Dear Seafarers’ House friends and supporters,
As the situation around the world is rapidly changing with closures and restrictions, we wanted to take a moment to update you on what is happening at Seafarers’ House. Port Everglades remains open and operational, with cargo and goods moving through the port with normal operations. Seafarers’ House continues to serve the needs of the human element of port operations, while considering the health and well-being of our team, volunteers and those we serve.
What to Expect
Seafarers’ House has established policies and continuity plans which allow us to support our port community without interruption while providing for the health and well-being of our team. These established plans have allowed us to weather more than one hurricane or natural disaster during our decades of operation. To protect our team, our port community, and our seafarers, we are taking the following actions:
- Effective immediately, our administrative office is functioning on a remote work policy. Our administrative office is closed to visitors and the majority of our staff will be working from home. You can continue to contact our team by their normal phone numbers and email addresses. This policy will be reassessed on March 30, 2020.
- The Seafarers’ House Casa will remain open with usual business hours to provide essential services. Staffing will be reduced and adjusted to match the presence of ships in port. The Casa and vans are being sanitized daily and the strict handwashing and sanitation protocols we mentioned in our previous email remain in place.
- Pastoral care counseling, including crisis and emergency support, is available virtually and via phone. Please contact us for more information.
- Volunteers who can assist remotely are doing so. All other volunteers have been asked to standby until further notice.
- In most cases, crew members are not being allowed off ships, making our ship visits essential to daily operations and crew welfare. We are the lifeline for crew who rely on us for mail from home, to wire money home to families anxiously waiting for it, and for personal items such as hygiene products. Our teams abide by ship protocols as well as our strict handwashing and sanitation policies. In many cases we are leaving goods at the bottom of gangways to avoid any contact.
- In-person chapel services are suspended effective immediately. Our team will make Easter services available online. Please look for a link in upcoming communications.
Here to Help
Seafarers’ House remains a Place of Welcome during these challenging times. For many seafarers we are their source for accurate and reliable information, as well as their only connection to home. While we take the COVID-19 situation seriously, our doors remain open as long as is responsible. They come to us for help manage in managing their own emotions and those of their families and loved ones thousands of miles away. Though unseen, seafarers are essential to our communities at times of crisis- bringing to port medicine, supplies, equipment and essential tools of daily life. We remain operational to support and care for them.
Wishing you peace and comfort during these challenging times.
Faithfully,
Lesley Warrick
Executive Director, Seafarers’ House
Misinformation relating to matters of public health can be dangerous, please use one of the numerous reliable sources listed here for information.
If you have questions, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) #COVID19 Call Center is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1 (866) 779-6121 or you can email your questions to COVID-19@flhealth.gov