To: Clergy and People
From: The Bishop
7th June, 2019

The Hurricane Season is Here- Have A Plan!

The Hurricane Season began on 1st June, 2019.

Let us pray that God will protect us from the ravages of hurricanes and other disasters this year. Nevertheless “Let Us Prepare To Survive.”

1. Familiarize ourselves with our surroundings: The type of house whether wood, concrete blocks, galvanized sheets. Living conditions is it in good condition, what about the roof, where is the house located- next to a river, stream, the sea, slopes, hillside, a cliff or valley. Are there big trees or trees in bad condition? Is it next to electrical poles or cables?

Have a family discussion about how a hurricane may affect your family. Consider the followin·g and how they may affect your home: storm surge, flooding and accompanying winds.

2. Know our community- What is there in the community that could be useful in case of a hurricane? Whpt hazards exist in our community and where are they located? Are there emergency institutions and where are they located? Which are the safest places to be in case of emergency? How prepared are we in case a hurricane comes?

3. After doing one and two above what can we do to make our home and community a safer place? Window shutters, re-inforce galvanise (roof), clear drains, cut branches overhanging trees etc. Don’t seek to repair or reinforce your roof during a hurricane.

4. Make a Family Plan- Identify a safe room in our home or that of a neighbour.

Remember the safest place may not be in our home but in the community. Make sure to discuss this with all members of your family/household. Know our nearest hurricane shelter. If our home is not in good condition or near to a river, slope, stream, cliff, sea, big trees we should plan to go to a hurricane shelter, know how to get there and by what means with our emergency supplies.

5. Plan escape routes from our home and places to meet

6. Have a family contact in another country, so all your family members have a single point of contact. Make sure that each family member has this contact information. (This is just in case you are separated during the hurricane). Give contact telephone numbers to family overseas, include numbers of persons who live outside your village. Keep important numbers handy. Ensure that your cell phone is charged if or when a hurricane is approaching.

7. Have a plan for your animals

8. Check your insurance coverage- make sure you understand what coverage you have.

9. Stock non-perishable emergency supplies: A three day supply of food and water, a change of clothing, a blanket or sleeping bag and a first aid kit that include medication. Battery powered Radio, flashlight and extra batteries, work gloves and fire extinguisher, hammer, saw, pickaxe. Ensure that important family documents are in a fire and water proof container, have an extra set of keys, cash and credit card.

10.Seek information from your National Emergency Organisation, and read.

Prayer

O Heavenly Father as the hurricane season is here we are frightened by our knowledge of the possible devastation of storms, hurricanes and other natural disasters and by our helplessness in the face of them. We pray O Father that you may keep us safe and all who stand in harm’s way.

Loving Father help us to know and to be confident that if disaster comes our way that you are ever present with us, and teach us to cope and afterwards to respond with love and care for others. And if we are spared and others are affected we pray that help may be given to them speedily and this may be turned into an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of love and service which bind men and nations together through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

USPG Annual Conference

I have been invited to the USPG Annual Conference which is scheduled for 24-26 June 2019, High Leigh Conference Centre, Lord Street, Hoddesdon EN118SG UK to share my experience of hosting volunteers on the USPG EEP/Journey With Us programme over the past twenty years. I will preside at the closing Eucharist on Wednesday 26 June 2019.

The Right Rev’d Oswald Swartz, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman, South Africa will be the preacher.

The USPG conference seeks to explore a dimension of the life of the global church, and a majority of the speakers each year are drawn froni the world-wide church. The USPG conference is a gathering of approx. 180 participants, which includes USPG Trustees, staff, Council members, diocesan representatives, volunteers and friends of the work of the Society. It is a 3 day residential conference which involves speakers’ session, work hops and times of fellowship and worship. The theme for the 2019 Conference is The Prophetic Voice of the Church. They have invited a number of speakers from various parts of the world church to share on this theme.

I’ll also undertake a preachment on behalf of USPG on the Sunday 23 June, 2019. The preaching appointments offer an opportunity to churches in the UK to hear news from USPG partner churches, especially those who are un.able to attend the conference.

During my absence the Venerable Christian Glasgow will have oversight of the Diocese.

Archdeaconry Family Day 2019

The Archdeaconry Family Day in the Archdeaconry of Grenada is scheduled for Thursday 20th June, 2019 at the Fond Recreation Grounds in the Parish of St. Patrick. The Theme is: “Fostering Discipleship In Families: Worship! Grow! Share!” the Preacher is the Rev’d Fr. Coleridge Brooker priest in charge of the St. John’s Parish Church, Gouyave with St Mark, Victoria and St. Matthew, Black Bay and the Epiphany.

The Archdeaconry Family Day in the Archdeaconry of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is scheduled for 9:30am on Sunday 23rd June, 2019 at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. The theme is: “Fostering Strong Family Relationships Through Intentional Discipleship.” The Preacher is the Rev’d Pamela Daniel Rector St. Matthew parish Church, Biabou with St. Sylvan, Stubbs and St. Mark, Greggs.

Vacation

I hope to be on one month’s vacation from the 8th July, 2019.

With every good wish and God’s blessings!

The Rt. Rev’d C. Leopold Friday
Bishop of the Windward Islands