Disaster Response

Members Provide Flood Relief in Brazil

Members in the Teresina Brazil Stake and the Itacoatiara Brazil District assisted in relief efforts after two months of unusually heavy rains triggered the worst flooding seen in decades in Brazil.

The flooding killed at least 40 people and displaced more than 800,000. No Church members or missionaries were killed, though eight member families were affected by the flooding.

From the deep Amazon to the normally arid environs of the Atlantic coast, roads, highways, and communities across 10 states were swamped by the flooding.

Brazil’s government worked with local governments to deliver food, cleaning materials, and other supplies to the affected areas and offered shelter and assisted with reconstruction.

California Blaze Displaces Members

Favorable weather allowed firefighters to gain the upper hand on a 9,000-acre (3,640 ha) wildfire in Southern California that displaced 50,000 people, including an estimated 70 percent of members in the Santa Barbara Ward.

Eight households in the El Camino Ward, the Goleta Valley Ward, and the Los Olivos Branch were also evacuated.

Most who fled the week-long blaze had returned by mid-May. More than 80 structures were destroyed or damaged by the flames, including one home of Church members.

Officials believe the use of a power tool to clear vegetation may be related to the fire.