CONVOY OF HOPE SENDS AID TO NORTHWEST FLOODING VICTIMS

Convoy of Hope, headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, is once
again on the road, this time to flooded areas of the Pacific
Northwest. The international compassion organization, affiliated
with the Assemblies of God, is sending a disaster response team and
semi-truck loaded with more than 42,000 pounds of relief supplies
from America's heartland to a far corner of America.

Members of Convoy of Hope's US Disaster Response Team will arrive in
Oregon today and begin preparations to distribute cleaning supplies,
bottled water, PowerAde, MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), and N-95 paper
facemasks to flooding victims in Washington and Oregon.

The organization anticipates establishing distribution sites in
Chehalis and Centralia, Washington upon arrival, and will also
assess additional locations throughout the region. The governors of
both Oregon and Washington have declared a statewide state of
emergency.

Emergency operations centers are activated at the highest levels;
Washington has opened 10 shelters and Oregon has opened 6. There are
five confirmed fatalities; two in Oregon and three in Washington.
Widespread power outages are still being reported with several
hospitals operating on generator power. Washington is reporting an
estimated 45,700 customers still without power. Oregon is reporting
an estimated 56,000 without power and two to seven days before
repairs are completed.

While responding to a request for assistance from partners in the
Pacific Northwest, Convoy of Hope is also bracing for its first
winter storm of the season.

One to two inches of ice is predicted to freeze a wide-spread area
of the Midwest, reminiscent of the January 2007 ice storm that left
hundreds of thousands of residences in several states without power
for weeks.

A First Responder, Convoy of Hope is a National VOAD (Volunteer
Organizations active in Disaster) member and works within FEMA
guidelines during U.S. Disaster Events.

To donate to Convoy of Hope and its efforts, or for the latest
response update and other information about the organization, visit
http://www.convoyofhope.org/.

--Kristin Kubitschek