CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, provided $50,000 in November to support recovery efforts in Houston, after floods resulting from Tropical Storm Allison struck an area from Texas to Florida June 9-10.
"Houston was the most affected area," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for Lutheran Disaster Response.
More than 3,600 houses were destroyed, 10,735 houses had major damage, and 34,102 had minor damage in Houston, Furst reported. More than 800 Lutheran families from 60 congregations had flood damage, he said.
Lutheran Disaster Response is working with Lutheran Social Services of the South, which is managing response efforts in Texas and Louisiana, and with Allison Recovery Initiative, which consists of more than 100 community, faith-based, government and nonprofit organizations, Furst said. "Case management is proceeding, and emergency funds are distributed. A huge warehouse, managed by Seventh-Day Adventists, is about to open. It will hold repair and rebuilding supplies for volunteers," he said.
Lutheran Disaster Response staff in Texas plan to provide "Camp Noah," a week-long day camp for children traumatized by disaster. More than 10,000 children in the Houston area have been impacted by Tropical Storm Allison, reported Furst.
"God's people, indeed, are present and active in the Houston area. Lutheran Disaster Response is committed to be present for the long haul in this large natural disaster, offering help and hope and bringing God's blessings to thousands who were affected by this June flooding," Furst said.
"Although it is almost five months since Allison flooded this area, volunteers are still needed to help with cleaning up and clearing out water-ruined houses," he said.
To help residents in Houston, Furst said the following items are needed: + Blankets and quilts. "The nights are getting colder in Houston. Many of the affected homes, especially those of the elderly, have little or no insulation," Furst said. + Teddy bears and/or Beanie Babies. With more than "10,000 children affected by this huge flood, parents will need help to provide Christmas gifts for their children," he said.
"Please do not send material donations to the New York City area, since they are inundated" with these gifts, Furst said. In New York, Lutheran Disaster Response has been providing care, counseling and assistance to survivors and their families, along with coordinating immediate and long-term recovery efforts, after terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center in New York and damaged the Pentagon near Washington, D.C.
"As always, prayers sustain and strengthen those who have felt the chaos of disasters, as well as those who respond," Furst said. - - - Packages/shipments of blankets and Teddy Bears must be sent no later than Dec. 7 to:
Lutheran Disaster Response
17211 North Freeway
Houston, Texas 77090
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
1-800-638-3522
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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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
