Lutheran Disaster Response Distributes Grants for Disasters

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod (LCMS), has distributed about $500,000 this month to support extended recovery efforts and preparation for possible disasters in the United States and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Grants provided by Lutheran Disaster Response help "continue response to long-term needs and to prepare for new disasters this year," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for Lutheran Disaster Response.
Response to a disaster is often characterized by a local response 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.
Lutheran Family Services in North Carolina received $260,000, Furst said. Recovery efforts continue in the state after Hurricane Floyd killed 52 people in an area from the Bahamas to New England and caused destruction in eight states in September 1999.
Funds will help secure materials and staff needed to continue relief efforts in North Carolina for the next three months. Of the $260,000, $140,000 will be used to direct interfaith cooperation there between members of the ELCA and the Christian Reformed Church, Church of the Brethren and Reformed Church of America.
Lutheran Social Services in St. Croix, V.I., received $100,000 to help make home structures "hurricane-proof," particularly homes for people living in poverty, the elderly and people with disabilities, Furst said. During a disaster, "it is always the poor who are hit the hardest," he said.
The grant will aid St. Croix and St. Thomas, V.I., residents engaged in mitigation work, and help pastors purchase hand-held radios if communication breaks down during a disaster, Furst said. Funds will also benefit disaster preparation work, recovery efforts and case workers who address human needs, he said.
Camp Noah, a week-long day camp for children who have survived floods and other weather disasters, received $42,000. Lutheran Disaster Response created Camp Noah in 1997, when heavy winter storms produced floods in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Since then, the day camp has expanded into Kansas, North Carolina and Oklahoma.
"The funds will continue to develop Camp Noah, which supports children who have experienced disaster," said Furst.
Lutheran Social Services in Florida received $30,000 as "seed money for quick response," said Furst. "Hurricane season is approaching and drought conditions in the state may produce fires. The grant will help staff and volunteers deal with disaster preparation," he said.
Lutheran Family Services in Oregon and in Washington received more than $22,000 to help fund disaster-related programs such as "Moses Movers," designed to transport supplies in pick-up trucks after disaster, and the Native American Liaison for Disaster Response in Oregon.
Drought conditions in the prairie areas of Oregon can produce fire, Furst said. Funds will support disaster preparation efforts, maintenance and response there, he said. -- -- -- DOMESTIC DISASTERS:

When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to survivors of major
disasters inside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin
Islands, please include:

ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
P.O. Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
800-638-3522

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html