It is simply staggering. From just a few moments researching, my mind is blown and away and my heart is heavy.
* Currently 80% of New Orleans is underwater with considerable portions in under 20 feet of water.
* 2.7 million people are without power in the Gulf Coast.
* It is estimated that the damage will cost up to or over $26 billion.
* Looting is alreading taking place in businesses and homes
* What appears to be suicide of individuals from the Superdome of people jumping to their death.
* Victims are continously being plucked off their rooftops by helicopters, themselves being the only remnant of what was once theirs. Just last night, over 300 were rescued in Mississippi alone.
* Both airports are closed with over six feet of standing water in each.
* Total infrastructure loss in transportation, sewage, and communication, including the breakage of pumps, canals, and levees used to handle water pressure and flooding.
* Growing fears about pollution, disease, snakebites, allegator attacks loom over the already exhuasted and distraught people.
* Death toll expected to be in the hundreds.
* Dead bodies have been seen floating down the streets which once were an avenue for parades, now a conveyor belt of corpses.
* The renowned French Quarter is now called “The War Zone“.
* Marshall Law has been enacted.
* On top of the disaster there is the elderly, the medically and terminally ill people, those who have to rely on electricity to survive, and dysfunctional hosptials . . .
You keep hearing the words . . .
Overwhelming. Devastating. Worst Case Scenario. Catastrophic. This is our tsunami.
As we pray, may God reveal himself in the acts of his people to show mercy, kindness and display his love to these poor, wrectched people. There is hope. And we must give it to them. For all of the Gulf Coast, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida – may God be abundantly gracious to you and be a refuge and a shelter in times of storm.