27 dead, injured 260, and flooded more than 30,000 homes, in the eastern part of the country.

According to a church worker who visited the area, hundreds of Adventists were affected by the pounding rain and floodwaters of Jeanne. So far, no deaths were reported among church members. However, 400 families lost household goods and 50 families were left homeless through the cities and towns of San Pedro, Ceibo, Nagua and Samana.

Tropical Storm Jeanne’s trail of destruction not only pounded Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The already deadly storm became a hurricane as it moved northwest to strike the Bahamas and Florida’s east coast last weekend.

Six days after hitting the Isle of Hispaniola, Jeanne rammed the northern Bahamas with 150 mph winds and dumped its rains on the area for 12 hours. Homes in Grand Bahama and Abacos were demolished or flooded. In addition, debris from Hurricane Frances’ rampage in the Bahamas three weeks ago was spread around the islands. Fortunately, church leaders report no loss of life among church members.

“We didn’t have the kind of extensive damage Frances left, but Jeanne expanded damages to our churches and schools and members’ homes,” said Keith Albury, president of the church in North Bahamas. “We are in the process of assessment once again.”

Plans are underway to distribute more water and roofing materials this week.

“Frances has been a tremendous blow to the economy of Grand Bahama, 1,800 homes destroyed, 700 sustaining major damage resulting in dislocation of approximately 10,000 people,” said Albury.

During the aftermath of Frances, the church distributed food bags, water, and provided 300 hot meals daily, using the only church with power, as well as tents, and with delivery trucks. In addition, the church offered temporary shelters for the homeless and provided counseling and support for victims traumatized by the hurricanes.

Amidst the flooding, debris and no electricity, the church continues encouraged in its services to the community, according to Albury.

Grand Bahama is far from returning to normal life. The church there still needs more supplies to help its members and fellow islanders restore their lives once again. Churches still haven’t been able to hold full services and schools are functioning half days while they await the restoration of electricity.