As relief in the hurricane and flood-damaged Gulf Coast region of the Southern United States continues, Seventh-day Adventists are also surveying churches and schools that have been damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Students from Southern Adventist University (SAU) in Collegedale, Tennessee, are actively involved in relief efforts in Mississippi and other areas, while Adventist churches throughout the United States are offering help to as many as possible.

Meanwhile, satellite photos reveal varying levels of flood damage to Adventist churches and schools in and near New Orleans, said Jerry D. Thomas, communication director for the church's Southwestern region.

"The New Orleans First [Seventh-day Adventist] Church [in Metairie] is no longer flooded, although it apparently had about three feet of water at one point as well as roof and window damage. Cleanup work has already begun. The Metairie Spanish Church may also have been flooded, but appears to be dry in the aerial photo. We have no reports of the damage there," Thomas said in a report.

"The aerial photo of the New Orleans Caffin Avenue Church and school are not as encouraging," Thomas noted. "You can see that the buildings were still deeply underwater when the shot was taken. Reports are that water was 12 to 20 feet deep in that area. There is apparent roof damage to the school. The aerial photo of the Westbank United Church does seem to verify reports that it suffered little damage."

Media reports indicate that it will be early to mid-October, at least, before water is significantly drained from the city of New Orleans, and perhaps as much as six months before potable running water is restored. During this period, both living in the city and repairing buildings, are expected to be very difficult.

According to Lori Futcher of Southern Adventist University, more than 40 students and staff went to Bass Memorial Academy in Lumberton, Mississippi Sept. 1 through Sept. 4; a second group made the trip Sept. 8 to 11. The groups worked with local entities in charge of disaster relief, such as the Florida Disaster Team. Together they set up a base camp at Bass Memorial.

The Florida Disaster Team has large semi-trailers prepared with supplies such as meals, tarps, water and baby formula that they bring to the selected site, said Ken Rogers, SAU chaplain. Then they establish distribution centers in the surrounding areas, assisting victims all around. Bass Memorial has become the regional disaster relief distribution center for the surrounding area.

"It's like a drive-thru," said Ketty Bonilla, a senior who went on the relief effort trip. "People come by, get what they need from the distribution center, and leave."

Community response in Mississippi may well be typified by an e-mail received by Adventist News Network from area resident Lainey Lott:

"The relief efforts provided by your organization have been unreal," Lott wrote. "To see so many people that have left the comfort of their homes to provide necessities to those of us who rode out the storm. We, with the help of all generous people, will get this put back together and continue on. Please get my thanks to all involved. They will never know how much it is appreciated."

SAU students helped distribute provisions, transported materials to repair damage, cut trees, removed debris, and removed water-soaked carpet from churches and classrooms.

At the university, students are engaged in various fundraising activities and have generated approximately $6,300 so far in cash donations. Southern students have also donated money to the Samaritan Center to buy clothing, food, toiletries, and other much needed items for the affected areas. McKee Foods, whose headquarters adjoins the Southern campus, donated foodstuffs that were taken to Bass Memorial for distribution.

Along with SAU, other Adventist schools are reaching out to hurricane victims. Oakwood College, in Huntsville, Alabama, is also involved in disaster relief. There, students collected emergency aid for victims. Donations of funds and food will be funneled to the National Association for the Prevention of Starvation (NAPS), Oakwood's own relief organization, as well as other agencies serving in storm-damaged Gulf Coast areas. NAPS has deployed 25 student volunteers to distribute food and assist in the cleanup in Biloxi, Mississippi. Students are also being scheduled to volunteer in shelters in Huntsville and Birmingham, Alabama, Texas, and in Louisiana.

And as evacuees disperse all over the country, area Seventh-day Adventist congregations are responding. At a Sept. 6 news conference, Baltimore, Maryland Mayor Martin O'Malley announced 1,000 citizens of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will relocate to Baltimore. The faith community is responding by offering prayer, housing, donated goods and transportation. Baltimore Adventist Community Services (BACS) is providing 1,000 personal care kits to the evacuees and encouraging churches to adopt one family.

Pastor Darriel Hoy, executive director of BACS, is thankful for the response of local Seventh-day Adventist churches whose members have already contributed a variety of personal care items. Hoy asks local congregations to continue to give throughout September and October and to involve their neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, and the entire city in donating personal care items.