Lutherans Provide Relief from Disasters Across Country

October 21, 2002

CHICAGO – Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod (LCMS), continues to help survivors recover from hurricanes, record-breaking rainfall, tropical storms and other disasters across the country.

Response to a disaster is often carried out by a local team providing emergency supplies, offering pastoral care and counseling, coordinating volunteer efforts in relief and rebuilding, and providing grants to victims. This response is coordinated with other interfaith and community efforts.

In early October, "Hurricane Isidore dumped a foot of rain along the Gulf Coast and Hurricane Lili added an additional eight inches of rain and 100 mile-per-hour winds," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, LDR director. "Damage from Hurricane Isidore is estimated to be $70 million, and Hurricane Lili an additional $150 million. Damage assessment is still underway," he said.

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Austin, Texas, is managing LDR's disaster response to those hurricanes, Furst said. ELCA Domestic Disaster Response provided a $5,000 grant to Peace Lutheran Church, Slidell, La., for emergency and unmet needs in that community, he said.

"So far this year LDR has responded to 12 new natural disasters, many of them major," Furst reported. Major disaster response continues in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in those areas, he said.

LDR continues to provide "help and hope to thousands of people of all ages whose lives have been thrown into chaos by disasters," Furst said. LDR continues recovery efforts in:

• Arizona. Two unincorporated communities in the state were affected by fires this summer. In one community, 106 of its 366 houses burned. Some people continue to live in tents, Furst said. Lutheran Social Ministry of the Southwest, Tucson, Ariz., is coordinating LDR response there. LDR provided a $35,640 grant to continue recovery efforts.

• Minnesota. Record-breaking rainfall caused severe flooding in Mahnomen, Roseau and Wright counties in northern Minnesota. About 420 households in Mahnomen, 1,171 in Roseau and 852 in Wright have filed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance. "In Roseau, 90 percent of homes and businesses were flooded. Churches throughout the area sustained damage," Furst said. Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, St. Paul, is managing LDR response. LDR provided a $25,841 grant to support emergency response work, casework and ‘care to care-giver' events, Furst said.

• Texas. Last year Tropical Storm Allison caused more than $4 billion worth of damage to homes and other property in Houston. Forty- three people died and more than 47,000 houses flooded as a result of the storm. Lutheran volunteers from across the country are working with skilled workers from the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee to rebuild. Lutheran Social Services of the South is managing LDR recovery efforts.

• Wisconsin. A tornado "ripped through" the heart of downtown Ladysmith, Wis., on Sept. 2, Furst said. "About 60 homes were lost in the 4,000-resident community," he said. Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Milwaukee, is managing LDR efforts there. LDR provided a $22,826 grant to support relief work.

"There are many more examples" in which staff, volunteers and others have "done good throughout the country," Furst said.

ELCA News Service