Hurricane Ida
G Gary applied for and was granted a $10,000 Disaster Relief Emergency Grant from LCIF to assist the victims of Hurricane Ida in Chester County.
The disaster occurred locally on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 to Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 when Hurricane Ida slammed into Chester County affecting Avondale, Coatesville, Malvern, Modena, Oxford, Phoenixville, and Pocopson Township.
The damages from Hurricane Ida were extensive! In Coatesville, the water rose higher than the first floor of homes and businesses and residents were rescued from their roofs by boats. Avondale and Oxford were struck with an F3 category tornado created from the Hurricane and many homes throughout our District were totally destroyed. There were 739 residents impacted in 33 municipalities and 93 reported damages to structures per Chester County Emergency Operations Center. There were approximately
330 individuals from 102 households displaced and the majority of that
number are from Avondale, Coatesville, Downingtown, and Modena. There have been four reported injuries and unfortunately there was one death.
The Lions Clubs in Zone 4A have done several different assistance projects benefiting the affected victims. The Eagle Glenmoore Lions were informed of 17 elementary students in their school district that resided in homes that were totally destroyed, so they purchased backpacks for them and then filled them with the needed school supplies. West Goshen Lions donated monetary sup- port to Pastor Lion Doris Haley for children within their school district that had lost everything. The Paoli-Berwyn-Malvern Lions are purchasing gift cards to give to families in need of everything. The Coatesville Lions Club
donated $500 to The Lord’s Pantry in Downingtown, a food bank supplying food to the flood victims. The Coatesville Leo Club organized a clothing drive to help those families who have lost everything in the floods and the Avon Grove Lions in Zone 4B have donated multiple containers of clothing to this effort.
The original items that we had stated were needed when we applied for the LCIF grant have changed, the immediate needs when a disaster strikes can change on a weekly, if not on a daily basis. Through information obtained by different groups within the County assisting the homeless victims we have identified items that are currently needed.
On Saturday, October 30th, PDG Rich Taylor and PDG Nancy Gauthier met Lion Doris Haley at the Kennett Square Walmart and purchased about $2400 in items for the 22 families that she has been assisting since the floods. On Wednesday, November 3rd, 10 Lions from five clubs went to the Hammock Inn in Exton, where the majority of the displaced families have been living since the floods occurred – there are still 34 families living within the hotel. Working in conjunction with the Mission Church of Downingtown, the Lions distributed hats, gloves and scarfs to those families, along with some winter coats to those that were still in need.
The District worked with Rebound of Chester County to ascertain a list of what is most needed and they also interviewed and vetted the applicants to confirm they were actual flood victims. The District was referred to Re- bound by multiple agencies working within the county to assist the flood victims.
On Friday, November 12th PDG Dave Sampson, Lion Jim Groff and PDG Nancy Gauthier shopped at the Parkesburg and Oxford Walmart’s and on Saturday, November 13th, DG Gary, IPCC Marilyn and PDG Steve Wagner, PDG Dave and Lion Linda Sampson, Lion Jim Groff and PDG Nancy Gauthier shopped at the Morgantown Walmart purchasing almost all the needed items on their “wish list”. Between those shopping excursions and purchasing some items online, approximately $4725 was spent. All the items were delivered .
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