Lutherans Continue Response to Domestic Disasters

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), continues to help
survivors recover from floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and other
disasters across the United States.
"This year has brought an unprecedented number of
disasters," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director, Lutheran
Disaster Response. More than "400 tornadoes and 2,000 storms
brought havoc and devastation to the mid- and lower United
States," he said.
Lutheran Disaster Response organized and funded recovery
work in 14 states and Guam, a U.S. territory. Typhoon Pongsona
struck Guam in December 2002. Lutheran Disaster Response
continues to support relief efforts on the island.
In February, ice storms produced floods in the south-central
part of Ohio, and in March tornadoes struck Camilla, Ga., and
Miami-Dade County, Fla. Tornadoes also struck Illinois, Kansas,
Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee in May.
Disaster response also continues in West Virginia, after
storms produced floods there in June; Arizona, after forest fires
destroyed buildings in some small towns there in July; northeast
Ohio, after storms produced floods there in July; and Texas,
after Hurricane Claudette produced floods there in July.
The ELCA Domestic Disaster Response provided funds to Peace
Lutheran Church, Paget, Bermuda, after Hurricane Fabian struck
the territory this month. Funds will support the congregation's
cleanup efforts and provide assistance to neighbors affected by
the hurricane. Peace Lutheran Church is a congregation of the
ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod.
Lutheran Disaster Response continues to assess damage in the
northeast section of North Carolina and the southeast section of
Virginia, after Tropical Storm Isabel struck these areas also
this month.
"The third year of long-term response to the terrorist
attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, has begun," Furst said. Lutheran
Disaster Response-New York coordinates multiple organizations
providing assistance for "unmet needs. As of June, more than $1
million has been provided by Episcopalians, Lutherans and United
Methodists," he said.
Lutheran Disaster Response continues to support members of
Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church, New Sweden, Maine. One member
died and some other members became sick April 27 several hours
after drinking coffee. The suspected cause of the illness is
arsenic poisoning.
Response to a disaster is often carried out by a local 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.
"In some instances, communities that had begun cleanup
efforts [after a storm] were affected by subsequent days of
additional tornadoes and storms," Furst said.
For many of the disasters this year, no income was received,
Furst said. "Yet the church was able to respond because
[Lutherans] have provided undesignated support, funds 'to be used
where they are most needed.'" Financial support "enables Lutheran
Disaster Response to respond immediately when new needs arise.
It enables Lutheran Disaster Response to continue responses when
income designated for specific disasters falls short of what is
needed," he said.
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DOMESTIC DISASTERS:

Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds to aid
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, Illinois 60694-1764

Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via Internet: http://www.elca.org/disaster


For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news