WORLD

US Bishops express their grief over destruction by record flooding

Four people have lost their lives, and millions have been affected by what is being described as historic floods in the US Midwest. The Bishops of the United States assure those affected of their prayers, and urge people to help out.

By Vatican News

After historic flooding brought devastation to parts of the United States Midwest, Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida and Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, released a statement in which he expressed grief over the lives that have been lost and those that have been threatened by the floods.

“Let us answer the Lord’s call to love one another”

The US Bishops assured those affected of their prayers, hoping that they will find “the strength to rebuild” and that “the Lord will console them in their suffering”.

They also urged all of the faithful to “generously support our neighbours in this time of need”, and pointed to the disaster relief work being done by Catholic Charities USA.

Historic flooding

Heavy rainfall on top of melting snow last week caused water levels of rivers in the midwest to rise dramatically, as 10 million people were under flood warnings ahead of last weekend.

By Tuesday 20 March, when the US Bishops issued their statement, 4 people had died and thousands had been evacuated.

“There’s not really words to describe it” Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said following a flyover of affected areas, ahead of Vice President Mike Pence’s tour of the region on Tuesday.

For the people of the region the crisis is by no means over, as floodwaters are not expected to recede until later this week.

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