Hurricane Florence Relief in North Carolina, October 26-27, 2018

Dear benefactors and fellow countrymen;

Within 1 month (September 14 to October 10, 2018), two hurricane Florence and Michael caused extensive damage to the southeastern part of the United States.  At the same time,  Indonesia encounter flood and earthquake.  Thousands of families are facing difficulties after natural disasters all over the world.

Tu Bi Foundation, partron at Vietnam Buddhist Temple in Houston, and benefactors from many states has donated $ 35,390.00 to help support and help those affected by Hurricane Florence, Michael and tsunami/earthquake in Indonesia.

Although the damage exceed our modest contribution, the Association has made it possible to follow the wishes of our foundation and benefactors:  to come to the direct service in North Carolina.  The lives of people in Wilmington are very difficult, the storm caused 100% damage to the agriculture industry.   The authorized amount is as follows:

• • $ 22,300 USD Florence Relief
  • $ 7,070 USD Michael Relief go directly to American Red Cross representatives
  • $ 7,140 USD (together with $ 1,000 sent by Vien Thong Pagoda) to help Indonesian people (get 100% matching into $ 14,280 to send to the above 5 Charities Global Impact in Indonesia: Global Impact, Direct Relief International Medical Corps, Save the Children Federation Inc, UNICEF USA, World Vision Inc).
  • Received news Quan Am Nam Hai Zen Monastery in Panama City, Florida was damaged after Hurricane Michael caused by an American Buddhist to call for help: contribute money to repair electric systems and contribute labor to help clean and saw broken trees after storms. Tu Bi Association donated $ 500.0 USD.

The total cost for the proxy programs is $ 36,010. The association has spent 620.0 US in addition to the amount donated to help with the programs.

Hurricane recovery in Florence in North Carolina was conducted in person on Oct. 26-27, 2018,  Venerable master, Buddhists at Quan Am Temple in South Carolina, and volunteers from Vietnam Buddhist Temple in TX and Virginia arrived to distribute 110 gifts to struggling families after the storm in Florence – including Vietnamese and American families, regardless of race and religion.   We were supported by the United Way and Port of Wilmington to help us reach the families in need after Florence.  Out of the 3000 families that have apply for assistance, we selected 107 families with children and lone elderly who have not receive assistance of any kind.    Each family received $200, 5 families received $ 100 because they were not on the selected list.  And 3 Vietnamese families receive $400 USD.   The total value is $ 22,300 USD.   In Virginia, the Thiện Nguyện Tình Thương Association contributed $ 10,000 and Pháp Hoa Charity Association assisted Tu Bi Foundation in our work to relief for those affected by Hurricane Florence.   It is wonderful to see the in the spirit of cooperation between charity organization in Virgina.

 (Tu Bi Foundation is waiting for more thank you letters and articles from volunteers, the Association will provide more information later. According to US law, we will only allow images of guests who have agreed to them. I took pictures at the gift delivery)

Thank you email from a family in Wilmington

From: Rose Devane
Date: Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 9:57 PM
Subject: Thank you

Hi my name is Rose Devane, I would like to thank you for helping me and my family out during this difficult time. Thank God for each and every one of you thanks again

Tu Bi Foundation would like to express sincere gratitude to our benefactors and patrons, without the contribution of our friends near and far, we would not be able to implement the goal to help ease the suffering of others everywhere. 

Respectfully, 
Tu Bi Foundation

Translation is not available at the moment.
Please use https://translate.google.com for the time being.

Kính thưa quý ân nhân và quý Cô Bác, ACE;

Tu Bi Foundation xin gởi bản tường trình chuyến đi giám sát và volunteer tại North Carolina September 26-27, 2018. Tu Bi Foundation có thể nắm vững tình hình trong thời gian chờ đơi gây quỹ. Cảm nhận rằng tại các tiểu bang khác không mấy ai biết về cơn bão Florence, nên sự kêu gọi trong cộng đồng tại các tiểu bang xa sẽ gặp khó khăn. Và ai cũng nghĩ có FEMA lo, có nhà nước lo… Dạ FEMA chỉ giúp tối thiểu, quá nhiều gia đình không có bảo hiểm, nên sẽ là một gánh nặng cho dân vùng lũ. Có về tận nơi, thấy tận mắt thì chúng ta sẽ dễ dàng thông cảm với họ hơn!

Cho đến nay, TBF tại VA đã đón nhận được 3,275$. Xin cám ơn quý ân nhân đã ủng hộ và khuyến khích các thiện nguyện viên trong công tác này. May mắn là tiểu bang Virginia đã thoát đươc nhiều trận bão. Nếu Virginia và Maryland bị, thì sẽ rất hãi hùng vì giá trị nhà ở Virginia và Maryland cao gấp 3 lần so với North Carolina. và hầu hết tất cả chúng ta không ai có bảo hiểm về lụt.  Hôi Charity Group of VA Affection sẽ cùng hợp tác với Tu Bi Foundation để thực hiện chương trìnhcứu trợ.

Làm Từ thiện tại Vietnam rất dễ, ở Mỹ phải theo quy tắc không thể làm theo sự cảm xúc thì công việc mới có kết quả. Hiện tại TBF đang xin Thầy Giải Phược tại Wilmington, lập danh sách các gia đình Viet Nam có nhà bị hư hại vì lũ. Chúng tôi hy vọng có đủ ngân sách để trở lại North Carolina, sẽ liên lạc với chính quyền địa phương và cùng hợp tác với Red Cross để tặng quà các gia đình có người già và những gia đình có đông con bị ảnh hưởng vì lũ và đang gặp khó khăn. Các vùng gần sông, họ đã bị lụt tới lui mấy lần do bão Florence gây ra. Với sự ô nhiễm của nước và môi trường cá chết khắp nơi, họ sẽ phải dụt hết tất cả mọi thứ trong nhà. Tất cả học cụ, quần áo của các em học sinh  nay đã thành đống rác! 

https://vietbao.com/a286086/nguoi-viet-vung-htd-cuu-tro-nan-nhan-bao-lut-florence

Xem hình ảnh 

https://tubifoundation.shutterfly.com/2018-19

Dưới đây là bài viết của 1 thiện nguyện viên Red Cross mà thiện nguyện viên TBF đã được may mắn tháp tùng với họ ngày Septeber 27, 2018. Tại các khu đang bị lũ chỉ có First Responder và Red Cross được vào để giúp dân. 

=======================================

Dear Friends:

Below is a first-hand account from one of our Texas Red Cross workers on the scene in the Carolina. The story is heart-breaking. Yet, thanks to the generosity of so many, American Red Cross will “be there” working closely with our governmental, faith-based, and community partners – as long as it takes…

 (Received today from a Red Cross worker who spent the last 2 weeks in North Carolina)

 I did not realize when I volunteered to deploy how intense and moving my deployment in North Carolina would be. As we scouted the best sites and ways to share our mission, I got an up close and personal view of our work on a very intense and complex relief operation. As flood waters subsided in some areas and rose in others, the operation was ever-changing as communities that were fine originally were impacted as the days went by and rivers continued to flood.

 While I saw really bad wind damage in Wilmington, more heart-breaking were the communities a little further inland who were devastated by the river flooding that continues as I write. Before my experience in North Carolina, when I thought of flooding, I thought of water (maybe even dirty water) flooding a home. What I was not prepared for was the flood waters that we saw in North Carolina. When the river flooded, it was tainted with raw sewage. It affected the water supplies in these communities and the smell hit you like a two by four. It was so incredibly overpowering and could quickly make you ill. As waters begin to subside, more and more homes and apartments are being condemned, due to these toxic waters.

 There were many communities that were essentially islands, blocked by flood waters in all directions. These families were living in homes that, because of the flooding, had no power and no water. Our emergency response vehicles (ERVs) would travel as far along these roads as possible, and then park right where the road was still under water. Families would kayak over the flooded section of road and we would load them up with meals. These families were living in terrible circumstances because they were afraid if they left, they would not be allowed to return. Children living in homes that had been flooded with toxic water – it was heartbreaking.

 Along the way, we met families who were staying in their flooded homes, and we also met families who had evacuated their home close to two weeks prior and were beside themselves, waiting for the water to subside so that they could determine whether or not it would be possible to salvage anything at all from their home – any memories from their life pre-Florence. So many of these families would tell us to save the food and supplies for people who needed them; people who were worse off. They would ask us where they could go to donate to people who had even less than they did, and we would assure them that we had enough food and beg them to take some meals and supplies. Many were families that had only recently recovered from Hurricane Matthew.

 I met one woman who had been able to see her home for the first time that day after evacuating 13 days prior. She had moved from Massachusetts at the beginning of the year, and had little in the way of family or a network in the Carolinas. She said that when she opened the door, she just cried. The smell of sewage was overwhelming, and there was nothing to salvage. She had purchased all sorts of cleaning supplies that she now wanted to donate to us. When I asked her if we could give her some food, at first she said no but then relented and agreed to take meals for her three children. She shared that they had lost a pet in the flooding, and her 12 year old daughter was struggling. The family had been volunteering with a number of groups – churches, the Cajun Navy, etc. over the prior week – any way that they could help. She shared that she was in a haze, still in shock, and they would often forget to eat. She was grateful for the meals.

Red Cross Volunteer!

Xin hãy cùng chúng tôi mang niềm hy vọng, sự an vui đến các nạn nhân đang lâm nạn tại Carolina. 

Nguyện cầu cho thế giới bớt thiên tai, tất cả mọi người luôn được an lành.

Tu Bi Foundation
4901 Powell Road
Fairfax, VA 22032

tubifoundation@gmail.com

Xin chân thành tri ân
Lieu Duyen

TBF visit the Red Cross to help prepare and deliver food daily to Flood Areas

We went on location to where the Red Cross was preparing food and shelter for flood victims.  While FEMA task is to help with compensation – people had to have proofs, but Red Cross will help people regardless of proof.   Considered as a mission, volunteers must search for news in affected places.   Beside the shelter and hotels where refugees gather in crowded places, we deliver food to areas without power where people are unable to cook.

Even with all the calamity, the Baptist Church volunteers were able to all travel every where to deliver food daily.   The cost of buying food was paid for by the Red Cross.  We were amazed that most of the people who helped cook the food were the elderly.  Possibly because they are retire and therefore have more time.  Their enthusiasm and spirit of service were very high.   Everyday they cook 2 meals – lunch and dinner.

Red Cross’s Emergency Response Vehicle (ER Vehicle) vehicles are everywhere to distribute food.  This time we follow the food delivery team at Cape Fear River in Pender County, North Carolina.  This is the second time they have to move through the highlands.  This is a newly isolated area over the past few days and because of the overloaded rivers, some families refused to evacuate.   The road was stopped by the police and they only allowed police and Red Cross cars to pass.  The vehicle had to stop when it there is high water, do not attempt to cross it.   Our vehicle stop for food preparation and asked people with big trucks to help transfer food.  The previous day, a pastor used a boat to transfer food to 70 people in the flooded area.

The water rise and fall every day, dead fish appear everywhere around the river, on asphalt, sewer pipes … the odor was very strong.  The experience was unforgettable for the volunteers and felt the sincere effort of so many people to bring peace and share with flood victims …

Much appreciation to everyone and thanks to the contribution of so many benefactors, the volunteers of many charity groups in easing hardship of those affected.

English translation not available at this time …
please use https://translate.google.com

TBF past experience with Hurricane Harvey 2017. http://tubifoundation.org/category/rescue-relief/america-en/?lang=en

Volunteer form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2YwkHQKdF-YON-_g1Wj5LtnrkEAQ5v73shSxFcmBN0rZ_Qw/viewform?c=0&w=1

Please contact Liễu Duyên at 571-437-6997.

We are working with the Red Cross … for donation please send to:

Tu Bi Foundation
4901 Powell Road
Fairfax, VA 22032
Contact: tubifoundation@gmail.com
571-437-6997

Letter from Venerable Nguyên Đạt

TRUNG TÂM PHẬT GIÁO – CHÙA VIỆT NAM
10002 Synott Rd, Sugar land, TX 77498 * Tel: 281/575-0910
Email: trungtamphatgiao@yahoo.com * www.vnbc.org

TÂM THƯ KÊU GỌI
CỨU TRỢ NẠN NHÂN BÃO LỤT FLORENCE

Kính thưa quý đồng hương Phật tử,

Như chúng ta đã biết. Bão Florence đổ vào đất liền sáng ngày 14/9/2018 với cường độ bão cấp một, nhưng đã trút lượng mưa 100 cm xuống các khu vực của bang North Carolina từ trước đó, gây ngập lụt nghiêm trọng và khiến thành phố ven biển Welmington bị cô lập, theo Reuters. Bộ Quốc phòng Mỹ đã triển khai 13.500 binh sĩ tham gia cứu trợ ở những khu vực chịu ảnh hưởng của bão Florence. Hơn 70 trực thăng, 30 tàu thủy và 3.000 phương tiện khác cũng tham gia công tác tìm kiếm cứu nạn, phân phát hàng cứu trợ và đưa người dân đến nơi an toàn.

Cả tuần qua, cơn mưa đã liên tục rơi và cơn bão đã khiến hàng trăm con đường còn ngập nước, giới chức kêu gọi người dân đi sơ tán chưa vội trở về nhà. Ở Leland, một thành phố thuộc khu vực trũng ở phía bắc Wilmington, nhà cửa bị nhấn chìm bởi nước dâng cao tới 3 m. Người dân mô tả đây là đợt lũ lụt chưa từng có trong khu vực, bão đã làm hư hại hàng chục nghìn ngôi nhà và gây nguy cơ ngập lụt nghiêm trọng khi nước sông tràn bờ.

• Cho đến ngày 21/9/2018 có 44 người thiệt mạng, ở tiểu bang Bắc và Nam Carolina và Virginia do các nguyên nhân như lũ cuốn, điện giật, nhiễm độc, xe hơi bị cuốn trôi, và cây đổ đè sập nhà. 3.4 triệu súc vật gồm gà và heo bị thiệt hại. Nông và công nghiệp tại North Carolina bị thiệt hại nặng nề
• Ngày 21/9/2018, Bang Bắc Carolina đã phải đối mặt với nguy cơ vỡ đập vì mực nước ở đập Headwaters tăng lên nhanh sau những trận mưa lớn do bão gây ra, khiến nhiều người dân phải sơ tán khẩn cấp.

Trong tinh thần Từ Bi của Phật, “sáng cho người thêm niềm vui, chiều giúp người bớt khổ”, Trung Tâm Phật Giáo – Chùa Việt Nam xin cất lời kêu gọi đến với tất cả quý Phật tử và đồng hương ở khắp nơi hãy mở rộng tấm lòng Từ Bi, đóng góp tài vật, giúp đỡ chia sẻ nỗi mất mát đau khổ của những người dân lâm nạn trong cơn thiên tai nói trên.

TTPG – Chùa Việt Nam, Houston, Texas sẽ tiếp nhận sự đóng góp của quý vị kể từ hôm nay 22/9 cho đến hết tháng 22/10 năm 2018. Trung Tâm Phật Giáo – Chùa Việt Nam và Từ Bi Foundation sẽ cử người trực tiếp đến các nơi cứu trợ và liên tục cập nhật tin tức từ FEMA-American Red Cross để theo dõi tình hình tại các nơi lâm nạn.

Chùa rất mong quý Phật tử và đồng hương hoan hỷ phát tâm cứu giúp, xem đây như một nghĩa cử đối với quê hương thứ hai, nơi đã từng cưu mang những người dân Việt lưu vong chúng ta.
Houston, ngày 22 tháng 9 năm 2018.

Nay kính thông báo
Trung Tâm Phật Giáo – Chùa Việt Nam
Mọi sự đóng góp xin gởi check về địa chỉ:
Từ Bi Foundation (Chùa Việt Nam)
10002 Synott Rd, Sugar Land, TX 77498 * Tel 281/575-0910
Memo: Florence Flood Rescue Fund / Cứu trợ nạn nhân bão Florence

Từ Bi Foundation (Virginia)
4901 Powell Road, Fairfax, VA 22032 * Tel. 571-437-6997
Memo: Florence Flood Rescue Fund / Cứu trợ nạn nhân bão Florence

Thích Nguyên Đạt
Vietnam Buddhist Center
10002 Synott Rd
Sugar Land, Texas 77498
(281)575-0910

Victoria Nov 4, 2017 và Corpus Christi Nov 5, 2017

November 6, 2017

Dear Huyen,

The entire community of Victoria County, Texas is so very grateful to the Tu Bi Foundation for reaching out and helping 110 families here begin rebuilding their lives after Hurricane Harvey’s devastation.

The foundation’s compassionate and generous contribution will long be remembered by each of the families receiving your $250 gift, as well as by our local government and the organizations working to help people hurt by the Hurricane.

Tu Bi’s initial gift of $25,000, gratefully accepted by the Victoria County United Way on behalf of the Victoria County Long Term Recovery Group, provided $250 checks to 100 families here in desperate need. Then Tu Bi very generously brought 10 additional $250 checks Saturday so that even more suffering families benefit from your compassion.

The joy and happiness on so many faces during Saturday’s presentation at the Victoria Community Center showed the hope each family has for the future with your help. We heard from so many of the recipients how grateful they were for your gifts and for your compassion for their suffering.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and hope our friendship will grow even more in the future.

With grateful thanks,
Dolly Stokes
Executive Director

cc:
Judge Ben Zeller
Mayor Paul Polasek
Debra Murphy Luera

Friday, October 20, 2017, Tu Bi Foundation distributed gifts to 30 families in Austwell. There are 514 people living here and 147 houses. It is north of Rock Port. Austwell residents are mostly senior citizens, there is only one baby and he/she is 2 years old. The damage caused by the hurricane can not be repair, because the elders have no money. This is everything that they’ve worked for and have cultivated for decades. Their lives were completely disturbed. We’re told that mobile homes and rental homes will not receive money from FEMA.

From Mayor Mary Canales from Austwell

Dear Huyen,

These were the individuals that were the most affected by Hurricane Harvey and are needing a lot of work in their homes and need a lot of help. The power and internet are still not working …

In partner with Red Cross in Corpus Christi, Vietnam Buddhist Center – Tu Bi Foundation toured the Coastal Bend Arear. We saw so much damaged and  destructions in Rockport, Port Aransas and Austwell.  Our hearts and mind are with the people affected by Hurricane Harvey.  

We promised to return with financial assistance to relief the suffering of people in the  region affected by Harvey.

Together we make a difference
Tu Bi Foundation

Visit Rockport Makeshifts Campsite

Some Rockport residents’ only form of shelter after Hurricane Harvey …

In partner with Red Cross in Corpus Christi, Vietnam Buddhist Center – Tu Bi Foundation toured the Coastal Bend Arear. We saw so much damaged and  destructions in Rockport, Port Aransas and Austwell.  Our hearts and mind are with the people affected by Hurricane Harvey.  

We promised to return with financial assistance to relief the suffering of people in the  region affected by Harvey.

Together we make a difference
Tu Bi Foundation