Hope Force Blog

Hope Force is still actively working in Waverly, Tennessee in the aftermath of the horrific flooding that took place on August 21st.  Hundreds of homes have been impacted -- many damaged beyond repair -- and many of which have had significant water inside and will need to be "mucked out."  

On the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in the New Orleans area, Hurricane Ida slammed into Louisiana this morning as a Category 4 storm with winds of 150 miles per hour.  "We're in bad, dire shape" Chief Scooter Resweber told Paul Goodloe of The Weather Channel.  He said that Hurricane Ida is the worst storm Grand Isle has experienced, and that the wind gauge broke at 148 mph.

Twenty.four hours after the flooding, the reports continue to get more and more devastating.  As of tonight, 22 people are confirmed dead and many still unaccounted for.  

Hope Force had a team of Tennessee Reservists on the ground today.  The damage is so hard to take in, with some places looking more like a tornado came through than a flood.  Houses are ripped off their foundation and pushed 50 yards down the road. 

Within minutes of learning about the earthquake in Haiti, leadership of Crossroads Church (of Cincinnati) and Hope Force International were in conversation exploring how we might mount a response together.  Crossroad’s long-term partner, Restavek Freedom, is headquartered in Port Salut, Haiti, near the epicenter of the quake.   Numerous text messages and phone calls transpired —

There’s something special about the hollows that carve the mountains in McDowell County, West Virginia.  There’s a draw, a sort of wooing that comes from deep within the hills, beckoning you for adventure.  What you will find here are some of the most beautiful landscapes our country has to offer. 

We’re honored to be included in the 25th anniversary of Crossroads Church. True to their culture of generosity, Crossroads is celebrating their 25th anniversary by giving to partner organizations such as Hope Force International. Their sizable donation will make a significant difference in empowering us to accomplish our mission of bringing hope through compassionate action to people impacted by crisis and disaster.