Convoy of Hope sends team to Southern California

With more than half a million people displaced by the Southern
California wildfires, the need for food, water and shelter is
critical. In order to help meet this need, an assessment team from
Convoy of Hope, based in Springfield, Mo., was dispatched to
Southern California Tuesday afternoon as wildfires, fanned by Santa
Anna winds, continued to whip across the region.

"Because we felt it was important to get an assessment team in
place immediately, our team arrived in California Wednesday to
assess the situation and determine how Convoy of Hope can be of the
most help," says Kary D. Kingsland, U.S. Disaster Response director.

So far, hundreds of homes have been destroyed and more than a half a
million people have been forced to evacuate their residences and
places of business. Many evacuees have made their way to local
churches, schools and even Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

President Bush declared a federal emergency for seven counties, a
move that will speed disaster-relief efforts. Convoy of Hope
representatives plan to enlist the help of corporate partners to
speed relief supplies to organizations and people in need. Though
the fires have been blazing undeterred for three days, containment
of the fires will be difficult as the ground is tinder-dry, high
winds aren't forecasted to abate any time soon, and temperatures are
expected to rise in the coming days.

Kingsland believes Convoy of Hope's role will grow even larger after
the fires have been contained. "There is a lot of need right now,"
he says. "But we expect that need to become even greater after the
fires are contained. That's when people will have time to assess
what they have lost and what they need."

More information on how Convoy of Hope is working to bring
relief to the victims of the Southern California wildfires is available at http://www.convoyofhope.org or by calling 417-823-8998.

— Kristin Kubitschek, AG News