Hurricane Katrina: Reflections and Concerns

by the Right Reverend Thomas Clark Ely, Bishop of Vermont
Mountain Echo
October 2005

Reports from the Gulf Coast and the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina give us much to ponder. Like you, my thoughts and prayers have been with those most affected by this disaster, especially those who have lost everything, having been displaced from their homes, their livelihoods, and their communities. Those who have been evacuated from the familiar surroundings of their neighborhoods, and from the support systems of family and community, hold a special place in my heart. With the compassion of Christ, we grieve for the dead and weep with those who have suffered so great a loss. We realize especially at times like this how much others mean to us, how much we take for granted, and how much we need one another.
I am extremely proud of the many ways in which the people of our diocese have responded to the calls for help and support. Vermonters, not just Episcopalians, have shown the depth of our caring and compassion in a most generous expression of support, including money, supplies and a willingness to go to the Gulf Coast and be of whatever help we can. New Englanders know the importance of reaching out to those in need, especially in times of trouble.

The stories of how the congregations of our diocese have responded are just now beginning to make their way to me, and I am deeply moved by some of the sacrificial outpouring that is taking place. In the name of our diocese, I sent $10,000 directly to three of the bishops from dioceses most affected by Katrina (Louisiana, Mississippi, Central Gulf Coast). This includes $5,000 from funds available to the bishop and a $5,000 matching grant from the Outreach and Social Justice Committee McClure/Discovery 2000 Initiative IV funds. This is just one of the many ways in which the generosity of Vermont Episcopalians is being offered in the wake of this disaster. Ann and I have joined many of you in making a contribution to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD). I am working on some other ways in which we as a diocese might respond and will keep you informed.

As the generosity that each of us is demonstrating continues to grow, I am also mindful of the many other issues surfacing in the face of this crisis. I am not interested in blaming or finger pointing, and yet I find myself deeply concerned about some of the realities that are emerging from this disaster. Among them, I am deeply concerned about the dynamics of race and class, as well as what this disaster has to teach us about our stewardship of the environment. It seems clear to me that the poor, persons from racial minorities, the disabled and the elderly have suffered tremendously and disproportionately from the Katrina disaster.

Clear to me also is the fact that attention to environmental concerns could have lessened, if not prevented, the disaster from reaching the proportions we are witnessing and others are experiencing first hand. Add to all this the related issue (already a growing concern before Katrina) of the rising cost of oil and gas and its effect upon us, especially here in New England as winter approaches, and the concerns grow even larger. Around this particular issue, I am very worried about individuals, families and congregations trying to meet rising oil and gas costs this autumn and winter.

So, what's a Christian to do? The answers, of course, are not simple, but our mindfulness of the need to take action is a step in the right direction. With all due respect, might I suggest that a first action step for us is not to be satisfied with easy answers and explanations to the issues of race and class as they relate to Hurricane Katrina. It is perfectly appropriate for us to ask hard questions of those responsible for evacuation plans and relief efforts as to why the poor were so adversely affected and why relief efforts were slow to reach many of the poorest. Perfectly appropriate also are the difficult questions about future decisions regarding the choices that will be made, and the tension that often exists, between economic development and the environment and the affect of those decisions on the poor and on the future of the earth. Then there is the equally challenging question of who will pay for all this? As military spending continues to escalate with a protracted war in Iraq, this is a very significant question. Where will the money come from to do all that the President has pledged to do in the aftermath of Katrina?

Asking hard questions of ourselves is also appropriate. I wonder about all the decisions we make, all our choices about how we live our lives and how often (or seldom) we stop to consider the environmental impact of our decisions and lifestyles, or how our decisions—economic and otherwise—can affect the poor in negative ways. Perhaps with regard to the current oil and gas crisis, we need to think very intentionally about the use of our church buildings, with an even sharper eye toward the environment and good stewardship? Maybe we need to be stronger and more vocal in our concern about the environment in our state and local communities as decisions around land use and related matters get made that carry with them long term consequences? And to be sure, we need to be generous in our giving to local fuel banks.
How can we help address people's growing anxiety about these matters? How can we offer leadership in response to crisis? To what extent is this a kairos moment—a God's time moment—for the church and for the world, calling for our deepest possible engagement before we "settle in" to the emerging patterns we are experiencing now as crisis?

I know these concerns are not mine alone and that you are likewise struggling with these and other concerns arising from the current circumstances, even as we hear and read about the many wonderful stories of grace, courage and hope and the incredible outpouring of generosity from people. I hope you will engage these and other related questions among yourselves and within your congregation. These are faith questions, and as people of faith we are invited to engage them as part of the church's prophetic ministry. As you do so, please continue to express your love and compassion for others through your own generosity.

In thankfulness and hope,
+Thomas