Following the devastation left by Tropical Cyclone Gita in American Samoa, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened several of its churches to provide shelter to those in need.
Although members of the Church knew that Church buildings were available as shelters, others in the community may not have known that. Thus, after the American Red Cross went into the villages to determine where unsafe conditions existed and recommended to those living in unsafe homes that they find a shelter to move into, there was an increase in the number of people taking shelter in LDS churches.
According to the Department of Human and Social Services, as of 20 February, five LDS churches were being used to provide shelter to 543 individuals in 81 families. That represented 77.6% of the individuals and 75.7% of the families in American Samoa to whom shelter was provided on that date. Naturally, since most people want to return to their own homes as soon as possible, the numbers of people in shelters has since been declining. As of 25 February, only four churches were needed to shelter 227 individuals in 28 families.
Using tents provided by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency for shelter, all are expected to be able to return to their homes by this weekend.
Muavaefa’atasi John E. Suisala, the Director of the Department of Human and Social Services in American Samoa, has indicated that more tents and clothing are being issued to those with damaged homes so that they can dwell in their own properties and commence work in the recovery process. As that process continued, LDS chapels remained available, providing shelter to any in need.
Some have asked why the Church would open the doors of its chapels to shelter others who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the basic beliefs of the Church is that we are all brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. That belief results in the Church and its members reaching out to those in need irrespective of religious affiliation.
Read more here about the Church’s worldwide humanitarian relief efforts.