September 2, 2008

CHICAGO – Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are responding in the aftermath of tropical storms and hurricanes, waiting to assess the damage of Hurricane Gustav and preparing for the remainder of the 2008 hurricane season. "We are in difficult days," said the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, director, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR).

"It is important for us all to stay in close communication with each other, to remain deeply in prayer for the needs of people both already affected and potentially affected, and especially to consider giving to the work of Lutheran Disaster Response," he said. LDR is a collaborative ministry of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Hurricane Gustav made landfall Sept. 1 on the Louisiana Gulf Coast. "We appreciate Bishop Michael Rinehart and the leadership of the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod and Bishop Julian Gordy and the ELCA Southeastern Synod for the excellent job they are doing in responding to this disaster," Massey said. The synods have maintained communication with pastors and other church leaders who evacuated their homes, he said.

"The good thing about many people getting out and being evacuated is that they were safe. It will take some time, as they return slowly to their homes, for us to learn more and more about the needs of the people in the Gulf area," Massey said. "It may take many weeks before we are able to identify the ways that volunteers will be able to help."

"Whether tropical storms or hurricanes, we're seeing an incredible impact across the country," Massey said. "It is a reminder that we are all in this together. The whole country is being affected and, as we've done before, we will all work together to respond."

Hurricane Dolly struck Texas on July 23. "We're still working in areas around there," Massey said.

"Tropical Storm Fay had a significant impact on parts of Florida," he said. "Lutheran Disaster Response Team Florida has been doing a great job responding with our partners in Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod. We've been helping coordinate production of flood buckets that people are able to use to help clean out their own homes."

"Areas of Florida are very wet, and there is standing water in many places," Massey said. "With the threat of additional storms, it is a very scary time."

Lutherans across the church are "very aware that many storms can affect us in the days and weeks to come," he said. "Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to be a hurricane when it will reach the eastern seaboard of the United States somewhere between Georgia and the Carolinas, possibly as early as this Friday. Tropical Storms Ike and Josephine are forming in the Atlantic."

"There is great leadership in all of our synods, and we appreciate the work they have already done in preparing," Massey said. LDR staff will continue to be in conversation with them this week, he said.

"We will seek to provide help and healing to people affected by these storms, and we ask for people to consider giving. Please visit ELCA.org/disaster for information about giving to help people affected by these storms," Massey said.

Audio of comments by the Rev. Kevin A. Massey is at http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/080902a.mp3, and http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/080902b.mp3, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service