Bill Gary, regional director for the central United States, offloads emergency supplies for tornado survivors in Missouri in 2006. World Vision actively provides disaster assistance to affected families and communities in the United States through local partners, just as we are working through the Salvation Army to assist flood survivors in Washington state.
© 2006 World Vision

According to Seattle's KIRO 7 News, a powerful set of storms packing drenching rains and heavy winds has killed five people. Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire declared a state of emergency Dec. 3 before touring flood damages in the southwest region of the state and meeting with survivors seeking shelter at a high school in Chehalis, a community about 30 miles south of Olympia, the state's capital.

World Vision's Response

Meanwhile, Jim Peterson, our Storehouse manager in Kent, Wash., is coordinating with the local Salvation Army in hard-hit Centralia, Wash., which is near Chehalis.

In response to that agency's request, based on what has been characterized as "an immediate need," World Vision is trucking about five pallets of emergency supplies. Items in the shipment include:

Medications Clothing for adults and children Blankets Hygiene supplies

Cleaning supplies Garbage bags Backpacks

In the meantime, we are continuing to assess the impact of the flooding through local partners to determine whether there are any additional communities that require more aid.

Based on these assessments, rehabilitation efforts may be appropriate, including the possible provision of building supplies and assistance with cleanup efforts. For now, however, our response is focused on today's aid shipment.

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