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Citygate Network helps provide information and support for member organizations and those affected by this fall’s storms 

Until recently, the Atlantic Hurricane Season was relatively quiet. Then Hurricane Fiona slammed into Puerto Rico, leaving behind massive destruction, before moving up the coast to wreak havoc on the Canadian maritime provinces. Although our members in that area all reported power outages, they gratefully acknowledged escaping anything beyond minor damages. The storm could potentially drive more people to seek shelter at their facilities, so we continue to lift them all up in prayer as they navigate the days and weeks ahead.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cautions everyone that they still expect 14 to 20 named storms with 6 to 10 becoming hurricanes and the possibility of as many as 5 major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. Hurricane season, which runs until November 30, was headlined last week by Hurricane Ian, which bashed Florida's Gulf Coast before moving up the East Coast as a tropical cyclone.

Need Help? 

If you are personally affected by a hurricane and need emergency shelter or aid, please use our directory to locate the nearest mission or like-minded ministry in your community. 

We have also provided a disaster discussion forum for our member ministries to use to update us on the latest in their communities (member log-in required). We will post some member comments at the bottom of this page under "News from Citygate Network Members."

 

Support Your Local Mission

Assistance provided by local missions and kindred ministries is free of charge to those in need. Please note the following ways you can support missions in areas affected by this year's hurricanes.

Financial Contributions

Citygate Network members are primarily privately funded and depend on financial contributions to provide aid and emergency shelter to those left homeless and hungry in the wake of disaster. Cash is the most efficient method of donating because it offers these organizations the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources. Use our directory to find the Citygate Network member organization nearest you that you might want to donate to; click its website link, and in most cases the organization's online donation link will be listed. If not, check the ministry's website.

Donations

Donate in-kind goods that are specifically requested or needed by the organization. Confirm the needs by contacting the ministry of your choice before starting to collect. Most will typically need the items below during a natural disaster:

 

Volunteer

Immediately following a disaster, a community can easily become overwhelmed by the amount of generous people who want to help. Contacting and affiliating with an established mission or like-minded ministry in your area will help to ensure that you are appropriately trained to respond in the most effective way.

Be patient. Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media's attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after a disaster — especially when a local community enters the long-term recovery period.

Pray

Citygate Network's Intercessory Prayer Team is praying for all those affected by these storms, and asking God for protection of life and property. You can join them by lifting your local mission before God in prayer.

 

News from Citygate Network Members

In the space below, we will provide updates from our members in areas affected by this year's storms (most recent information listed first):

 

Hurricane Ian Updates

Below are a few news items we've received from members in the affected areas. We'll update this section as we learn more.

 

Ian hit Naples, where St. Matthew's House is located, as a category 4 hurricane, producing winds of 150 miles per hour. CEO Steve Brooder reports that the mission has some property damage due to winds and the storm surge, and there were power outages. While programs are continuing, the mission's Ft. Myers thrift store sustained considerable damage and will need to be shut down for an undetermined amount of time. Watch a video featuring Steve, as he explains the impact and the need. Staff and clients are safe, well, and accounted for. “We’re in maintain-mode for a while," he says, "and we'll do all we can to reopen fully.”

 

Fred Clayton, president and CEO of Orlando Union Rescue Mission, reported that the mission utilized its chapel as overflow emergency accommodations. The mission provided emergency housing for 75 men in the chapel, and some 50 women were brought in from the elements to shelter in the mission's annex building.

 

Amy Lyon, CEO of New Life Mission in Melbourne, Florida (East Coast), reported that their staff began working remotely last week, but its facilities team worked to make last-minute preparations on buildings.

"We met with the moms in our program to determine if they had adequate food, water, and supplies," Amy said. "Our goal has been to empower them and teach them how to prepare for this storm and future storms when they're living on their own.

"We are a transitional program and don't have public facilities, so we're directing those in need of additional assistance and emergency shelter to contact the Brevard Homeless Coalition."

 

Steve Turbeville, CEO of Lighthouse Ministries in Lakeland, Florida, said the mission fared well. They prepared for, and sustained, very high winds, but mission services continued.