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Released 26 January 2009
Torrential rains beginning January 8, 2009, dumped more than
27 inches of water on western Fiji in three days. The resultant floods were
described as Fiji’s worst-ever natural disaster; torrents quickly
overflowed river banks and rampaged through communities, destroying crops,
homes, bridges and roads. And, just when things seemed at their worst, another
storm system moved through the region causing further flooding. Worst hit were
the towns of Nadi and Ba. Spared from flooding, The Salvation Army hall at Nadi
was quickly put to use as an evacuation center. Captains Jeremaia and Amelia
Naviko and corps members, some of whom had their own homes flooded, provided
food and shelter for evacuees, including a pregnant woman who gave birth at the
height of the flood. Captain Jeremaia, a burly former policeman, helped rescue
a number of people from the rising floodwaters in their homes. In some houses
the water had reached the ceiling and the streets were flowing with fast-moving
floodwater and debris. Some people were trapped on roofs for two days. After
flood waters receded, Captain Jeremaia formed clean-up teams, armed with
brooms, shovels and a waterblaster, to help clean up houses. In Ba, both The
Salvation Army hall and the officers’ house are near the river, which
burst its banks three times sending torrents of water through the first floor
and several inches through the second story. Fortunately, corps officers
Captains Vilikesa and Sesenieli Bogi had persuaded several neighbors who were
reluctant to leave their one-story houses to take refuge on the upper floor of
their house even though it, too, was flooded by several inches. The Salvation
Army throughout Fiji joined together to provide food, shelter and meal
preparation to affected areas. The Salvation Army already is receiving many
requests for assistance with basic food items, household goods, bedding and
school fees. Monetary donations earmarked “Disaster Relief” may be
sent to your local Salvation Army, made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or
by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
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