SILVER SPRING, Md.--Responding to the worst flooding to affect southern India in a century, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has launched an emergency relief response, assisting survivors after heavy rains triggered severe flooding, killing an estimated 300 people and affecting approximately two to three million others.

On Thursday, October 8, ADRA began an emergency response to aid more than 700 families in flood-ravaged districts in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh through the distribution of emergency supplies, such as blankets, cooking pots and utensils.

"People are very keen to go back and pick up the pieces of their lives," said Paulo Lopes, country director for ADRA India. "They are ready to return to their homes and begin the recovery process."

Torrential rains fell on the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and the border districts of Maharashtra, between September 29 and October 2, causing flash floods throughout the region and displacing at least 1.5 million people.

Funding this initial emergency response is ADRA International, the Southern Asia Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the South Central and East Central Unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in India.

ADRA is expecting to expand its response within the next few days, which will provide assistance to a greater number of people affected by the disaster.

"Given the extent of the floods, we want to be able to help between 5,000 to 10,000 families in the region," said Lopes. "However, it has been a challenge to raise the necessary resources due to the other recent disasters in Indonesia, Samoa and the Philippines."

As part of the response, ADRA is coordinating with the local government in each affected state, as well as other organizations, such as ActionAid, CARE India, Sphere India, the Southern Asia Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the East Central India Union of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hyderabad, and the South Central Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bangalore.

Although flooding has begun to subside in some regions, many roads have been severely damaged by the heavy rains and landslides, making access to the affected regions difficult and at times completely impassable. Electricity and communication lines were also damaged in the disaster. Officials expect the death toll to continue to rise, as flooded areas become more accessible.

As response efforts expand, follow ADRA on twitter and get the latest information as it happens.

To send your contribution to ADRA's Emergency Response Fund, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or give online at www.adra.org.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.

For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org.