A spring Nor'easter brought heavy rainfall along the Northeastern coast from South Carolina to Maine on April 15. The storm knocked out power to thousands and caused the deaths of at least 12 people nationwide.

Flood damage was heaviest in New Jersey, where 40,000 people were left without electricity and more than 4,000 people forced to evacuate their homes. The storm killed three people including a man who drowned inside his car. A Declaration of a State of Emergency was signed by Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, who also requested that President Bush declare counties including Bergen, Burlington, Essex, and Hudson counties as disaster areas.

In New York, major roads and highways were closed due to flooding in Westchester County. New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has requested federal aid for 12 counties including Westchester, Rockland, and Orange.

"We are going from acute problems to chronic long-term recovery issues revolving around human services such as long-term spiritual and psychological care for the many persons who are in need of help," said the Rev. Deborah Tammearu, rector at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Mamaroneck, New York.

ERD is coordinating with the Dioceses of New Jersey and Newark and is working with the Diocese of New York and St. Thomas Episcopal Church to provide emergency assistance such as bottled water and food for those displaced by the Nor'easter. The St. Thomas parish is also working with ConEd, FEMA, and Habitat for Humanity.

"Our dioceses and churches are working with the local communities and other voluntary organizations to support and help re-build their communities," said Richard Ohlsen, ERD's director of Domestic Disaster Response.

To help people affected by disasters, please make a donation to the Emergency Relief Fund at http://www.er-d.org/, or call 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.