Lutherans Conclude Recovery Efforts in Eastern North Carolina

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response will conclude its recovery work this summer in eastern North Carolina, more than one year after Hurricane Floyd struck the state. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Hurricane Floyd killed 52 people in an area from the Bahamas to New England, causing destruction in eight states in September 1999. Just in eastern North Carolina, the hurricane killed 51 people, destroyed 7,000 homes and damaged 56,000 others, said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for Lutheran Disaster Response.
"From the beginning, Lutheran Disaster Response has worked with Lutherans and other faith partners, providing financial and volunteer support," Furst said. "Faith communities have provided disaster response services -- spiritual people offering help and hope for the poor, elderly, infirm or vulnerable," he said.
In Greenville, Goldsboro and Rocky Mount, N.C., more than 4,000 volunteers from several denominations came to provide relief assistance, Furst said. "More than 100 Lutheran teams came from 21 different states. Lutheran Disaster Response, through its church and coalition partners, has contributed more than $1.6 million to 17 counties in eastern North Carolina. The spiritual village has enabled hundreds to return to their homes," he said.
Furst, four staff members from the ELCA Division for Church in Society and members of the Lutheran Disaster Response board visited with hurricane survivors, volunteers, religious leaders and others May 20-23. Lutheran pastors from Greenville, Goldsboro and Rocky Mount shared plans with the group regarding the development of homes and families, and outreach to poor and single-parent families, Furst said.
"As disaster response work concludes, broad systemic issues present before Hurricane Floyd continue," Furst said. Issues to be addressed include poverty, illiteracy and community development, he said.
Linda Stewart, Greenville Interfaith Fellowship Team, noted that the economic base in Greenville had deteriorated before the hurricane brought flooding. "People struggling before the flood can't make it now," Stewart told the group.
Barbara Stiles, director, Wayne County Long-Term Recovery Organization, Goldsboro, told the group that building repairs are nearing an end.
"There are deplorable living conditions, not due to [Hurricane] Floyd," Stiles said. The challenge is how to help people in these situations, she said.
"A city council member and the assistant city manager [of Goldsboro] described plans to improve the infrastructure, clean debris and do hazard mitigation," Furst said.
"Hundreds of flood-destroyed homes are not demolished. Many survivors still live in FEMA trailers. Respiratory ailments are a problem. The death toll among the elderly is rising," said Furst.
"Until the end of August, Lutheran Disaster Response will continue to work closely with United Methodists, the Reformed Church in America, the Church of the Brethren, the Christian Reformed Church and other denominations providing skilled volunteers," Furst said. "Then the disaster response phase will be ended, and other church programs and ministries will provide assistance and support," he said.
"I returned from North Carolina with a deep sense of gratitude for the spiritual village," Furst said.
"Hundreds of survivors are being helped. Thousands of volunteers have come to offer tens of thousands of work hours. Hundreds of thousands of grant and assistance dollars have been provided. And, I believe, millions of prayers have been offered. As disaster response efforts conclude, the church will continue to be present with new initiatives for the next steps forward, offering new ways to raise people with help and hope in the name of Jesus Christ," Furst said. -- -- -- DOMESTIC DISASTERS:

Editors: 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

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