Chainsaws and Gas Cans - Day 9 ECHO Update

On Monday, ECHO staff and interns were joined by a few more brave volunteers who are helping to make the walkways passable again as we begin the major job of cleanup. We are clearing debris, staking and righting trees, cutting down trees that can’t be saved, and many other jobs in between, all without a reprieve from the Florida summer sun. Meals for 30 were prepared on a gas stove, with food from fridges running on generators. Our Seed Bank is protecting hundreds of rare seed varieties on a propane generator that was installed just one year ago. While the days are hard and tiring, we are mindful that we are not the only ones affected. Thank you for your prayers and support! We could not do this without you!

In this update, David Erickson talks with Jake, a volunteer who drove 26 hours to help ECHO clear debris and get back to our mission of reducing hunger and improving lives around the world.

ECHO Assesses Damage After Hurricane Irma [VIDEO]

Power could still be off for days or weeks, but repairs need to begin. As the ECHO staff protects roofs and works to save downed trees, can you join us and be part of the recovery process? Visit echonet.org/give or echonet.org/volunteer

ECHO after Hurricane Irma - Good news and Bad news

Let’s start with the good news – there’s a lot of it.  Most importantly, everyone on staff with ECHO-Florida is safe!  ECHO buildings were spared any serious damage – over and over, huge trees fell right next to buildings without damaging them!  In addition, all of the animals on ECHO’s Global Farm made it through alive and, with the complete loss of electricity, ECHO’s investment in a propane-fueled backup generator for the Seed Bank is paying off.

We are SO grateful to God!  Given the intensity of the storm, this is amazing.

The bad news is real, but pales in comparison.  At least 32 major trees and bamboo clumps were snapped-off or uprooted by Irma’s winds.  Plantings in the research plots and sections of the Global Farm were shredded.  Sections of fencing were destroyed.  Power will remain out for days to come.  The costs to ECHO will likely reach $100,000.  This is a lot, but much less than we had feared!

You have been so supportive in the lead-up to this storm.  We want to thank you for praying with us and sending words of encouragement.  Here’s what we will need over the next couple of weeks:

1.Continued prayer for our staff team as they clear trees and debris, repair, and replant -- for safety (lots of chain saw work will be required!), grace-giving/receiving, and hope in the face of lost research initiatives, etc.;

2.Volunteers who can help with tree and debris removal; and,

3.Special gifts totaling $100,000 to cover the costs of responding to Hurricane Irma and enabling ECHO-Florida to quickly get re-focused on our global mission.

4.Collective expressions of thanksgiving for the “relatively” modest destruction from Hurricane Irma.  It could easily have been so much worse!

IF you want to volunteer and can get here within the next few days please e-mail Heidi at HVeres@echonet.org or go to www.echonet.org and click on “Get Involved” where you can sign-up to volunteer.  We’ll be back in touch right away.

IF you can help with our recovery from Hurricane Irma, please go to www.echonet.org, click on the “Donate” tab, “Give Now” and indicate that your gift is toward “Hurricane Irma Recovery”.

Thank you so very, very much!

David

Trees on perimeter of ECHO's Global Farm had to be cut for emergency response vehicles to pass.

A large tree fell on the Appropriate Technology shop

Snapped power pole...it looks like we'll be without power for a while

A tangle of trees are down right in the middle of the Global Farm

Prepared and Trusting.... during Hurricane Irma

In just a few hours, Hurricane Irma is expected to be upon us.  Over the last 24 hours the projected storm track has shifted our way and now the forecasters are projecting that we will experience a direct hit.  Wind gusts over 150 mph and extensive flooding are anticipated.

Yesterday we stripped everything off our greenhouse to reduce wind resistance and, hopefully, preserve the structure.  Some particularly dense” trees were also thinned to improve their chances of survival.  The winds at the front end of the storm are now arriving and many of us that hadn’t evacuated are now facing mandatory evacuations.

We are likely to lose power in the next few hours and be cut-off from communications.  Meanwhile, please know that your expressions of support and prayer have meant SO MUCH to us!  You have encouraged us and many of you have reminded US of why ECHO’s work is vital.  We’re trusting the Lord in all of this and will send an update as soon as possible after Irma has passed.

Grace & Peace,

David
President/CEO

Irma Update #2

Yesterday the ECHO-Florida team did some amazing work.  And the weather, while hot and muggy, cooperated.  In one full, sweaty, and exhausting day the ECHO-Florida campus was readied, as much as possible, for Hurricane Irma.  21 buildings, acres of agricultural and appropriate technology demonstrations, a high-speed computer network, and more…all requiring some level of preparation.

Last night and today our staff turned their attention to their homes and personal property.  Some are evacuating, others are making preparations to “shelter in place.”

Now we wait.  There is a lot of uncertainty about the forecasts with some projecting that the “eye” will traverse up the East Coast of Florida, others up the West Coast where ECHO is located, and some aiming right up the middle of Florida.  All of them project serious winds, rain and potential flooding for us.

And we continue to try to turn from anxious thoughts to prayer.  While we are asking to be spared the worst of this severe storm, we certainly care about everyone else who could be in this historic storm’s path.  The devastation in the Caribbean and the example of Harvey are ever before us and they are sobering.

Thank you for continuing to pray with us.  We have also been encouraged by the words of support from people across the U.S. and abroad – we appreciate them!