March 26, 2009

CHICAGO – As residents in North Dakota rush to prepare for record-breaking floods, Lutherans there are doing what they can to protect rural and urban communities.

According to the National Weather Service, many rivers in the state are at flood stage. The Red River is predicted to crest at a record 41 feet by March 28. The river flows north through eastern portions of North Dakota and western Minnesota.

Bonnie Turner, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) coordinator for North Dakota, spent March 24-25 traveling by car along the Red River between Wahpeton, N.D., and Fargo, N.D. LDR is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Turner started her journey in Wahpeton, "the first area to report cresting," she said. "We saw many homes surrounded by water and residents working to save their homes and communities."

"As we drove north, the fields were like oceans. There is water as far as the eye can see," Turner said.

In addition to the eastern part of North Dakota, there is widespread flooding in the central and western part of the state. The state has declared 32 counties and two tribal nation reservations as disaster areas, reported Turner. "No travel is advised across the state," she said.

Turner said she'll be working to gather pastors to provide spiritual care for people affected by the flooding, as well as volunteer teams to help with cleanup.

The Rev. Lawrence R. Wohlrabe, bishop, ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod, Moorhead, said the work of sandbaggers is critical.

"We are keenly aware of the work of college students, particularly at Concordia College," he said. Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.

Concordia cancelled classes March 24-27 to allow students, staff and others to participate in flood control efforts. The college's dining service is providing meals for flood fighters.

"It's an anxious time for all people," Wolhrabe said, adding that synod staff is working to care for congregations, communities and people.

The Rev. Mark E. Narum, bishop, ELCA Western North Dakota Synod, Bismarck, reported that 1,700 people have evacuated the region. A recent snowstorm "has created a major mess, particularly in areas dealing with flooding," he said. "We are hugely unprepared, with emergency sandbagging."

Narum said it's important to understand that there are two separate events happening in North Dakota. "One is the flooding and second are ice jams, which are predominant across the state," he said. "The ice jams on the Missouri River are causing unexpected concerns."

Narum said meals are being served to people displaced from their homes and emergency workers by members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck, Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck, and First Lutheran Church, Mandan, N.D.

In 1997, Grand Forks, N.D., was the hardest hit with floods, said the Rev. William E. Rindy, bishop, ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod, Fargo. "What's happening now is radically different," he said. "We're experiencing over land flooding in areas away from rivers, particularly in places that were not targeted to be flooded."

"I'm impressed by how local Lutherans have stepped up to help their neighbors," said the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, LDR director. LDR coordinators are "sharing information with local Lutherans on how to prepare their homes, churches and communities against the threat of flood," Massey said, adding that LDR will help to coordinate volunteer teams for cleanup.

Information about Lutheran Disaster Response is at http://www.ldr.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service