Episcopal Relief & Development is in close contact with Episcopal dioceses in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana as they assess needs created by winter storms that are producing widespread power outages across the south.

Winter storms and ongoing freezing temperatures knocked out power in much of Texas on February 14. Over 3 million homes lacked electricity as of Wednesday morning. Without power and heat, many water pipes and water mains froze and burst, leaving people without water and causing damage to their homes. The storms have also interrupted the food supply chain, compounding the challenges for people who lost food due to lack of refrigeration. Food banks have been similarly affected, making it difficult for them to serve vulnerable communities that rely on their services. People without homes have been especially impacted as sleeping outdoors is extremely dangerous in these conditions but shelter space is already limited due to COVID-19 precautions. READ MORE