ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 30, 2009
ELCA School, College Remain Closed Due to Red River Flooding
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Oak Grove Lutheran School, Fargo, N.D., canceled classes and activities March 30-April 3 as the school community continues to deal with flooding, snow and cold temperatures. Oak Grove is a school of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). It serves students from prekindergarten to grade 12. "The school is located along the Red River, near where a levee broke. It is expected that the campus is flooded, but the extent is not yet known," according to Donna Braband, director for schools, ELCA Vocation and Education.
According to the school's Web site a breach in a permanent dike, located on the north side of campus, caused water from the river to flow into Benson Hall and Jackson Hall March 29. With the help of Army Corps of Engineers, the National Guard, Oak Grove staff and the community, water was pumped out of the center of campus in an effort to stabilize the situation. Classes are scheduled to resume April 6 at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. College officials are monitoring flood conditions and will alert students and faculty to any changes. The college canceled classes starting March 24 to allow students, staff and others to participate in sandbagging and other flood control efforts. Concordia is one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA.
Information about Oak Grove Lutheran School is at
http://www.oakgrovelutheran.com and Concordia College at
http://www.cord.edu on the Internet.
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March 27, 2009
ELCA Offices in North Dakota, Minnesota Closed Due to Flooding
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The offices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Northwestern Minnesota Synod, Moorhead, and the church's Eastern North Dakota Synod, Fargo, are closed as residents in both states deal with record-breaking floods. The ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod is located on the campus of Concordia College, one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA. Concordia cancelled classes March 24-27 to allow students, staff and others to participate in sandbagging and other flood control efforts.
As of noon on March 27, the Red River stood at 40.66 feet, setting a record, said the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, director of Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). LDR is a collaborative ministry of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The previous record was set in 1897, when the river crested at 40.1 feet, Massey said. The river flows north through eastern portions of North Dakota and western Minnesota. The National Weather Service predicts the river will crest between 42 and 43 feet by March 28. "The river may remain at that level for a week," Massey said. In western North Dakota, ice jams on the Missouri River are also causing serious concern. In addition, many small and rural communities across North Dakota and Minnesota are completely underwater, he said. "We want to make sure that rural communities are not forgotten," as reports about the situation in larger cities continue."
Evacuation plans have been initiated at Bethany Homes, Fargo, and Eventide, Moorhead, two Lutheran senior living facilities. Lutheran elementary schools in flood zones have also closed. "Many Lutheran congregations are also expected to be affected by flooding," Massey said. Once flood waters recede, LDR will coordinate volunteers for cleanup and recovery. "We ask people wishing to come and help to please be patient while we first ensure that the local communities are safe. We will arrange opportunities for volunteers in the coming weeks," he said.
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Worship resources for times of natural disaster are at
http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship.aspx on the ELCA Web site. Information about volunteer opportunities and Lutheran Disaster Response is at
http://www.ldr.org on the Web. For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or
news@elca.orghttp://www.elca.org/newsELCA News Blog:
http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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March 26, 2009
Lutherans in North Dakota Brace for Record Floods
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- 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.