March 17, 2008

Only one out of 700 homes damaged or destroyed by a Jan. 6 levee break and subsequent flood has insurance to pay for flood damage. As federal assistance is available but limited, nearly all these families will be forced to repair or rebuild their homes using personal savings or assistance.

A mix of city, state and federal officials has joined Fernley's faith community and local social service agencies to form a long-term recovery committee. Representatives from the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee have been in Fernley to conduct needs assessment, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief has provided case management training. With needs assessment and case management components in place, the Fernley group will require strategies for long-term recovery.

RESPONSE: Church World Service Emergency Response Specialist Heriberto Martinez will provide training to the Fernley Long-Term Recovery Team in early April. This training will be designed to match the needs of Fernley's nascent group as it plans for long-term support of a community devastated by a rare flood in an arid climate. CWS may also provide an Emergency Response Grant should it be determined monetary support is needed. .

Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be made online, or sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Please designate: 2008 Fernley, Nevada Flood (#627-C). Contributions may also be made by phone, at 800-297-1516.

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