By Froswa Booker-Drew
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-859752.mp3
Dallas, TX –
INTRO: Hurricane Ike hit Galveston a year ago Sunday (9/13). Some people believe the storm wasn't in the same league as Katrina and that everything is fine. Commentator Froswa Booker-Drew would have thought the same had she not seen the aftermath and the ongoing need for recovery and restoration first hand.
COMMENTARY: I work for an organization called Partners for Sacred Places. It's a national non-sectarian nonprofit that works with congregations in historic buildings. I started this position three days after I returned from a trip to India. A few days later, I was told that our help was needed in Galveston. Many of the historic sacred spaces had been damaged. FEMA wasn't providing assistance and our friends, The Texas Historical Commission, Galveston Historical Foundation, and Preservation Texas were overwhelmed with requests for assistance.
I remember arriving in November and witnessing the devastation: The fallen trees, the Ramada Inn looking as if it had been bombed with all those blown out windows. It seemed as if this place I visited often as a child was only Galveston in name.
We held a meeting attended by 65 individuals representing 27 congregations of all walks of faith. I heard ministers share how they were still living in their cars after two months. I heard people talk about not only the destruction of their house of worship but also their homes, their schools, and their place of employment. I saw people who may have known one another remotely previously now were friends because of the commonalities they shared.
I would not be honest if I said that I was not depressed every time I visited those first few months. Our organization committed to help ten congregations of various faith traditions rebuild. We provided damage reports, architectural assessments and training to ensure their long-term sustainability. We would have provided additional funding, but upon further inspection, the damage exceeded our expectations. First Presbyterian of Galveston, founded in 1840 has over $1.8 million dollars in damage. Despite their efforts to rebuild, we recently discovered that a 4-foot termite nest is in the chapel. The damage to the roof alone is an additional $500,000. Congregation Beth Jacob, the island's only conservative synagogue has nearly $400,000 in damage. With enormous flooding, this congregation lost all of its pews and many of its sacred books.
Despite these obstacles, the congregations continue to support their community. Reedy Chapel AME, the first African Methodist Church in Texas, is rebuilding their sanctuary but it continues to offer outreach services to anyone who needs help. First Baptist of Galveston used its entire 1200 seat sanctuary as a clothing distribution facility. First Baptist is allowing other congregations to use its facilities for worship services as the church continue to rebuild and at the same time, serve the community at large.
It would not be surprising if these individuals (members of local congregations? outside volunteers?) gave up and decided to throw in the towel because the workload is massive. But I have seen individuals come together with a common purpose and plan as a result of this storm. There is discussion of a first annual interfaith Thanksgiving Community Dinner.
Tragedy can, in a strange way, create synergy and hope. Although there is a long way to go, I see the progress. I hear the excitement. I remember being asked to get the word out about the plight of Galveston, "Please tell them we are not destitute but we are not done with the work either."
Froswa' Booker-Drew is CEO and Founder of Soulstice Consultancy.
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