CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "It is estimated that Hurricane Georges has caused $2 billion in damages, making it the fifth most expensive natural disaster in the United States," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for Lutheran Disaster Response.
Hurricane Georges tore across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands before making its way through the rest of the Caribbean and to the Gulf Coast states late last month.
"The major focus of Lutheran Disaster Response will be Puerto Rico, where there is widespread destruction," Furst said. "More than 33,000 single-family homes were destroyed." Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
To help purchase and distribute emergency supplies for families in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Disaster Response provided a grant of $76,000. The money will also be used as a fund for distribution to Lutheran families and neighbors following case management and needs assessment. Psychological, spiritual and financial support will be provided for Lutheran pastors and church professional leaders, according to Furst.
"An initial outlay of $300 in cash went into the hands of pastors for distribution to church and community members to help pay for immediate needs," he said.
Lutheran Disaster Response will hire someone from Puerto Rico to manage relief efforts there.
Action by Churches Together (ACT) is also well-placed in the Caribbean to help coordinate relief work. ACT is a worldwide network of churches, including the Lutheran World Federation, meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti were "hit hard" by Hurricane Georges, ACT reports. More than 200 people in the Dominican Republic were killed and 10,000 were left homeless. The death toll there could reach 500.
More than 150 people were killed in Haiti, ACT reports. The town of Fonds Verrettes was "virtually wiped out by a surge of water, mud and debris. At least 85 people were killed there."
Millions are without safe drinking water and utilities in the Caribbean. In some areas, up to 50 percent of homes have been damaged or destroyed. Heavy infrastructure damages have caused difficulties in the distribution of emergency food, water and other desperately needed relief supplies, according to ACT.
For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director 1-773-380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
