Heavy rains this summer caused severe flooding in South Dakota, causing President Bush to issue a disaster declaration covering 11 counties in the eastern part of the state. Thousands of families were affected. The city of Aberdeen (population 25,000) was one of the hardest hit areas of the state, where an estimated 75-95 percent of the town was flooded.

ERD has partnered with the Diocese of South Dakota to provide temporary shelter, emergency repairs and other emergency-related services to families still struggling in the aftermath of the disaster in Brown, Spink, and Marshall counties.

In eastern Cuba, weeks of drenching rain in October and November, combined with the effects of Tropical Storm Noel, resulted in severe flooding that caused an estimated $500 million of damage. The volume of water that fell during the rains was unprecedented.

Five provinces of the country were severely affected: Las Tunas, Holguin, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo. More than 50,000 people were evacuated, and roughly 21,000 homes were damaged, affecting more than 80,000 people. More than 8,000 miles of roads were destroyed. Agricultural production in these areas was devastated, as tens of thousands of acres of crops were ruined.

ERD is working through the Anglican Church of Canada to assist the Episcopal Church in Cuba in responding to the most urgent needs. The support will provide supplies to 78 families to repair the damage to their houses, ensuring that 468 people can return home.

To help people affected by flooding in South Dakota and Cuba, please make a donation to ERD's "Emergency Relief Fund" online at http://www.er-d.org/, or by calling 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development "Emergency Relief Fund" P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.